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Toxicity

2012-07-26T06:58:08Z

67.235.239.56:

{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=Toxicity Tox-En.jpg
|caption="Eeeeeew..."
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave [[Jack Darby|with]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|her]] [[Arcee (Prime)|team]] before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but his search is interrupted by the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. Although he takes a few hits, the Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Meanwhile, Hardshell comes to and heads off with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

[[Image:Prime-Hardshellvolcanovent.jpg|left|250px|thumb| Hardshell [[Master Blaster|is not so easily destroyed]].]]
Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==



{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15) (flashback)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (14) (flashback)
}}



==Quotes==
"I can haz cheeseburger!"
:—Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Yeess, the Wrecker leaks from his wounds."
:-'''Hardshell''' pulling a [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] on us.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:—'''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Look soldier. You know as well as I do there's the mission. And the reason why you take the mission!..." 
"Honor... duty..." 
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' tries to encourage a faltering '''Bulkhead'''.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
(''Insecticons surround Bulkhead, who sighs and takes out a grenade'') 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

"Fowler... mission accomplished. Though you might have to... tuck me in."
:—Half-dead from Tox-En poisoning, and all '''Bulkhead''' needs is a nap? ''Hardcore''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* After Hardshell punches Bulkhead during their first fight, the latter's cannons transform into maces without the usual sound effects.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Megatron receives Hardshell's report on the Tox-En, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is standing behind him, with his visor undamaged. This clashes with the continuity of the arc; Soundwave should either be absent from the ship (if he's still embroiled in his relic hunt) or sporting a cracked visor from his battle with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], as a later scene in this episode indicates that [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is still on his own relic hunt.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground. Although he could have transformed off screen.
* Speaking of that Insecticon, its fate is somewhat ambiguous. It falls over in a way that suggests that it's unconscious or dead, but Hardshell acts as though it is still online. Either way, it doesn't appear for the rest of the episode until Autumn 2012.

===Continuity errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* It has been shown previously that Insecticons have blasters, and they show awareness of Tox-En's debilitating effects on their bodies... so why don't any of them try attacking Bulkhead from range, reducing the risk of Tox-En exposure? Even if they're trying to avoid hitting the Tox-En, they could certainly at least flank Bulkhead and attack from opposite sides.
* As Fowler tries to contact Bulkhead during the battle in the volcano's caldera, we see Ratchet and Raf downloading the Iacon database in the background (as seen in [[Triage|the previous episode]]). However, when the same scene was shown in "Triage", Fowler was silent for the duration of Ratchet and Raf's conversation.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* During Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, the Insecticon delivers an attack that looks eerily similar to how [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] killed [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. The actual hit is obscured (the camera is set behind Hardshell), but it doesn't seem to do any visible damage (although this could be why Bulkhead was leaking energon after the fight).
**At the end of the fight, Bulkhead clocks Hardshell with a wicked uppercut, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"; the mandible even sticks point-first in the ground.
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to scenes from previous episodes when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplet]]s through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage". Wrecker style, indeed.

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses in the foreground looks a lot like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]]. The reddish one behind it looks similar to the [[generic]] impaled by Megatron during Ratchet's flashback to the beginning of the Great War in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Green-tinted energon that emits visible fumes and is toxic to Cybertronians was previously seen in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)| Energon]]''. Given Bulkhead's flashback, Megatron's refined, weaponized version of Tox-En may be a small-scale version of the energon gas that plagued that series' version of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, Bulkhead has been inside Decepticon barracks at some point (possibly on a mission for the Wreckers back on Cybertron). They are very, very smelly, but not as much as the landscape near an active volcano.
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.
* Bulkhead tells Fowler that the relic would likely survive a dip in molten rock while hunting for it in a cooled lava flow. Not only is this technically untrue (the Tox-En only survived its fall due to its container), but a drop into lava is exactly how Bulkhead disposes of the relic in the end.
* Despite having at least one more grenade on his person, Bulkhead doesn't attempt to leave the entire Tox-En cache in his Insecticon trap. Presumably, it wouldn't have been enough to completely destroy the toxic fuel, or it wouldn't have fit in the canister, giving Hardshell's team warning that something was up.
* Bulkhead finally finds something even ''worse'' than Scraplets. Incidentally, he saw the effects of both Scraplets and Tox-En during the war, and neither was a pleasant experience.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Nemesis Prime (episode)

2012-07-26T06:45:30Z

67.235.239.56: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 34
|prev=Crossfire
|next=Grill
|image=NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg
|caption=The first person to suggest [[A Prime Problem|a race]] gets banned.
|title="Nemesis Prime"
|airdate=[[April 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus Prime appears to attack Agent Fowler, the Autobots discover MECH's ultimate plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NemesisPrime truck vs car.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Pardon me, coming through..."]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] drives out of a military base, listening to [[The Touch|a few tunes]], when a semi truck begins to tailgate him too close for comfort. He realizes that it's more than a case of road rage when the truck rams him. Fowler notices a familiar symbol on his attacker's grille-the [[Autobot]] [[insignia|symbol]]. He contacts the Autobot base, where [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is not present. The apparent Optimus Prime continues to attack, and as Fowler comes upon a bridge, he pushes his car through the divider, where it hangs precariously. The Autobots receive his message and bridge in, causing Prime to flee and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to give chase. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] catches Fowler's car as it falls, but the bumper detaches, and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] catches it before it hits the ground. Arcee comes upon Optimus, but is knocked out when he runs her over.

The next thing she knows, she's back at base, being checked up on. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] doubts Arcee's assertion that Optimus ran her down, and the big 'bot arrives at base. The team goes on guard, but as Optimus offers proof that he's been at an underground energon site, the team stands down.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis Prime truck in base.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Trust doesn't rust, but trucks do.]]
The other "Optimus" drives full speed into [[Alden Military Base]], wrecking helicopters and prompting chase until he stops. As soldiers surround him and open the door to find no driver, he transforms, and aims a weapon at them. Speaking in Prime's own voice, the double clearly announces himself as Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, before laying waste to the base around him. The other Prime tears through lines of soldiers, prompting Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead to bridge to his position. The fake retreats, and arriving military helicopters fire on the Autobots. They retreat to base.

Fowler fields a call asking about the attack, and receives the news that all Transformers, regardless of allegiance, are to be shot on sight. The team realizes that [[MECH]] has finally succeeded in replicating Cybertronians, inside and out, using human-made parts after studying Transformer anatomy so carefully.

[[Image:NemesisPrime Silas at controls.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Silas, showing his incredible seat-balancing powers]]
Meanwhile, the false Prime arrives at a MECH bunker, where it is revealed that the robot is a remotely operated drone unit, with [[Silas]] in the control seat, expressing extreme satisfaction at the test run.

