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Inside Job

2012-10-14T12:38:00Z

68.82.63.117: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 49
|prev=Hard Knocks
|next=Patch (episode)
|image=InsideJobKnockOutSmokescreen.jpg
|caption=Having fun, Knock Out?
|title="Inside Job"
|airdate=[[October 12]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Smokescreen is captured, he learns the location of the Omega Key and attempts to retrieve all the other stolen keys.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] recovers consciousness to find himself on a slab in the [[Trypticon (Prime)|Decepticon warship]] with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] standing over him. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] demands the final relic, pointing out [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s work decrypting the Iacon database has revealed an image of Smokescreen, but Smokescreen is merely confused as to what it means. Knock Out scans the [[Autobot]], and finds the last relic is hidden inside.

The other Autobots, meanwhile, realize that the Decepticons must have decoded the last coordinates and speculate that Smokescreen holds the [[Omega Key]] inside him, largely due to being installed within him while unconscious by [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]].

Knock Out advances on the alarmed Smokescreen with a rotary saw, only to reveal he's actually going to use the [[phase shifter]] to do the operation. He reaches inside Smokescreen and soon has the Omega Key in hand. Smokescreen refuses to tell the Decepticons what the Omega Keys are, but Megatron has ways of finding out.

[[Image:InsideJobStarscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cue evil laugh in 3, 2, 1...]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] ruminates on the one Omega Key he possesses, while talking to his [[Starscream clone (Prime)|dead clone]]. Imagining himself in charge of a reborn [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he quickly realizes that he doesn't have the resources he would need to rule it.

Megatron listens in on Prime's briefing about the Omega Keys, thanks to a [[cortical psychic patch]] hooked up to Smokescreen. Once they've learned all they need, Knock Out unplugs the pair and Megatron orders Knock Out to use the patch to find the location of the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]] so they can retrieve the other Omega Keys. After Megatron leaves to put their new key in a safe place, Knock Out moves in, only for Smokescreen to grab the phase shifter attached to his wrist and uses it to free himself. The pair grapple until Smokescreen manages to pull the device from his opponent's wrist, leaving Knock Out embedded in a bulkhead. Though Knock Out points out Smokescreen has no means of escape from the ship, Smokescreen has plans of his own. Through use of the phase shifter, he manages to catch up with Megatron near the storage area, where he snatches back the Omega Key and takes the one in storage as well. The Decepticons attempt to stop him, but their firepower passes straight through him. He eventually reaches the outer hull, only to be confronted by Megatron. With no other choice, the Autobot bails the ship.

At the Autobot base, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] picks up Smokescreen's signal, but has trouble locking on due to the fact that Smokescreen is plummeting through the air. Harried by [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], Smokescreen drops towards the [[GroundBridge]] Ratchet opens, only to be knocked off-course by Megatron. He uses the phase shifter to pass through the ground. Moments later, Megatron lands and demands his subordinates search the wreckage. Smokescreen bridges back to base, where the Autobots congratulate him, but wonder where the fourth key is. Their query is answered a moment later when they get a message from Starscream offering the key in return for the replacement of his [[transformation cog|T-Cog]]. Having considered it, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] decides it's too important to not take Starscream up on his offer.

Optimus, Ratchet and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] bridge to a forested location and approach Starscream, only to find him apparently dead. It is, of course, just the dead clone, as the real Starscream uses his [[Red Energon]] to nip through the GroundBridge into the Autobot base. Moving too fast to be seen, he is tempted at first to finish off the slow-moving Autobots, but goes back to finding the Omega Keys first. The Autobots in the field realize they've been deceived just as Starscream blows open the vault holding the keys. Though Optimus orders [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to close the GroundBridge, it is too slow to prevent Starscream from escaping the base. He stops to mock Optimus, Ratchet and Bulkhead, only for the Red Energon to wear off right at the worst possible moment. After firing a missile at the Autobots, he frantically opens his own GroundBridge and escapes back to the ''[[Harbinger]]'', much to Optimus's despair. Though Bulkhead and Ratchet believe they can get the keys back Optimus grimly announces the fate of Cybertron is now in Starscream's hands.

[[Image:InsideJobKnockOut.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Well, this is awkward.]]
Despite Knock Out's pleas, Megatron refuses to release him from the wall. Megatron and [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] return to the bridge, where they find Starscream who has come with a peace offering of all four Omega Keys.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)

|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (1)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (12)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Trippy."
:—'''Knock Out''' thinks the phase shifter is like, totally groovy man.

"Get your stinkin' hand out of my gears!"
:—'''Smokescreen''' obviously doesn't like operations.

"Tell me the function of these relics." 
"Door stop, shavers, bling? Beats me."
:—'''Megatron''' asks a question and '''Smokescreen''' gives a vague answer.

"How easy it would be to gut you [Arcee]...to gut all of you."
:—Well, '''Starscream's''' already making plans.

"Now that I have your trinkets, I can enjoy slitting your... [sees closing GroundBridge] but, as I appear to be pressed for time..."
:—Don't get too carried away there, '''Starscream'''.

"Autobots, maintain positions!" (said in '''very''' slow motion) 
"I'm sorry, what was that? Mblemblemble!"
:—'''Starscream''' uses the power of [[Red Energon]] to taunt '''Optimus'''.

"We ''will'' locate the Autobot base, invade it, and retrieve the Omega Keys!" 
"Been there, done that."
:—'''Starscream''' steals '''Megatron''''s thunder.

==Notes==
[[Image:TFP Inside Job Starscream fistful of keys.jpg|thumb||250px|Beware Starscream bearing gifts...]]

===Animation and technical errors===
*Megatron's vehicle mode still has his fusion cannon, despite the arm it was attached to being removed. Furthermore, if one watches Megatron's transformation scene, it's blocked off by smoke, making it impossible to see what exactly happens with his fusion cannon and his different arm.
*Smokescreen's momentum suddenly disappears upon phasing through the ground. Based on where he exits, he couldn't have landed much lower than the Vehicons did. Speaking of momentum, how exactly were the Autobots planning to catch Smokescreen when he came out of the GroundBridge at terminal velocity? Maybe it's part of the "intuitiveness" that allows for not phasing through floors and simultaneously reaching through objects and grabbing parts of them/items inside them?
*An early external shot of the ''[[Trypticon_(Prime)|Nemesis]]'' has its "eyes" and running lights illuminated in [[Dark Energon]] purple; later in the episode they are their normal red.

===Continuity errors===
*Did the Autobots not scan Smokescreen thoroughly when he first came to the base? After the incident with Makeshift you would would think the Autobots would do so. Even if they were sure that Smokescreen was legit a thorough scan would still be a good thing to perform in case of battle damage. If you want to fix something you need to know what it originally looked like.

===Continuity notes===
*This episode continues from [[Hard Knocks|the previous one]], starting not long after Smokescreen's capture and subsequent restraint.
*The [[cortical psychic patch]] is used to extract information from Smokescreen, having been used previously in "[[Sick Mind]]" and "[[Out of the Past]]".
*The scene which Megatron watches in Smokescreen's mind is from "[[Alpha/Omega]]".
*Starscream lists off numerous items he's acquired or stolen in previous episodes; the Omega Key from "Hard Knocks", the processed Red Energon (which he acquired in "[[New Recruit]]" and refined in "Hard Knocks"), his GroundBridge remote first seen in "[[Triangulation]]", his murdered clone from "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]", and the T-cog he scavenged from said clone in "Triangulation".
*Starscream previously referred to himself as an "[[Emperor of Destruction]]" in "[[Masters & Students]]".
*Ratchet recalls Starscream's lack of a T-cog, which he learned about in "[[Crossfire]]". Starscream lost his in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Starscream still seems to be holding a grudge against Arcee from the events of "[[Partners]]", given his comments about gutting the Autobots start with her.
*While Starscream is looking for the Omega Keys in the Autobots' Vault, he comes across [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] in stasis, which occurred back in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]".
* This is the second time that Megatron abandons one of his own soldiers as a form of punishment. The first was of course Breakdown, whom was recued by Bulkhead. At this rate he will soon be seriously outnumbered compared to the Autobots. Vehicons aside that is but those are nothing more than cannon fodder so they do not really count.
*Even though the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] was destroyed in "Alpha/Omega", Optimus still wears the hilt Ratchet made him.

===Transformers references===
* One of Starscream's self-proclaimed titles as the new ruler of Cybertron is "[[Emperor of Destruction]]". He also refers to himself as Cybertron's [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]], which originated in the Marvel UK story [[State Games]] as the pre-war rulers of Cybertron.

===Real-world references===
*A brain pan is real. Scientists use it to study brains of corpses without the confines of a skull.
*Arcee uses the human phrase of sounding like a broken record.

===Trivia===
*This episode explains why the phase shifter doesn't phase the user through everything, neatly tying up the issues of how it can be used with such versatility.
*While in Smokescreen's mind, Megatron's avatar has his own arm rather than the Prime's arm that he's since attached.
*This is the third episode in a row where no humans appear, the first episode in the series where we get to hear Optimus scream in frustration, and the first episode since "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]" to show a Vehicon in automobile mode.
*Both Optimus and Megatron scream at the loss of the Omega Keys.
*It would seem Megatron cannot tell which of his own soldiers are fliers or ground troopers. Then again, there's not much difference in appearance. Or maybe he was inspired by Smokescreen's free fall.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

MECH Surgeon

2012-09-24T02:26:14Z

68.82.63.117:

{{Noname-designation}}
:''The MECH Surgeon is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]] portion of the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:MECH Surgeon.JPG|right|thumb|250px|''[["Weird Al" Yankovic|I'll pull his insides out... Pull his iiiiinsides out And see what he ate!]]'']]
The '''MECH Surgeon''' is an agent of the [[MECH]] organization. Unlike the rest of MECH, he wears a lab coat on top of his MECH uniform.