In attempting to locate the MECH base, Optimus notes that, unlike them, the duplicate (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" by Miko) must rely on its vehicle mode to travel, having no access to a [[GroundBridge]]. This places its lair within driving distance of both incidents, giving a range for them to search. The 'bots fan out, and Bumblebee comes upon a large complex. Optimus and the rest plan to rendezvous at his position. He enters, while Silas watches him. He powers up Nemesis Prime, and sends it out. Bumblebee is briefly fooled by the fake, until Silas slips and reveals he cannot understand Bumblebee's speech. The scout attacks but is quickly overpowered by the more imposing robot.

The rest of the Autobots enter the compound, cautious of any lookalikes. Bulkhead and Arcee are both taken out individually, leaving Optimus for the final showdown with his doppelganger.

At base, Ratchet attempts to isolate the control frequency of Nemesis Prime to pinpoint the location of its operator. He does, and Fowler insists on bridging in, citing that he is the one best equipped to deal with the "human element".

[[Image:NemesisPrime Nemesis vs Optimus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"One shall stand, one shall...oh, slag it."]]
Nemesis squares off against Optimus, showing equal strength and agility. Fowler bridges in, and makes for the control bunker as the two Primes continue to spar. Nemesis catches Optimus, and shoves its blade into the Autobot leader. Silas gloats, commenting that he cannot feel pain through the robot, unlike his opponent, and revealing his intentions to build an army of these soldiers, when Fowler enters. They spar as well, and Fowler falls to Silas' superior hand-to-hand combat skills, only to reveal that he was just buying time for Optimus to beat the now-directionless copy. The real Prime dominates Nemesis, and their fight collapses the ceiling of the bunker, sending Silas's creation and a ton of rubble crashing down on top of him, putting Nemesis Prime out of commission in the process.

Optimus meditates on MECH's seemingly impaired functionality, now that it lacks a leader. However, Fowler brings him troubling news — in the pile of wreckage, no body was found.

Elsewhere, a group of MECH scientists monitor Silas' condition, noting that his injuries are terminal by normal standards — yet MECH is anything but, as they have the body of [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] all wired up to their leader.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (1)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Silas]] (11)
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (12)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (13)
*[[MECH Commando]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Yes, that's it. Follow the light." 
"Wait, what? Not the best choice of words, Ratchet."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee'''

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and I bring you this message."
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' steals one of Optimus's catchphrases.

"They actually did it. Those butchers managed to crack the code!"
:—'''Ratchet''' realizes that [[Project Chimera]] has produced results.

"Be on your guard. My double could be anywhere." 
''*Bumblebee beeps a reply*'' 
"I'm sorry. What?"
:—'''Nemesis Prime''' tries and fails to fool Bumblebee.

"Look [[Ratchet (Prime)|doc]], I don't plan on dancing with any bots, but there's a human element in play here. And in case you haven't noticed, I happen to be a highly-trained, government-grade, human."
:—'''Agent Fowler'''; accept no substitutes!

"My robot chassis possesses all your strength, speed...and firepower!" 
''*Optimus lunges at Nemesis Prime, only to be thrown off with ease*'' 
"Add my extensive combat training, and MECH has clearly achieved the perfect meld of man and machine!"
:—'''Silas''' brags about his new toy.

"This is only the beginning. Imagine an army of transforming robots! No one will stand against the newly rebooted MECH!" 
"Think again, Sy!"
:—'''Silas''''s gloating is interrupted by '''Agent Fowler''''s arrival.

"The internal damage to his organs is massive, and beyond the scope of conventional medicine. Fortunately for our leader, MECH is [[Breakdown (Prime)|anything]] but conventional."
:—A '''MECH Surgeon''' on Silas's future.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Due to model reuse, Fowler's car has the same [[license plate]] number as June Darby's.
*After calling the Autobots to ask about Optimus, Fowler is seen approaching a bridge at least a half mile away. But, when the camera shifts, it shows him already on the bridge.
*No matter what size, shape, weight, or speed a car is going, it will ''never'' be possible to break through a concrete barrier and come out with as little damage as Fowler's car had.
*Bulkhead is somehow able to fall faster than Fowler's car, despite dropping from the bridge later than it.
*Before Optimus Prime climbs the tower, you can't hear his blaster turn back into his hand.
*Despite being ordered by Optimus to go covert, Arcee does not have her holographic driver on when in her motorcycle form.
*How exactly did MECH extract Silas from under several tons of robot with the US military overhead and Fowler in the room?

===Continuity notes===
*With the construction of Nemesis Prime, MECH has finally yielded results from [[Project Chimera]].
*MECH has Breakdown's reassembled remains, which they collected after [[Airachnid]] killed him in "[[Crossfire]]".
*Ratchet recalls MECH's study of Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
*Optimus recalls the theft of Starscream's T-Cog, which they learned about in "Crossfire" after it happened in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Silas took a scan of Optimus at the end of "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]", which is evidently how he was able to produce a nearly-identical copy of him in this episode.
*Silas learned how Transformers scan a vehicular form in "[[Crisscross]]", when he saw Airachnid scanning Agent Fowler's helicopter.
*MECH learned that their knockoff Transformer required Energon to function in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]". This episode also showed that they had managed to duplicate the scanning process.
*Optimus's right sword, which was broken in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and last seen still broken in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]", has been repaired at some point.
*This is the [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|second time]] Bumblebee has tried and failed to save a car on screen. Only this time, someone was inside the car when he loses part of it.
*As this is Fowler's first time in the GroundBridge, he experiences nausea, similar to the effect on the children in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
*Fowler listens to an instrumental version of "[[The Touch]]" on his car radio.
*The first transformation of the fake Prime on the military base is in a similar animation layout to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|another Optimus Prime]]. The attack itself bears no small resemblance to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s attack on the [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base|base]] in the first film.
*Miko and Ratchet refer to the false Optimus Prime as "Nemesis Prime", a name first established in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' as indicating an evil version of Optimus Prime and used [[Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)|a number of times since]].

===Real-world references===
*The opening scene with Fowler references [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1971 film ''Duel'', starring an evil truck.
*Nemesis Prime's eyes and weapons glow yellow, similar to the yellow glowing "eye" on K.A.R.R, the evil version of K.I.T.T from the TV show, ''Knight Rider''. (K.A.R.R was also, in one episode, voiced by Peter Cullen.)

===Trivia===
*Silas is a former member of the Special Tactics branch of the military, while Fowler is an ex-Army Ranger.
*Nemesis Prime's transformation uses a modified version of the regular transformation sound effect, which makes it sound as if the transformation is not as smooth as that of an actual Cybertronian.
*Nemesis Prime's body is tarnished and dirty-looking, with heavily faded colors. The overall effect makes it look [[Zombie|undead]], even though it is more of a puppet than anything.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Crossfire (Prime)

2012-07-26T06:41:38Z

67.235.239.56: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 33
|prev=Loose Cannons
|next=Nemesis Prime (episode)
|image=Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg
|caption=You'll get caught up in the...
|title="Crossfire"
|airdate=[[March 31]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Airachnid and Starscream struggle to control an Insecticon warrior.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Crossfire MECH finds Breakdown.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Finally I can get ahead in this organization."]]
[[Airachnid]] muses to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] about [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s inevitable decryption of the [[Project Iacon|Iacon files,]] and requests for her tracking abilities to be enlisted in the search for the resulting coordinates. Megatron dismisses her, and Soundwave replays the audio of her suggestion to leave Megatron [[One Shall Rise, Part 2|earlier]]. He contacts [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], who replies with an oath of loyalty. The leader orders him to perform a task he normally performs [[Rock Bottom|himself]], but now leaves to his first officer. The Seeker is confused, as Airachnid holds that position, but his mission becomes clear—he is to dispose of the treacherous spider.