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Josh Keaton]] (English)|[[Bernhard Völger]] (German)}}
According to Agent Fowler MECH agents, including the Surgeon may be special tactics like Silas, but still enlisted. {{storylink|Grill}}

After MECH captured [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] the surgeon was tasked with dismantling him and using what they found to make a new generation of weapons. He managed to cut out Breakdown's eye, which they converted into a two-way feed, allowing [[Silas]] to talk to the Autobots who were trying to rescue the Decepticon. When Bulkhead came to Breakdown's rescue, Silas and the "medical" team evacuated before he reached the prisoner. They had however gained enough info on his internal workings to launch [[Project Chimera]]. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}}

A deal struck with [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] allowed MECH to capture [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and hold her in their temporary facility in [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]]. Silas ordered the surgeon to cut open Arcee and take her "[[Spark|heart]]", suspecting that Airachnid might double cross them if they did things her way. Arcee woke up and beat up the surgeon and his assistant after they cut her out of Airachnid's webbing. The appearance of [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] and his men forced MECH to retreat but not before observing Airachnid scanning Fowler's helicopter. {{storylink|Crisscross}}

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's operation.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
As Project Chimera neared completion, MECH attacked [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to get their hands on a [[transformation cog|T-cog]]. Once the scout was paralyzed, the surgeon extracted it, in quicker time then he thought. Thankfully this quick time allowed them to take off with the cog in time to avoid Bulkhead. Though he installed it into the robot they'd built, the cog failed to give it the ability to [[transformation|transform]], no matter what the surgeon did. He was there to witness [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]'s partner proposal to MECH. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

Later, with the help of Starscream, MECH found some Energon to fuel their robot and reactivated the test with their new power source. Though the test was going well, Bumblebee, seeking to take back his T-cog, attacked the base and destroyed the robot, forcing Silas, the surgeon and MECH to retreat... but not without taking Starscream's T-cog first. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

As Silas tested [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]], the surgeon checked that the interface was all working as expected. He was later knocked out by Fowler when the agent invaded the MECH base, but regained consciousness soon after and surrounded Fowler after Silas kicked him to the floor. However Nemesis Prime came through the roof, forcing the Surgeon and his men to run. After their experiment fell on Silas, the surgeon attended to the MECH leader. The prognosis was not good, but the surgeon had a solution ready involving Breakdown's recently acquired corpse. {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}}

He successfully integrated Silas into Breakdown's systems. The newly-awakened "Cylas" promptly decided he had no need for the surgeon or any of the other MECH personnel, and killed them. {{storylink|The Human Factor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mech Surgeon}}
[[Category:Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category:Prime humans]]
[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:MECH]]

Legacy (episode)

2012-09-22T23:45:11Z

68.82.63.117:

{{Picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 46
|prev=The Human Factor
|next=Alpha; Omega
|image=
|caption=
|title="Legacy"
|airdate=[[September 21]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack is assigned to help Smokescreen adapt to life on Earth while Megatron tries to secure the Star Saber without letting the Autobots know of its existence.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] race down a Nevada road in search of an [[energon]] signal. Though Bumblebee tries to encourage Smokescreen to slow down, the rookie breaks the speed limit and almost runs into another vehicle. The driver jumps out to threaten Smokescreen, who promptly [[transformation|transforms]] and threatens him back. Bumblebee transforms to stop Smokescreen and the truck driver takes the opportunity to snap a picture of the pair. Back at base, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] locates the picture on the [[Internet]] and says [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] can deal with it later. The other [[Autobot]]s lecture Smokescreen about the concept of secrecy and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] says they need to help Smokescreen acclimate to [[Earth]] through learning about [[human]] society. Jack is duly assigned to help Smokescreen and the pair head out, though [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] complains that she thinks Jack will be at risk because Smokescreen has the most obvious [[alternate mode]] ever.

Driving through [[Jasper]], Jack tries to educate Smokescreen on traffic lights, though Smokescreen is unable to stop joking around. When [[Vince]] hauls up beside them, Jack attempts to be inconspicuous, but Vince notices anyway and throws a burger at them. Smokescreen soon talks Jack into some retribution, and when they arrive back at base, Jack has a photo of Vince's burger-covered car. Arcee isn't impressed with their progress so far.

On the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has finished decoding another set of coordinates from the Iacon database. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] gets a decoy ready. Thus when Optimus is also almost finished decoding the same coordinates, the base sensors pick up an Iacon locator beacon in [[China]]. Optimus takes Arcee, Bumblebee and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to investigate. Meanwhile, Megatron has [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] and [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] busy excavating the real relic. Hoping it is of Decepticon origin, Megatron is shocked to see it is the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. Desperate to keep it from Optimus, Megatron tries to pull it free, but to no avail and remains firmly entrenched in the rock. Even trying to destroy the rock fails, as the sword's energy is rendering it invulnerable. Realizing that it will only respond to a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], Megatron sees to have it removed by a more extreme means.

[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] picks up the signal from the Saber, but is unable to contact Prime. Prime's team is trying to track the first signal, unaware that it's the decoy being carried around by Soundwave. Smokescreen and Jack arrive back at base having pulled a prank on Jack's boss. When Ratchet reports the situation, Smokescreen volunteers to check out the second signal, and takes Jack along with him in secret. They find the Decepticons trying break the mountain down to a smaller size, and Smokescreen recognizes the Star Saber. Despite Jack's concerns, Smokescreen charges in as the Decepticons are preparing to lift the remaining rock with the ''Nemesis''. The Autobot proves as successful in extracting the sword as Megatron was, and is promptly captured by the Decepticons. While Jack tries to notify Ratchet, he is soon found and pursued by Insecticons. Ratchet gets enough from Jack's message to know what they've found and they're in serious trouble, and [[GroundBridge]]s to Optimus's location just as the team there are realizing they were being led on a wild goose chase.