[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]], Dreadwing, and Airachnid follow the trail of an unconfirmed [[energon]] deposit. Airachnid is amused at the heavy backup, and takes the opportunity to grill Breakdown on his lack of skill, and lack of eye. Dreadwing attempts to calm him, but another insult puts him into a frenzy. He jumps at the spider, but is webbed in the face. Dreadwing joins the fray, but is pinned to a tree by Airachnid's webbing, but not before he lets off a blast which collapses a tree on Airachnid, damaging one of her legs and forcing her to retreat. Breakdown gives chase, and finds her collapsed in a ravine, but as he raises his hammer to finish her, he is snagged by a webbing booby trap the renegade fembot has laid for him. Immobilized, Breakdown can do nothing to stop Airachnid from slicing him to pieces. She leaves his remains behind, which are presently discovered by a contingent of [[MECH]] soldiers.

[[Image:Crossfire Starscream and Airachnid plot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"This is going to be awesome! With this Insecticon we can off Megatron and take over the whole thing!" "Insecticon, eat him."]]
In a cave, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] pities his lot in life as he jumps for a meager scrap of energon. He is interrupted by a nearby rumbling that surprises him—it is an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]], unearthing a large chunk of energon. He orders the brute to hand it over, but it attacks him, forcing him to hide. He witnesses the Insecticon bowing to another surprise—Airachnid. He makes himself known, and she makes her rogue status known, giving Starscream the idea to propose an alliance to overthrow Megatron with the help of her oversized herald. She proposes an alternative—she overthrows Megatron, and Starscream dies. She orders the Insecticon to kill him.

At the base, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] receives another [[Orion Pax, Part 2|high frequency signal with an embedded message,]] again from Starscream, who promises valuable intel in exchange for medical aid. His intel proves none-too-relevant until he mentions the Insecticon, and provides Airachnid's location. Back at base, [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] berates Ratchet and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] for letting him go again, but [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] is confident in sparing helpless lifeforms, regardless of personal vendettas.

[[Image:Crossfire Optimus aims at Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"One shall stand, one sha-oh, wait, too late."]]
Airachnid contacts Megatron and proposes a challenge, which he accepts, forbidding Dreadwing to follow him. Making his way to the mine, the Decepticon leader is immediately assaulted by the Insecticon, who ignores Megatron's orders to stand down and begins to beat him down. Though he does not initially fare well, it does not take long for the former gladiator to put himself on equal footing with the beast. The Autobots bridge in, and Arcee goes for Airachnid, chasing her off into the adjoining tunnels while the other Autobots watch as Megatron triumphs over the Insecticon, tearing off its limbs and head. The Autobots surround Megatron as he falls, exhausted. Prime mulls over the idea of ending his life when suddenly, Dreadwing and a large detachment of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] descend into the cavern. Prime agrees to trade the Autobots' lives for Megatron's, but once the trade is made, Megatron orders the Vehicons to attack, and departs with Dreadwing, noting his appreciation for Dreadwing's disregard of orders.

[[Image:Crossfire Airachnid strings up Arcee.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"I saw you hanging around and thought I'd wrap things up."]]
Arcee, meanwhile, follows Airachnid, but finds herself suddenly stuck in a trap. As her nemesis prepares to finish her, a missile streaks through the air and pushes Airachnid off Arcee. She escapes as Starscream—intent on payback—continues to fire. Now alone with Arcee, the Seeker recalls her decision to spare him earlier, and cuts her down to settle his debt.

Underground, even as she swears her vengeance, Airachnid comes upon the source of her warrior—an entire nest of Insecticons.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (11)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (13)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Airachnid]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (4)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (5)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (9)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (15)
|c3=
*[[MECH|MECH soldiers]] (6)
*[[MECH Commando]] (7)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==
"I know we've never seen ''eyes-to-eye'', but that doesn't mean we can't ''patch'' things up."
:—'''Airachnid''' baits Breakdown with extra-strength puns.

"Easy prey."
:—'''Breakdown's''' last words.

"You dare turn your back on a superior life-form? I am Commander Starscream!"
:—'''Starscream''' using his former position to get others to do what he wants...[[Orion Pax, Part 1|''again.'']]

"Nonetheless, I do not condone the termination of any defenseless life form."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', who ironically will almost terminate a defenseless and injured Megatron.

"You and your beast would do well to remember—''I honed my skills in the pits of [[Kaon]]!''"
:—'''Megatron''' reminds all that he is not so easily beaten.

"How right you were, Airachnid. Payback. Is. ''Sweet!''"
:—'''Starscream''' making Airachnid eat her own words.

"Never trust a 'Con. Kick Buckethead's bucket!"
:—'''Bulkhead''''s opinion on Dreadwing's offer to trade Megatron's life for the Autobots'.

"You disobeyed my orders in following me here. You will make a fine first lieutenant."
:—'''Megatron''' might have finally made a good choice for second-in-command.

==Notes==
=== Animation and technical errors ===
*When Bulkhead jumps out of the GroundBridge with Ratchet following behind, the wrecking ball on his left arm somehow transforms silently back to his hand.
*When the Insecticon throws Megatron into the air and slashes at him with its horn, it injures his shoulder and Energon is splattered from the wound. When Megatron recovers, the injury appears on his neck instead.
*When Megatron switches to his vehicle mode, the webbing on his cannon disappears. If this was intentional, why not just do it to fight off the Autobots?

===Continuity errors===
*Soundwave's trace of Airachnid's signal appears to locate her around about Bolivia, while the Autobot trace of the same signal places it on the north coast of [[South America]], in Guyana or Suriname.
*Megatron's blood/energon is colored blue when [[Stronger, Faster|it's been]] [[One Shall Fall|shown previously]] [[One Shall Rise, Part 1|to be purple]]. [[Darkness Rising, Part 4|He said so himself!]]
*Starscream's missiles reappear on his arms after he fires them.
*Bulkhead's remark that Starscream helped MECH steal Bumblebee's T-cog isn't entirely accurate, as MECH had already stolen Bumblebee's T-cog before Starscream had formed the alliance, in fact if Bumblebee hadn't arrived at the trap first it would have been Starscream who would have his T-cog stolen as he also was lured to the trap.