[[Image:PrimeLegacySmokescreen.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Though many tried for the sword with all their strength, none could move the sword, nor stir it.]]
As the ''Nemesis'' starts lifting the massive rock holding the Star Saber, Megatron begins interrogating Smokescreen with little effect. Prime's team suddenly arrives and starts laying into the Decepticons troops. Megatron looks around for Optimus himself, and spots the Autobot leader rapidly scaling the mountain in pursuit of the Star Saber, so he and some jet Vehicons take off to try to intercept. The other Autobots finish off the rest of the Decepticon troopers and Arcee rescues Jack from the Insecticons. Despite the best efforts of Megatron and his troops, Optimus manages to grab hold of the Star Saber which activates and pulls free of the rock. Megatron orders the rock dropped on him, but even as the other Autobots shout warnings, Prime merely uses the Star Saber to slice the whole thing in half. In shock, Megatron helplessly looks on as Prime follows up by taking a swing, unleashing a wave of energy at the ''Nemesis''. The Decepticons hastily retreat as their leader laments over his failure.

The Autobots return to base, where Arcee is very unhappy with Smokescreen and Jack. She has Ratchet send the latter home and Optimus makes plain to the former that endangering humans is forbidden. As he reminds them of the importance of protecting humans, the sword begins to glow on its own, and Optimus goes into a trance-like state. Stating that he's receiving a message, Prime identifies the caller: [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]].

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (12)
*[[Decepticon Miner|Miners]] (13)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (14)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (15)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (16)

|c3=
*Truck driver (3)
*[[Jack Darby]] (4)
*[[Vince]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"''I'' just pulled a Miko."
:—'''Jack''' realizes what he just did.

"''Who'' in the Pits of [[Kaon]] is that?''
:—'''Megatron''' meets the new guy.

"All this leg-work is giving me itchy fists!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' is back on form.

"We Decepticons... now face our darkest hour."
:—'''Megatron''', finding himself in need of a light.

"How epic was that?"
:—'''Smokescreen''' relays the viewer's feelings.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* The Star Saber isn't in the same position in the rock after the ''Nemesis'' starts moving it. While on the ground, it was high enough to be level with Megatron's chest. In the air, it's low enough for Optimus to hang from the sword without being able to touch the rock.
* Smokescreen has the same [[license plate]] as Fowler and June.
* Optimus would not have been able to realign his flight trajectory when he took a glancing shot in his truck mode and transformed into robot mode; he would have continued spinning while flying.

===Continuity notes===
* Yet another picture of the Autobots ends up on the internet, and again Bumblebee is in it, as in "[[One Shall Fall]]" and "[[New Recruit]]".
* Arcee mentions that [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] is in the process of relocating [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and his family, since the Decepticons learned where he lives in [[The Human Factor|the previous episode]].
* Bulkhead is now fully recovered from his injuries received in "[[Toxicity]]".
* Jack asks Arcee if she still remembers Vince since her first encounter in "[[Speed Metal]]".
* Jack refers to his uncharacteristic lack of foresight as "pulling a [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]", a nod to her repeated habit of running into trouble.
* Another relic of [[Solus Prime]] is uncovered, the first being the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] found in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Bulkhead returns the favor to Smokescreen from the previous episode.
* Optimus receives a message from Alpha Trion, who was first mentioned by Smokescreen in "New Recruit".

===Transformers references===
* Jack mentions [[Robots In Disguise]].
* This episode marks yet another use of the phrase "[[darkest hour]]", only this time it's the Decepticons who get to use it.
* The first "[[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]" sword was the combined form of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] in ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]'', while the [[Thirteen]]-affiliated iteration was first mentioned in "[[The Coming Storm: Part 1]]." Though, technically, the name originated from the Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] from ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Transformers: Victory]]''.

===Real-world references===
* The Star Saber's location and its inability to be removed except by a Prime is a reference to ''[[wikipedia:Excalibur#Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone|Excalibur]]''.
* The truck driver referred Smokescreen's alternate mode as from the Indy 500, a motor racing competition.
* Optimus jumping from rock to rock looks and sounds a lot like the Hulk. Minus the whole transformation thingy.

===Trivia===
* Bumblebee warns Smokescreen about the speed limit, but apparently didn't think it was important to warn him that he's driving into oncoming traffic.
* Vince's behavior hasn't changed since the events of "Speed Metal". Some people just don't learn their lessons.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

The Human Factor

2012-09-15T13:42:23Z

68.82.63.117:

{{disambig2|the episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]''|the story originally published in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (Marvel US)]] #68|The Human Factor!}}
{{picsneeded}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 45
|prev=New Recruit
|next=Legacy
|image=
|caption=
|title="The Human Factor"
|airdate=[[September 14]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.'''

==Synopsis==
Within a [[MECH]] base, a small team of surgeons and technicians hook [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'s reassembled remains up to their computer and infuse them with electricity and Energon. Breakdown awakens, only it's not Breakdown—MECH has implanted [[Silas]] within the Decepticon's corpse. Silas is impressed with their ingenuity, but decides that as he is no longer human and longer needs their services—by shooting them.

Some time later, Silas drives up to the entrance to a military facility, stopping at the gate to introduce himself. Meanwhile in the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] are trying to encourage [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to keep up his recuperation, despite the Wrecker's belief at being replaced. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] suggests he uses the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] for extra strength and power, but Bulkhead sees it as a crutch and knocks it aside, causing it to damage the computer system. As Ratchet grumbles over the negative atmosphere, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] talks with [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] on the phone and is surprised to learn that Raf's been grounded for his slipping grades.

The Decepticons on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', namely [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], are likewise surprised when Breakdown's signal shows up on their scanners. Knock Out is sent to investigate with some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], and finds the military base wrecked. Moments after they arrive, what appears to be Breakdown strides out of the smoke. In response to the Decepticons' reaction to his marred appearance, "Breakdown" asks in Silas's voice to be taken to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]].

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] briefs the Autobots on the theft of the [[Project Damocles]] satellite apparently by Breakdown assisted by a human whom Fowler believes is Silas. Ratchet strongly dismisses the idea of Decepticons and humans pairing together, rebuffed only by Jack's reasoning of the alliance working for the Autobots. Aboard the warship, Megatron is introduced to the Breakdown/Silas combo, now calling himself Cylas as in "CYbernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis". Though Megatron is disgusted of such an abomination and Knock Out is keen to dissect Cylas in revenge for Breakdown, the MECH commander wants to strike a deal with the Decepticons and offers the Damocles weapon as a token of friendship. As Fowler's briefing in the Autobot base ends, the Autobots realize they must protect the satellite's interface codes, currently stored on servers in [[Colorado]].

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has already gotten to the Colorado base, clearing it using a recording of Fowler's voice, and by the time the Autobots get there, the place is already heavily guarded by Decepticons. Cylas points out to Megatron that since Soundwave is now connected to the mainframe, he can operate the satellite. The Damocles satellite is duly launched from the ''Nemesis'', and Soundwave starts targeting the Autobots on the ground. His first shot narrowly misses Smokescreen, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] contacts base for backup. Bulkhead is ready to go but Ratchet stops him as Optimus is actually after ''technical'' help to disable the satellite. Ratchet decides Raf is required for this mission and so Raf gets unexpected visitors in the form of Fowler, Miko and Jack.

While the Autobots try to keep Soundwave distracted, Bulkhead attempts to talk Ratchet into sending him to help. Ratchet finally concedes, but has his own ideas. While Raf works on a way to crash the satellite and Fowler tries to work out a way to get to the toilet without Raf's mom seeing, the Decepticons detect Raf's hacking attempt. When they track the source to [[Jasper]], Megatron sends Cylas to deal with the matter, despite Cylas's chagrin. Cylas soon hauls up outside Raf's house and takes aim, only for Bulkhead to come barreling down the street and slam him into a nearby drainage canal. After a tense reintroduction, Bulkhead realizes his opponent is not Breakdown—and is shocked to find that it is actually Silas operating the Con's body. The pair start fighting, but Bulkhead's weakness quickly begins to show.

Ratchet contacts Optimus who is still running from the Damocles beam, to report that Bulkhead needs backup. Indeed, the Wrecker is still not operating fully and not doing well against Cylas, but the addition of Smokescreen to the fight helps. Megatron, impatient at Cylas's failure, orders Soundwave to target the source of the hack. The Autobots take advantage of the cessation of the Damocles attack to try to storm the command center. The kids, meanwhile, spot that the satellite has moved and is now aiming at them. Raf manages to get the satellite's thrusters under his control, and the shot does little more than knock the corner off the [[KO Burger]] sign before the satellite starts reentry. Their celebration is interrupted by Raf's mom, but luckily they break out the "study group" defense. Meanwhile, the Autobots break into the command center in time to see Soundwave leaving. Elsewhere, Cylas begins to lose his fight and is called back to the ''Nemesis''. Bulkhead and Smokescreen see the satellite's reentry and congratulate each other.

Back on the ship, Megatron announces that Silas has earned his place at the table—Knock Out's dissection table, that is—explaining that the MECH commander was correct about the human factor tipping the war's scales, but in the Autobots' favor. Cylas is then zapped from behind and dragged away for "study", much to his fearful displeasure and Knock Out's delight.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*MECH troopers (1)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Jack Darby]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Raf's mom]] (10)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)

|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Bulkhead! I ''needed'' that!"
:—'''Ratchet''' ''still'' hasn't learned that saying that phrase won't change anything.

"What? No! If my mom sees you..." 
"Relax, I trained in covert ops." 
"I don't care if you were trained by ninja! My mom has eyes in the back of ''your'' head." 
:—'''Raf''' tells '''Agent Fowler''' why he can't use the restroom.

"FYI, you're low on TP."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' on Raf's toilet paper.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Fowler gives the location of the Damocles control code to the Autobots, the map of the United States on the screen behind him shows the state of Louisiana inside Texas, with an empty spot where it's supposed to be.
* When Knock Out detects Breakdown's signal, the image of Breakdown on the screen is that from this episode. As the Decepticons didn't know what he looked like after MECH got through with him, Breakdown's image should have at least still had the optic patch.
* When Silas targets the window of Raf's room, his zoomed-in view is from the wrong angle. To be able to see Jack and the others within, he would have to be firing from the opposite side.
* The final shot of the satellite fires parallel to Raf's house. To do this, the satellite would have to be in position below the equator. When it fires, it is shown to be above North America, and burns up in the skies above Jasper not long after. In addition, the beam is constant, even though it should be changing position with the satellite.
*There are 4 Autobots(without Smokescreen) arriving through the Groundbridge but in the next scene Smokescreen's there, with a total of 5 bots.
*Cylas can talk after being zapped with the energon prod, a phenomenon that didn't appear on other robots such as Optimus Prime. This may not be an error, as the human inside 'Breakdown' might not have been electrocuted.