===Continuity notes===
*Arcee reminds the team yet again of how Airachnid took [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] away from her, as well as how Starscream was responsible for [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper's]] demise.
*Starscream hasn't forgotten how Arcee let him live after their last encounter from "[[Partners]]".
*Soundwave plays dialogue from "[[One Shall Rise, Part 2]]" to remind Megatron what Airachnid thinks of him.
*MECH comes across the dismembered remains of Breakdown, and cites it as a "[[Operation: Breakdown|familiar face]]".
*Starscream contacts Ratchet the same way he did back in "[[Orion Pax, Part 2]]", and meets him and Bulkhead in what appears to be the same place. Both he and Bulkhead even reference the events of that episode. Arcee seems to have learned about it as well.
*The events of the two-part episode "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|Operation Bumblebee]]" are brought up while Starscream begs for treatment.
*The "task" Megatron normally performs himself—the disposal of treacherous soldiers—previously occurred in "[[Rock Bottom]]", where Starscream was the recipient.
*Megatron refers to his skills and training as a Kaon gladiator.

===Real-world references===
*When Megatron contacts Dreadwing about him killing Airachnid and taking her place as Megatron's 1st lieutenant, Dreadwing picks up and cocks what appears to be a stormtrooper rifle from the Star Wars movies.

===Trivia===
*Starscream's arm-mounted missiles still work even with his T-Cog missing, since there's no transformation involved in firing them.
*The Decepticons really didn't do a good job in stripping that mine, considering all the Insecticon had to do was push away a couple of rocks to find a huge clump of energon in the wall.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Operation Bumblebee, Part 2

2012-07-26T06:36:12Z

67.235.239.56: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 31
|prev=Operation Bumblebee, Part 1
|next=Loose Cannons
|image=OperationBumblebee2-Forge.jpg
|caption=Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Bulkhead.

|title="Operation Bumblebee, Part 2"
|airdate=[[March 17]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bumblebee discovers that MECH and Starscream are responsible for his troubles; Ratchet confronts demons from his Cybertronian past.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OperationBumblebee2 Starscream MECH find Energon.jpg|thumb|left|250px|How much of this does Starscream get?]]
With [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] on a medical bed, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] tells [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] off for taking the scout into battle. When Bumblebee comes around, he faces Ratchet's ire as well, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] grounds Bumblebee until his [[transformation cog|T-cog]] can be recovered. Ratchet has another idea though—he offers to donate his own T-cog in a transplant. Though Optimus is uncertain, Ratchet convinces him.

[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is pleased with the new device [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] has secured—a [[force field]] generator—although Megatron's demonstration leaves him startled.

Elsewhere, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] and [[Silas]] find an [[energon]] deposit, though Silas would appreciate it if Starscream didn't talk so much.

Ratchet selects [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to do the operation, though she's less than enthusiastic. She starts by putting Ratchet in induced [[stasis lock|stasis]], but before she can do the same for Bumblebee, an alarm signals the appearance of another relic from the [[Vaults]] of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. Optimus calls a halt to the operation so he, Arcee and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] can investigate. No sooner have they left than [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] contacts the base. He's disappointed only Bumblebee's there to take his call, but passes on the news that he's got the possible coordinates of a [[MECH]] base. Unable to understand Bumblebee, he searches for someone who speaks English, but Ratchet is barely coherent, still recovering from stasis. [[Jack Darby|Jack]] volunteers to pass the message on.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee2 Breakdown Knockout find Forge.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Chipping away with my hammer, to bring Megatron a hammer with the power to make more hammers.]]
Optimus and his team reach the top of a mountain to find Knock Out and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] uncovering the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. With it, the Autobots could conceivably create a new T-cog for Bumblebee.

MECH infuses the newly-found energon into their creation, but as it begins to stir, Bumblebee bursts through the door. Though unarmed, Bumblebee throws an industrial-sized barrel at Starscream, knocking him flat, and proceeds to shrug off the weapons fire from the MECH goons.

As Knock Out and Breakdown free the forge, the Autobots charge them. While Bulkhead tackles Breakdown, Optimus and Arcee find they have a bit of a problem getting past Knock Out's shield generator, and he pushes them back towards the edge of the cliff.

Bumblebee knocks a bunch of MECH troopers flat, jumps on their robot and tears his T-cog from its innards. No sooner is this done than he's hit by a blast from Starscream. As MECH withdraw, Starscream grabs the T-cog and threatens to destroy it.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee2 Starscream threatens T-cog.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Look at your T-cog, now back to me...]]
Ratchet recovers, only to find Fowler shouting at him about MECH coordinates, and the kids reveal Bumblebee has gone to deal with it.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee has had enough of Starscream's gloating and belts the ex-Decepticon, knocking him flat. As the T-cog flies up into the air, Bumblebee jumps for it, but a quick blast by Starscream spells the end of that attempt. While Starscream leaves, Bumblebee is left with his shattered T-cog. Starscream meets up with MECH outside the compound, but Silas is less than impressed with him for losing the T-cog, and Starscream is soon surrounded by MECH troops.

Optimus and Arcee are forced back to the cliff edge. While Breakdown is distracted by their predicament, Bulkhead takes the opportunity to grab the Forge of Solus Prime and smack the Decepticon with it. Breakdown lands on Knock Out and for a few moments Bulkhead stands triumphant, at least until Megatron steps out of the [[GroundBridge]] and blasts him. Collecting the Forge, the Decepticons leave. Ratchet reports the situation with MECH to Optimus.

[[Image:OperationBumblebee2 Bumblebee damaged T-cog.jpg|thumb|right|250px|My Precious...]]
Starscream comes around to find MECH gone. When he sees Optimus's team arrive at the MECH base, he tries to transform, only to find his T-cog had been taken, and runs off panicking into the woods. Meanwhile, Bumblebee walks out to join his comrades, sadly holding his own damaged T-cog. Optimus radios Ratchet to prepare for surgery.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron attempts to use the Forge, only to discover that it requires the power of a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] to work.

Ratchet finishes operating, restoring Bumblebee's old cog. Though Bumblebee's first few attempts to transform fail, he eventually manages it, and takes Raf for a drive. Ratchet, for his part, seems happy that it worked.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (8)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (16)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (3)
*[[Silas]] (10)
*[[Jack Darby]] (12)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (13)
*[[William Fowler]] (14)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (17)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==

"You and I both know there exists a way to make him whole again." 
"A transplant, but that would require a donor." 
"You need look no further than the Autobot standing before you."
:—'''Ratchet''' tells '''Optimus Prime''' that he is willing to make a sacrifice.

"I...think I just leaked a little transmission fluid."
:—'''Knock Out''' sums up how intimidating his master truly is.

"Do you ever ''not'' speak?"
:—'''Silas''' says what we're all thinking to Starscream.

"I don't get it. All this chipping away with my hammer just to bring Megatron another hammer?"
:—'''Breakdown''' tells Knock Out that Megatron wants even more hammers.

"Mine's bigger!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' compares hammers with Breakdown.

"Time to jet—because I ''can''!"
:—'''Starscream''', who really should learn to keep his mouth shut.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Once again, Starscream's eyes are completely red for the first half of the episode. It's only after Bumblebee hits him with a barrel that they are only red circles. Maybe hitting him with a heavy object is the key to making them normal.
*After the Autobots pass through the GroundBridge to MECH's headquarters in search of Bumblebee, Optimus had his battle mask drawn. When the camera pans to show Starscream behind them, his mask retracts silently, and almost invisibly.