===Continuity notes===
* The base in which Silas is revived is the same one used in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* MECH was preparing to save Silas using Breakdown's corpse at the end of "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Smokescreen offers Bulkhead the use of the Apex Armor, which he took from Starscream in the [[New Recruit|previous episode]].
* Bulkhead uses the [[Cybertronian sport#Lobbing|lobbing]] ball from "[[Con Job]]" as a medicine ball.
* Knockout references the events of "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and wants vengeance for it.
* Project Damocles, and Silas' role in it, was first mentioned in "[[Grill]]".
* Soundwave displays the picture he took of Jack, Miko, and Raf back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
* This isn't the [[Autobot Spike|first time]] a human mind was placed in a robot body to preserve it.
* Nor is this the [[Novo|first MECH operative]] who would control a mechanical body.

===Real-world references===
*The surging electricity and twitching hand during Silas' revival reflects toward the animation of Frankenstein's monster.
*The missing-eye appearance on Breakdown's face resembles that of the ''Terminator''.
*Cylas's request phrase of "take me to your leader" is a stereotypical phrase used in early sci-fi movies involving aliens arriving to Earth from another world.

===Trivia===
*Cylas' shoulder cannon glows yellow like that of Nemesis Prime's cannons. The eyes don't count, since they were yellow anyway.
*Aww, Knock Out is willing to avenge Breakdown.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Factor}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]
*Raf's full name is Rafael Jorge Gonzales Esquivel.
*Satellites name, Damocles, may be a reference to the Sword of Damocles, a sword which hung over a throne in which Damocles sat in to strike fear into him, showing how 'fortunate' the king was. This one functions the same way as it hovers in the upper atmosphere and could strike anytime.

The Human Factor

2012-09-15T03:10:55Z

68.82.63.117:

{{disambig2|the episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]''|the story originally published in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (Marvel US)]] #68|The Human Factor!}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 45
|prev=New Recruit
|next=Legacy
|image=
|caption=
|title="The Human Factor"
|airdate=[[September 14]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.'''

==Synopsis==
Within a [[MECH]] base, a small team including the [[MECH Surgeon|surgeon]] hook [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'s reassembled remains up to their computer and infuse them with power. Breakdown awakens, only it's not Breakdown—MECH has implanted [[Silas]] within the Decepticon's corpse. Silas is impressed with their ingenuity, but decides that as he's no longer human, he no longer needs their services.

Some time later, Breakdownized Silas drives up to the entrance to a military facility. In the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] are trying to encourage [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to keep up his recuperation. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] suggests he uses the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], but Bulkhead sees it as a crutch and knocks it aside, causing it to damage the computer system. Meanwhile, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] talks with [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] on the phone and is surprised to learn that Raf's been grounded for his slipping grades.

The Decepticons on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' are likewise surprised when Breakdown's signal shows up on their scanners. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is sent to investigate with some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], and finds the military base wrecked. Moments after they arrive, what appears to be Breakdown strides out of the smoke and asks in Silas's voice to be taken to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]].

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] briefs the Autobots on the theft of the [[Project Damocles]] satellite apparently by Breakdown assisted by a human whom Fowler believes is Silas. Meanwhile, Megatron is introduced to the Breakdown/Silas combo, now calling himself Cylas as in "CYbernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis". Though Knock Out is keen to dissect Cylas, the MECH commander wants to strike a deal with the Decepticons and offers the Damocles weapon as a token of friendship. As Fowler's briefing in the Autobot base ends, the Autobots realize they must protect the satellite's interface codes, currently stored on servers in [[Colorado]].

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has already gotten to the Colorado base, clearing it using a recording of Fowler's voice, and by the time the Autobots get there, the place is already heavily guarded by Decepticons. Cylas points out to Megatron that now Soundwave is connected to the mainframe, he can operate the satellite. The Damocles satellite is duly launched from the ''Nemesis'', and Soundwave starts targeting the Autobots on the ground. His first shot narrowly misses Smokescreen, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] contacts base for backup. Bulkhead is ready to go but Ratchet stops him as Optimus is actually after ''technical'' help to disable the satellite. Ratchet decides Raf is required for this mission and so Raf gets unexpected visitors in the form of Fowler, Miko and Jack.

While the Autobots try to keep Soundwave distracted, Bulkhead attempts to talk Ratchet into sending him to help. Ratchet finally concedes but has his own ideas. While Raf works on a way to crash the satellite and Fowler tries to work out a way to get to the toilet without Raf's mom seeing, the Decepticons detect Raf's hacking attempt. When they track the source to [[Jasper]], Megatron sends Cylas to deal with the matter. Cylas soon hauls up outside Raf's house and takes aim, only for Bulkhead to come barreling down the street and slam him into a nearby drainage canal. Bulkhead's shocked to find that what he thought was Breakdown is actually Silas as the pair start fighting.