===Continuity errors===
*In the previous episode, the [[MECH Surgeon]] is shown to be able to lift (and run with) Bumblebee's T-cog without much difficulty. Silas tells Starscream to bring it with him, instead of just picking it up and taking it himself; he's even standing right in front of it. Then again, Silas could just be exerting dominance onto Starscream, metaphorically flexing his "I'm the leader" muscles. Or on the other hand the MECH Surgeon could have already left the place and Starscream carrying it might been quicker.

===Continuity notes===
*Once more, Starscream mentions being the one to "offline" [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]].

===Transformers references===
* While delirious, Ratchet refers to [[Fuzor]]s, and even names [[Bantor (Prime)|Bantor]], a reference to [[Bantor (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Bantor]].
* Optimus mentions [[Solus Prime]], one of the [[Thirteen]].
* Knock Out unfavorably compares the results of Megatron's failed forging experiment to a "[[Fortress Maximus (disambiguation)|Fortress-Maximus]] Grade [[Nucleon Shock Cannon]]".
* Megatron once again calls Optimus by his pre-Prime name "Orion Pax" from the previous episodes during his gloating.

===Real-world references===
*Knock Out broadly references award shows such as the Oscars and Emmys.
*"Put a tiger in your tank" was a slogan of [[wikipedia:Exxon|Exxon]].

===Trivia===
* When Agent Fowler relays the information on MECH's whereabouts to Bumblebee, he says it really slowly and condescendingly, as if he believes Bumblebee has trouble understanding English, rather than just being mute. Fowler's kind of a jerk.
* During the fight in the hangar, Bumblebee punches several MECH soldiers, sending them flying through the air. Silas survived this, so it stands to reason everyone else did, too. Cartoons, everybody! (A soldier didn't crack the prototype's lens; that was his rifle.)
* This episode confirms that (at least the current cast of) Cybertronians are incapable of self-propelled flight outside of a flight-capable alternate mode. This is in stark contrast to previous continuities. Especially ones in which even Cybertronians who ''didn't'' have flight-capable vehicle modes were capable of self-propelled flight through air and the vacuum of space.
* [[Solus Prime]] is the fourth member of the Original Thirteen to actually be named on television (the others were [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], [[Vector Prime]], and [[The Fallen]], respectively).

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 3

2012-07-26T06:28:45Z

67.235.239.56: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 29
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 2
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 1
|image=OrionPax3 Optimus Decepticon insignia.jpg
|caption=Man, that must have been some party last night!
|title="Orion Pax, Part 3"
|airdate=[[March 3]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack and Arcee undertake a dangerous mission on Cybertron to access Vector Sigma, while Orion begins to rebel against Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack and Arcee find entrance.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Speak. friend, and enter.]]
[[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] walk through [[Kaon]], guided by the light of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. They come upon a circular clearing, and the key glows intensely, indicating that they must be close. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake, and cracks appear in the surface. The duo watch in awe as a passageway rises from the ground, its door illuminated the same as the Key. It opens, but just as the two are about to enter, an enormous creature rears up from atop the passage. Arcee's [[Autobot]] symbol catches its eye, and it charges her, Arcee's minute strength doing nothing to injure it. She is quickly incapacitated, and the creature notices Jack, giving temporary pursuit until distracted by Arcee. Jack radios [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and is told that the creature is an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]], one of many sentries left to guard the dead [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Arcee tells Jack to go, to his surprise, but he realizes the necessity. As he enters, the door closes behind him.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] inquires as to [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion]]'s progress on [[Project Iacon]]. Orion says it's tough work, but Megatron says otherwise, revealing to him that all of his unsanctioned research has been recorded. Orion takes the opportunity to ask about his reported affiliation with the Autobots, but Megatron merely tells him to get back to work. Orion decides that enough is enough, and erases his progress in the archives. Megatron laughs, and shows the clerk that he has been recorded and documented in his pursuits. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] intrudes, to show Megatron that one of their sentries came online on Cybertron. Orion asks how anything is alive on the planet, but Megatron tells him to continue his work-or be terminated.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Megatron threatens Orion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Look, Orion! You can see your reflection on my sword!]]
Back on Cybertron, Arcee tangles with the enormous bug, but is no match for its brute strength. Finished with her, the Insecticon turns its attention to the fleshling, and breaks its way into the tunnel.

In the depths of the tunnel, Jack hears a [[Scraplet|familiar noise]], and uproots a metal bar for protection.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron reviews the reports with Soundwave. He learns of the [[space bridge]]'s activation, its endpoint, and the fact that it is still active. He quickly deduces the Autobots' plan.

In Cybertron's depths, Jack arrives at the chamber of [[Vector Sigma]]. He proceeds to the center of a circular platform, where he places the Key. The entire chamber begins to transform and glow with the Key's energy, and the enormous supercomputer reveals itself, and begins to transfer its energy to the Key.

On the ''Nemesis'', Orion is hassled by the guards. He appeals to their "good nature", saying that he believes Megatron will use the information he is agglomerating for nefarious purposes. Good-old fashioned police brutality ensues as the helpless clerk is kicked and punched by his guards.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack watches download.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Don't go into the light!]]
In the chamber, Jack is antsy about the speed of his download. His problems lie beyond his dial-up, however, because behind him, a horde of Scraplets has just taken notice of the ''very'' alive metal before him in the form of the Key to Vector Sigma. Jack is helpless to fend them off, and they begin to snack on the download port. He reports frantically on his position to ground control

In the space bridge chamber, however, the Autobots have bigger fish to fry as Megatron steps out of a [[GroundBridge]] to them. Ratchet vows to protect their charges, and the battle begins, Megatron easily flooring every Autobot, Ratchet and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] twice.

On Cybertron, Arcee awakes to find a Scraplet chewing on her foot. She blasts it off, and notices the opened passage—and the absent Insecticon. Transforming, she speeds into the passageway.

Jack valiantly smashes the Scraplets as they feed, but is unable to stop their progress towards the Matrix. Another problem presents itself behind him in the form of the Insecticon. It charges towards him, but stops in its tracks, staring at the key. Jack realizes why, and the Scraplets suddenly become a blessing. He formulates an idea, pulling a Scraplet off the Key and pointing it at the aggressor. The Insecticon turns tail as it realizes what's happening, but the Scraplets give chase and latch on, quickly chewing through the giant insect as it falls to its doom, limbs disconnected. The download completes, and Jack retrieves the key. Arcee finally arrives, and the two depart.

The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] guards continue to beat down Orion, and one of them lets slip that it's a privilege to beat the former leader of the Autobots. Orion pleads with them to stop, and in his defense, he accidentally transforms his arms into blasters. Realizing they're in trouble, the guards fire on Pax, but he quickly dispatches them both.

[[Image:OrionPax3 the Matrix reloaded.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reverse Care Bear Stare.]]
Arcee and Jack arrive at the space bridge portal, and radio Ratchet about their position. Total silence on the comm tip them off that something is wrong, and, undetected on the other end of the portal, Megatron waits to end the lineage of the Primes. However, he is surprised by the sudden arrival of Orion Pax, who vows that, no matter what his heritage might be, his spark is aligned with the Autobots. He deploys his blades, and charges for Megatron, but is quickly defeated. Megatron says that he has much to learn, and prepares to kill him, but Arcee speeds through the bridge and collides with him, sending them both flying. In the light of the bridge, Jack presents the Key to Orion, who hesitates, but accepts his destiny.

The Key begins to upload the Matrix to its host. Megatron, preoccupied with fighting Arcee, notices this, and desperately runs at him. However, Orion Pax—now ''Optimus Prime'' once again—isn't ready to go down again, and trounces his enemy. A GroundBridge portal opens up, and the Autobots retreat.

At base, the Autobots and humans rejoice at their reunion. Noticing his Decepticon symbol, Optimus asks Ratchet what had happened. He replies that it was their darkest hour, but at every point along the way, Optimus was truly an Autobot at spark.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]] (17)

|c2=
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*"[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]" (10)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (1)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (6)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)

|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (12)
*[[Vector Sigma]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why does history portray me siding with the Autobot aggressors? And why did Starscream call me a Prime? I must know...who ''am'' I?" 
"You are my clerk."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' questions his identity, while '''Megatron''' responds with a firm establishment of the pecking order.

"You're going down, buckethead!"
:—'''Bulkhead'''

"That may be true, or yet another deception, but this much I do know: my sympathies lie with the Autobots, and you are ''not'' one of us!"
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' to Megatron, realizing the truth.

"Are you...certain I am worthy?" 
"You have no idea."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' and '''Jack'''.

"Megatron—''be gone!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', before delivering the most awesome series of punches in the entire series.

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*As Megatron notices Jack recharging Optimus's Matrix and lets go of Arcee, his shoulder armour goes through the wall.

===Continuity errors===
*As Optimus jumps through the Autobot GroundBridge, he is suddenly sporting Autobot insignias.

===Continuity notes===
*The scraplets seem a ''lot'' nastier in this episode, chewing so fast as to render a hulking robot limbless in a matter of seconds. This is ''not'' an error, as many factors could contribute, such as the scraplets' inability to find living metal on the barren Cybertron and the ancient state of the Insecticon.
*Optimus still has the broken sword from way back in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It would seem that the Decepticons neglected to repair it. Or rather, neglected to mention that he had weapons in the first place.
*The Insecticon is the first Cybertronian in the Prime cartoon to have a Beast [[alternate mode]].

===Transformers references===
[[Image:OrionPax3 Vector Sigma in scraplet-vision.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Night vision on.]]
* Ratchet references ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' by referring an event as "our darkest hour", as he did before in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]", and as Optimus did in [[One Shall Rise, Part 3]].
* Bulkhead calls Megatron "buckethead", a reference to [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]].
* The Insecticon's insect mode resembles a large rhinoceros beetle, [[Bombshell (G1)|like]] [[Salvo|several]] [[Barrage (Insecticon)|other]] [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]].
* From the Scraplets' point-of-view, the sphere of Vector Sigma is seen in its faceted orb appearance common to many continuities.

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's line bemoaning the Scraplets on Cybertron is a paraphrase of the oft-referenced "Why did it have to be snakes?" line from ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''.

===Trivia===
*Look closely at the arena in Kaon: it's the same arena as seen in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]". Ironic that the entrance to Vector Sigma lay beneath Megatron's feet at that moment.
*When Jack coaxes the Scraplets into attacking the Insecticon, he calls it "the main course", echoing what Bulkhead said while using himself as bait in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
*The way Optimus catches Megatron's sword just after he regains his memory is the exact same as when Megatron caught Optimus' sword in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It even makes the same thundering noise.
*Jack never picked up a souvenir for Raf, which Raf asked for in the previous episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Operation: Breakdown

2012-07-26T05:35:27Z

67.235.239.56: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 16
|prev=Shadowzone (episode)
|next=Crisscross
|image=OperationBreakdown-Consdontbreak.jpg
|caption=Now all he needs is [[Metal Attraction|<strike>an eye patch and</strike>]] a bottle of scrumpy.
|title="Operation: Breakdown"
|airdate=[[June 18]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Breakdown is captured by MECH, and the only ones who can save him are... Team Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is fighting [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in a ghost town on the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]] in Eastern [[Russia]] after the two have a run-in while tracking an energon signature. Though Bulkhead fights valiantly, Breakdown lays him flat with a hammer blow. As Breakdown prepares to finish the unconscious Bulkhead off, he's zapped by a blast of energy from a helicopter, which lands and disgorges [[Silas]] and a pack of [[MECH]] troops. Silas instructs them to take Breakdown. Bulkhead comes around to find Breakdown missing and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] calling out to him on the comm. After he bridges back to base for repairs, everyone's confused about what happened to Breakdown. [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] has an idea who might be behind it.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] relays news of Breakdown's capture to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Starscream is keen to hunt down the [[human]]s responsible, but Megatron intends to leave Breakdown to his fate for being captured by those weaker.

[[Image:OperationBreakdown-WeAreMECH.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"No, Mister Bot, I expect you to die."]]

Breakdown recovers to find himself firmly attached to a metal slab. Silas introduces himself to the captive, who announces that Megatron will never pay a ransom, but Silas reveals they're not after money, just the technology in Breakdown's body.

Fowler fills the Autobots in — his intel has reported MECH activity in the Kamchatka Peninsula. While the other Autobots are happy for MECH to have Breakdown, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] decides to mount a rescue mission. The others are surprised, and Bulkhead wonders if Optimus believes Breakdown will switch sides if the Autobots rescue him, but Optimus says while that's unlikely, they can't let MECH get Cybertronian technology.

Meanwhile, MECH have disengaged Breakdown's pain receptors in preparation for the operation. Silas thanks their captive in advance for the service he is about to do them, and the heavy machinery moves in to take the Decepticon apart.

Miko tries to talk Bulkhead into going on the mission, but he's not keen, and Optimus agrees he would not be an asset on the mission. Optimus departs with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]. Miko looks disappointed, and Bulkhead suggests they watch a movie instead. [[Image:TFPep16DoubleCreatureFeature.jpeg|right|thumb|300px|"I know what'll make you feel better - watching a rip-off of an old Japanese movie!"]]

Prime's team arrives in the ghost town, to find it deserted. Though Bumblebee spots some vehicle tracks, Ratchet reports he's got an [[energon]] trace, and they go to look for the source.

Fowler has already fallen asleep in front of ''[[Dinolizard vs. Five-Headed Ape]]''. Miko isn't watching the movie though, as she's disappointed that Bulkhead isn't getting to face down his own arch-enemy. Bulkhead still doesn't want to rescue the 'Con, but Miko points out that if he doesn't, he won't get to have a rematch. Bulkhead takes the [[GroundBridge]] to [[Russia]].