Ratchet contacts Optimus who is still running from the Damocles beam, to report that Bulkhead needs backup. Indeed, the Wrecker is still not operating at 100% and not doing well against Cylas, but the addition of Smokescreen to the fight helps. Megatron, impatient at Cylas's failure, orders Soundwave to target the source of the hack. The Autobots take advantage of the cessation of the Damocles attack to try to storm the command center. The kids, meanwhile, spot that the satellite has moved and is now aiming at them. Raf manages to get the satellite's thrusters under his control, and the shot does little more than knock the corner off the [[KO Burger]] sign before the satellite starts reentry. Their celebration is interrupted by [[Raf's mom]], but luckily they break out the "study group" defense. Meanwhile, the Autobots break into the command center in time to see Soundwave leaving.

Silas, now losing his fight against Bulkhead and Smokescreen, is called back to the ''Nemesis''. Back on the ship, Megatron announces that Silas has earned his place at the table—Knock Out's dissection table, that is. The protesting MECH commander is zapped and dragged away.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*MECH troopers (1)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Jack Darby]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Raf's mom]] (10)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)

|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)

}}
==Quotes==

"Bulkhead! I ''needed'' that!" 
'''Ratchet''' ''still'' hasn't learned that saying that won't change anything.

"What? No! If my mom sees you..." 
"Relax, I trained in covert ops." 
"I don't care if you were trained by ninja! My mom has eyes in the back of ''your'' head."
:—'''Raf''' and '''Fowler'''

"FYI, you're almost out of TP."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' on Raf's toilet paper.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Silas targets the window of Raf's room, his zoomed-in view is from the wrong angle. To be able to see Jack and the others within, he would have to be firing from the opposite side.
* The final shot of the satellite fires parallel to Raf's house. To do this, the satellite would have to be in position below the equator. When it fires, it is shown to be above North America, and burns up in the skies above Jasper not long after.

===Continuity notes===
* MECH was preparing to save Silas using Breakdown's corpse at the end of "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Knockout references the events of "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and wants vengeance for it.
* Project Damocles, and Silas' role in it, was first mentioned in "[[Grill]]".
* Soundwave displays the picture he took of Jack, Miko, and Raf back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
===Real-world references===
*The surging electricity during Silas' revival reflects toward the animation of Frankenstein's monster.
*The missing-eye appearance on Breakdown's face resembles that of the Terminator.

===Trivia===
{{epstub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Factor}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

The Human Factor

2012-09-15T03:06:30Z

68.82.63.117:

{{disambig2|the episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]''|the story originally published in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (Marvel US)]] #68|The Human Factor!}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 45
|prev=New Recruit
|next=Legacy
|image=
|caption=
|title="The Human Factor"
|airdate=[[September 14]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Bob Skir|Robert N. Skir]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Silas is given a new lease on life and approaches Megatron with a plan to join the Decepticon ranks.'''

==Synopsis==
Within a [[MECH]] base, a small team including the [[MECH Surgeon|surgeon]] hook [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'s reassembled remains up to their computer and infuse them with power. Breakdown awakens, only it's not Breakdown—MECH has implanted [[Silas]] within the Decepticon's corpse. Silas is impressed with their ingenuity, but decides that as he's no longer human, he no longer needs their services.

Some time later, Breakdownized Silas drives up to the entrance to a military facility. In the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] are trying to encourage [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to keep up his recuperation. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] suggests he uses the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], but Bulkhead sees it as a crutch and knocks it aside, causing it to damage the computer system. Meanwhile, [[Jack Darby|Jack]] talks with [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] on the phone and is surprised to learn that Raf's been grounded for his slipping grades.

The Decepticons on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' are likewise surprised when Breakdown's signal shows up on their scanners. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is sent to investigate with some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], and finds the military base wrecked. Moments after they arrive, what appears to be Breakdown strides out of the smoke and asks in Silas's voice to be taken to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]].

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] briefs the Autobots on the theft of the [[Project Damocles]] satellite apparently by Breakdown assisted by a human whom Fowler believes is Silas. Meanwhile, Megatron is introduced to the Breakdown/Silas combo, now calling himself Cylas as in "CYbernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis". Though Knock Out is keen to dissect Cylas, the MECH commander wants to strike a deal with the Decepticons and offers the Damocles weapon as a token of friendship. As Fowler's briefing in the Autobot base ends, the Autobots realize they must protect the satellite's interface codes, currently stored on servers in [[Colorado]].

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has already gotten to the Colorado base, clearing it using a recording of Fowler's voice, and by the time the Autobots get there, the place is already heavily guarded by Decepticons. Cylas points out to Megatron that now Soundwave is connected to the mainframe, he can operate the satellite. The Damocles satellite is duly launched from the ''Nemesis'', and Soundwave starts targeting the Autobots on the ground. His first shot narrowly misses Smokescreen, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] contacts base for backup. Bulkhead is ready to go but Ratchet stops him as Optimus is actually after ''technical'' help to disable the satellite. Ratchet decides Raf is required for this mission and so Raf gets unexpected visitors in the form of Fowler, Miko and Jack.