Prime's team finds the energon reading — it's Breakdown's eye, sitting in the open.

Bulkhead follows a MECH car to a railway tunnel and, weapons primed, ventures inside.

Ratchet hooks Breakdown's eye up to his scanner so they can retrieve the last images it saw, but it turns out that Silas has turned the eye into a two-way video feed. Silas is surprised to see the Autobots, but shows off the work they're doing on Breakdown and points out the bomb the Autobots are standing virtually on top of. Prime's team just manages to get clear before the bomb explodes.

Silas passes on the news to Breakdown that his would-be rescuers are Autobots, much to the captive's confusion. At this point, Bulkhead breaks through an outer door and fights his way through the MECH goons to find Breakdown. Freeing the startled Decepticon, Bulkhead leads the way to the exit, but once outside, they're confronted by the bulk of the MECH forces. Bulkhead calls for backup, and the pair start fighting in earnest. Silas's 'copter begins firing bursts of energy, and Breakdown, in an uncharacteristic act of altruism, knocks Bulkhead out of harm's way. The fight continues, but [[MECH Navigator|Silas's copilot]] reports incoming signals, resulting in Silas ordering a general retreat. Arriving, however, is not Optimus's team, but Starscream and a bunch of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s. Starscream orders Breakdown to destroy Bulkhead, and though Breakdown is initially reluctant, Starscream sways him, and he attacks his Autobot rescuer. Bulkhead soundly pummels Breakdown before smashing Starscream and taking out the Vehicons with Breakdown's body. The Decepticons are forced to retreat as Optimus's team finally shows up. Optimus is impressed that Bulkhead has risen above his petty rivalries to rescue Breakdown, but the moment is spoiled by Bulkhead asking if they all saw how he bashed the Decepticons.

Breakdown pauses short of the ''Nemesis'', where Starscream informs him that he will repay his debt one day... when he must choose between Megatron's leadership and Starscream's.

Silas records that the information they gained from Breakdown was enough for them to start [[Project Chimera]]...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (2)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (16)
|c3=
*[[Silas]] (3)
*[[MECH Commando]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] (10)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (14)
*[[MECH Navigator]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"As much as I'll miss our little reunions...''hammer time''."
:—'''Breakdown''', before being captured by MECH

"Full disclosure: We intend to pull you apart. Break you down, if you will."
:—'''Silas''' tells Breakdown what's in store, while making a pun at the same time.

"You're making a very big mistake, little man. When I'm finished with you, they'll have to scrape you off the floor!"
:—'''Breakdown''' promises to make JaAm out of Silas

"It's a trap!" 
"Would this be a 'roll out' kind of trap?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' ackbars and '''Arcee''' continues to be genre savvy.

"'Marco!' You're supposed to say 'Polo!'"
:—'''Bulkhead''' plays with MECH.

"Never run when you can fight."
:—'''Breakdown'''

"One day, you will repay your debt to me, Breakdown... the day it comes time to choose sides." 
"Huh... between 'Bots and 'Cons?" 
"Between myself – and Megatron."
:—'''Starscream''' informs a confused '''Breakdown''' of his plans for the future.

"I ''suggest'' that Megatron never know of this...rescue. You ''do'' want him to think you defeated the puny humans and escaped on your own, ''don't you''?
:—'''Starscream''' makes '''Breakdown''' an offer he can't refuse.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Breakdown is seen being held down in MECH's base by metal bars welded around his hands. However, in all shots of his lower body, nothing is shown to be holding it down. Did MECH use another method to restrain his legs?

===Continuity errors===
* Moments after calling Optimus Prime by name and stating that he was expecting Megatron, Silas tells Breakdown about his "would-be rescuers" without moving from the same location from which he had just been talking to them—yet Breakdown seems to have no idea that they were Autobots. How did he not hear the conversation?
* Silas has Breakdown's pain receptors shut off so he doesn't make a lot of noise while being operated on. If this is the first Cybertronian they've managed to capture, much less dissect, how would his scientists know how to do such a thing?

===Real-world references===
*Miko plays the game "Marco Polo" with Bulkhead. Bulkhead later plays the game with MECH.
*''Dinolizard vs Five-Headed Ape'' is a parody of ''[[Wikipedia:King Kong vs. Godzilla|King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.
*Breakdown says "[[wikipedia:M.C. Hammer|Hammer Time]]". Yeah.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operation Breakdown'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 6|6 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Breakdown-küldetés'''" ("The Breakdown Mission")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 30|30 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Operazione Breakdown'''" ("Operation Breakdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 19|19 November]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Shujutsu Henkei!? Torawareta Hakai Senshi''' (手術変形!?囚われた破壊戦士, "Surgical Transformation!? Imprison the Soldier of Destruction")
:*''Airdate:'' [[July 21|21 July]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Saengche Lobot Haebu'''" (생체 로봇 해부, "Dissection of the Living Robot")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 18|18 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 26|26 December]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* MECH can carve up Breakdown with ease with their surgical lasers, but the guns they give their foot soldiers are not particularly effective on Transformers without pouring on massive amounts of firepower. Clearly, MECH's soldiers should be equipped with surgical lasers instead.
*The episode was screened at [[BotCon 2011]] before its first airing on television.
*Starscream got a new arm. It's still not an upgrade.
*Miko seems to have [[Shadowzone (episode)|learned her lesson]]: She didn't follow Bulkhead this time.
*Human death ''must'' have occurred during Bulkhead and Breakdown's outdoor battle with MECH. Case in point: Breakdown throwing a car at a helicopter, causing a midair explosion.
*The [[Wikipedia:Kamchatka Peninsula|Kamchatka Peninsula]] is an actual place, with heavy volcanic activity. But if the show is placed in 2011, there are no recorded evacuations in 1991 due to volcanic activity.
*In the close-up shots of Breakdown before MECH drills into his right eye, you can see it twitching along with the right corner of his mouth. Who knew Cybertronians had tics?

[[Category:Prime episodes|Operation Breakdown]]

Operation: Breakdown

2012-07-26T05:35:14Z

67.235.239.56: /* Quotes */

Dynamic Nuclear Generation System

2012-07-26T05:02:06Z

67.235.239.56: /* Notes */

:''The Dynamic Nuclear Generation System is a device from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)| Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:DNGS.jpg|thumb|300px|Extruded Plastic Dingus. You know... for kids!]]

The '''Dynamic Nuclear Generation System''' (aka '''Dingus''') is a prototype energy source. In the event of a meltdown, it would irradiate all of [[Nevada]] (or whichever state it was in) and four adjoining states.

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
[[William Fowler]] was transporting the Dynamic Nuclear Generation System to the West Coast when [[MECH]] shot down his jet. Believing the perpetrators to be [[Decepticon]]s, Fowler requested [[Team Prime]]'s aid and loaded the device into [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[trailer]]. They were soon engaged by a MECH squad led by [[Silas]]. During the chase, the Autobots drove into a train tunnel, and they transferred the Dingus into a carriage guarded by a human soldier. But when [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s blew up Optimus's trailer and there was no meltdown, Silas got wise to the strategy and pursued the train instead. When Prime ran to defend the carriage, Silas broke off pursuit, attempting to deprive his enemy of his prize by blowing up the train track, which would initiate a meltdown. Optimus stopped the train in time, though, and the area was safe. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}

==Notes==
*We presume the acronym is an intentional reference to the word "dingus", meaning "something whose name is either unknown or forgotten", on the writers' part, unlike the [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]].
*Yes, dingus ''also'' means "a foolish person". Harharhar.
*...in some areas it also happens, unfortunatly, to refer to *ahem* certain portions of the male mammalian anatomy.

[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Power sources]]
[[Category:Prime technology]]

Darkness Rising, Part 5

2012-07-26T03:58:28Z

67.235.239.56: /* Synopsis */ captions

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

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DarknessRising5-ohgeez.jpg|left|thumb|200px|You! Yeah, you! I'm talkin' to YOU!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] imagines in dread what will happen if [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] uses the [[Dark Energon]] to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and brings them to conquer [[Earth]].

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

As the Autobots assume attack positions, Arcee notes that the Decepticons haven't done anything. Optimus scans the ship, and learns that Bulkhead damaged its interstellar navigation dish during [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s rescue. Since a target as far as Cybertron needs pinpoint accuracy, the Decepticons will be unable to use it to aim the space bridge without an alternate targeting system. Raf reasons that the Decepticons may be using the [[Giant Sized Array]] radio telescope in [[Texas]], but Fowler is still too out of it to alert the array staff to the danger. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] attempts to hack in, but the array's firewalls are too good. Jack thinks they should go on site, and they talk Optimus into letting them do it.

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

[[Image:DarknessRising5-RafSoundwave.jpg|thumb|200px|Raf, aren't you a little young for hentai?]]

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

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

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Megatronsword.jpg|left|thumb|200px|He can do the ''ultimate'' bird flip.]]

Megatron manages to defeat Prime, but as he raises his sword, Starscream alerts him to the actions of the other Autobots. Optimus takes advantage of the momentary distraction to block Megatron's killing blow, and blast him away, but the Decepticon leader transforms and flies off to find Prime's team. Arcee's team has succeeded in rigging the space bridge to blow when Megatron attacks and blasts her off into space. The Autobots jump into the GroundBridge, Bumblebee collecting Arcee on the way. Seeing the potential damage the exploding space bridge would cause Starscream decides to pull the ship back, imploring Megatron to do the same. Overcome with regret over the loss of his army of Terrorcons as they begin to come through, the space bridge explodes in Megatron's face.

A short distance away in the ship, Starscream notes that Megatron's spark is now extinguished and all will hail him.
The Autobots make it back to their base. Though Arcee's in bad shape, she makes it out alright. Optimus announces that there's totally no way Megatron could have survived the space bridge explosion. Fowler thanks the Autobots for saving him, then leaves. Optimus gives a big speech and sends a signal into space to let the galaxy know that Earth is defended by the Autobots.

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

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

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

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

}}

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

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

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

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

"One shall stand, one shall fall." 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' brings an old line back into style.

"Ah... misdirection, Optimus. You would have made a fine Decepticon!" 
''(Megatron brings his sword down, but Optimus blocks it)'' 
"I ''chose'' my side."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' carry on an old disagreement.

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

"Decepticons, it is with deep sorrow that I note for the log... Megatron's spark... has been extinguished. All. Hail. Starscream."
:—'''Starscream''' praises himself as leader.

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

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

===Transformers references===
* There are two references which are directly related to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the 1986 animated movie]]. First Ratchet says, "Then by all means, let us light our [[darkest hour]]." Later, Optimus exchanges with Megatron: "One shall stand, one shall fall."
* Optimus's Energon blade and Megatron's hidden fusion cannon blade are references to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)| their movie]] [[Megatron (Movie)|counterparts]].
* Optimus's speech at the end is similar to the ones Movie Optimus gives at the end of the three movies.

===Real-world references===
[[Image:DarknessRising5-Michelangelo.jpg|thumb|250px|Or it could be another [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]] reference.]]
* Miko tries to use an axe on [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s tentacle, which is the same tactic Tom Cruise's character tries on the Tripod tentacle in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''War of the Worlds''. Of course, both attempts fail.
* Miko refers to space as "the final frontier". "Space. The final frontier" is the first line of the opening credits of several ''[[Wikipedia: Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' TV shows. ''Prime'' show developers [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] are also the screenwriters of the current ''Star Trek'' movies.
* Megatron, when he rises out of the Decepticon ship with the boulder of Dark Energon on his back, is clearly meant to evoke the classic [[Wikipedia:Atlas|Atlas]] pose.
* The shot of Megatron reaching out to a Terrorcon before the space bridge implosion is reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Michelangelo|Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:The Creation of Adam|The Creation of Adam]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die dunkle Macht erhebt sicht, Teil 5'''" (The Dark Force Rises, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 21|21 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Közeleg a sötétség, 5. rész'''" ("The Darkness Is Nearing, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 13|13 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La rimonta delle tenebre, quinta parte'''" ("Darkness Rising, Fifth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 1|1 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Bakuretsu Henkei! Spacebridge Kōbōsen''' (爆裂変形!スペースブリッジ攻防戦, ''Explosive Transformation! Spacebridge Battle'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 5]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ak ui Buhwal 5'''" (악의 부활 5, "Return of the Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 12|12 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 9|9 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El regreso del mal, Parte 5'''" ("The Return of Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Winged versions of the Vehicons make their appearance here.
* The Decepticons are unable to simply warp to Cybertron thanks to Bulkhead ripping off a vital piece of equipment in the previous episode.
* When the kids arrive at the radio array, they note that the place seems deserted. A brief shadowy glimpse of a human slumped against the wall suggests that, like [[Blackout (Movie)| Blackout]], Soundwave isn't keen on leaving survivors or witnesses.
* When Starscream tries to convince Megatron to retreat, there is a surprising tone of concern in his voice. Either that, or he's a much better actor than certain other [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscreams]]. More probably the latter, as he is clearly seen grinning moments before while telling Megatron that the ''Nemesis'' would never make it to the space bridge.
* A short video showing a rehearsal or an earlier take of the confrontation between Optimus Prime and Megatron was screened at both [[BotCon 2010]] and San Diego Comic-Con 2010.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvW4nsr3ZDo#t=2m53s "Transformers: Prime" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2010]</ref> The dialogue was somewhat different, with Optimus referring to battle on an alien world when ordering the Autobots away, and lacking the "One shall stand, one shall fall" exchange. Instead, it had Megatron shouting Optimus's name in a rather exaggerated manner.
*The space battle was an idea [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] had for the [[live-action film series]] but couldn't incorporate.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Pb3MeUDdY Roundtable interview with ''Prime'' staff at BotCon 2011]</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]