While the Autobots try to keep Soundwave distracted, Bulkhead attempts to talk Ratchet into sending him to help. Ratchet finally concedes but has his own ideas. While Raf works on a way to crash the satellite and Fowler tries to work out a way to get to the toilet without Raf's mom seeing, the Decepticons detect Raf's hacking attempt. When they track the source to [[Jasper]], Megatron sends Cylas to deal with the matter. Cylas soon hauls up outside Raf's house and takes aim, only for Bulkhead to come barreling down the street and slam him into a nearby drainage canal. Bulkhead's shocked to find that what he thought was Breakdown is actually Silas as the pair start fighting.

Ratchet contacts Optimus who is still running from the Damocles beam, to report that Bulkhead needs backup. Indeed, the Wrecker is still not operating at 100% and not doing well against Cylas, but the addition of Smokescreen to the fight helps. Megatron, impatient at Cylas's failure, orders Soundwave to target the source of the hack. The Autobots take advantage of the cessation of the Damocles attack to try to storm the command center. The kids, meanwhile, spot that the satellite has moved and is now aiming at them. Raf manages to get the satellite's thrusters under his control, and the shot does little more than knock the corner off the [[KO Burger]] sign before the satellite starts reentry. Their celebration is interrupted by [[Raf's mom]], but luckily they break out the "study group" defense. Meanwhile, the Autobots break into the command center in time to see Soundwave leaving.

Silas, now losing his fight against Bulkhead and Smokescreen, is called back to the ''Nemesis''. Back on the ship, Megatron announces that Silas has earned his place at the table—Knock Out's dissection table, that is. The protesting MECH commander is zapped and dragged away.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*MECH troopers (1)
*[[MECH Surgeon]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Jack Darby]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)
*[[Raf's mom]] (10)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)

|c4=
*[[Silas|Cylas]] (3)

}}
==Quotes==

"Bulkhead! I ''needed'' that!"
'''Ratchet''' ''still'' hasn't learned that saying that won't change anything.

"What? No! If my mom sees you..." 
"Relax, I trained in covert ops." 
"I don't care if you were trained by ninja! My mom has eyes in the back of ''your'' head."
:—'''Raf''' and '''Fowler'''

"FYI, you're almost out of TP."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' on Raf's toilet paper.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Silas targets the window of Raf's room, his zoomed-in view is from the wrong angle. To be able to see Jack and the others within, he would have to be firing from the opposite side.
* The final shot of the satellite fires parallel to Raf's house. To do this, the satellite would have to be in position below the equator. When it fires, it is shown to be above North America, and burns up in the skies above Jasper not long after.

===Continuity notes===
* MECH was preparing to save Silas using Breakdown's corpse at the end of "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Knockout references the events of "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and wants vengeance for it.
* Project Damocles, and Silas' role in it, was first mentioned in "[[Grill]]".
* Soundwave displays the picture he took of Jack, Miko, and Raf back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Transformers references===
===Real-world references===
*The surging electricity during Silas' revival reflects toward the animation of Frankenstein's monster.
*The missing-eye appearance on Breakdown's face resembles that of the Terminator.

===Trivia===
{{epstub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Factor}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

New Recruit

2012-09-10T01:11:38Z

68.82.63.117:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (10)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime) |Starscream]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.

"All these Cons came out of one pod?" 
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.

'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing? 
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this? 
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—Smokescreen meets Miko.

"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> melodramatic entrance is deflated.

"Any last words, Smokescreen?" 
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

"You aren't the only one sporting a fancy wrist mounted device!"
:—'''Starscream''' on his fancy rockets. He isn't very good at smack-talk, is he?

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*As the Autobots run from the upcoming pod explosion, Optimus' arm weapons silently transform back into his hands.
*Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos disappear after he acquires an Earth mode, in exchange for his number 38 and checker racer decal.

===Continuity errors===
*As Optimus's report on the situation didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know he needed the phase shifter?
*The Insecticons seem to die very easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
*One of the pictures that Starscream looks through when searching the internet is the same one Raf had replaced with the tap-dancing monkey, which is placed right next to said monkey that Raf replaced it with.

===Continuity notes===
*Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
*The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
*Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
*Bulkhead is still suffering injuries from "[[Toxicity]]", but now he can walk a bit.
*The [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|spark extractor]], [[Partners|immobilizer]], [[Tunnel Vision|phase shifter]], and [[Armada (episode)|Airachnid]] are part of Jack's tour.
*Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (Prime)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* Optimus recalls Alpha Trion as the master archivist in Iacon's Hall of Records, which was exactly his occupation in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' series, and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|tradition of]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|Smokescreens wearing]] the number "38".
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), in the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]], some of the [[Arms Micron]]s have [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals dubbed "Fast" energon]]... which are reddish-orange in color, rather like the red speed-imbuing energon introduced in this episode.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, [[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]].
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was more of a boot camp for him, possibly as a reference to the Animated episode, [[Autoboot Camp]].

===Real-world references===
*Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
*Starscream searches for information on the internet or as many refer to as "The Information Super Highway."

===Trivia===
*Starscream finds Earth humor funny. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
*As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this is the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode.
*A new kind of Energon has been introduced with the regular, Dark, Synthetic, and Toxic forms, respectively. Perhaps it will also be called Red-En for short.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]