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Enter the Nightbird

2010-03-09T02:50:35Z

70.107.115.100: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=26
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=17
|prev2=Atlantis, Arise!
|next2=Dinobot Island, Part 1
|image=EnterTheNightbird Nightbird starscream.jpg
|caption="All right, now hit Starscream in the groin-plate."
|title="Enter the Nightbird"
|production code=#700-25
|airdate=[[September 30]], 1985
|written by=[[Sylvia Wilson]] [[Richard Milton]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons capture Nightbird, a deadly ninja-bot, and turn her loose on the Autobots.'''

:''Japanese title:'' ナイトバードの影 (''Nightbird no Kage'', "The Shadow of Nightbird")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Nightbirdandfujiyama.jpg|left|175px|thumb|"No threat... not a threat at all."]]
The [[Autobot]]s are busily constructing [[detection plate]]s, a new invention of [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s which will make the [[Ark (G1)|base]] more secure by detecting intruders. They're interrupted in their work by a call from [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]], requesting their help in guarding his latest invention during its unveiling to the world. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] agrees when the doctor informs him that the invention is a sophisticated new robot. The Autobots attend the event, though Wheeljack and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] are more interested in mocking the invention. Finally Dr. Fujiyama unveils [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], a "female ninja robot". Predictably, the [[Decepticon]]s attack and immediately have the upper hand because the Autobots won’t fight in a hall crowded with humans. As soon as the humans are cleared out, Optimus orders a counter-attack, personally grappling with [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. The Autobots are soon fully occupied, allowing [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] to tear the roof off the building, so that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] can lasso Nightbird and carry the robot away. Their prize obtained, the rest of the Decepticons retreat.

They retire to Megatron's temporary base, a [[Giant Decepticon insignia|masterfully disguised fortress]], where [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] sets to work reprogramming Nightbird and tripling her power. Her first action on being reactivated is to immediately attack Starscream, which gains Megatron's approval. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] gives her her new orders — infiltrate Autobot headquarters and steal the [[World Energy Chip]] from [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]].

Meanwhile, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] is apologetic for their abject failure to protect the robot, and promises to return it back to Dr. Fujiyama quickly and unharmed. The Autobots return to base, Ratchet carrying the injured [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Nightbird soon arrives at Autobot HQ as well, avoiding a security camera by accessing the base through the top of the [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]], eavesdropping on [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s puzzled conversation over the Decepticons' latest plan. She neatly avoids Wheeljack's detection plates by magnetizing her feet and walking along the roof. Reaching Teletraan I, she removes the World Energy Chip, plunging the base into darkness and alerting the Autobots to the intruder.

[[Image:Nightbirdspotlight.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Nightbird wants her own [[Spotlight (comics)|spotlight comic]].]]
In her attempt to escape, she first encounters [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and bashes her way past the startled Autobot. A group of Autobots corners her, but are hampered by the promise they made not to harm her, and she is able to use her ninja abilities to blind them and effect a proper escape. The Autobots pursue her outside, where Optimus spots her on a clifftop and drops her with a stun ray. As [[Bluestreak]] approaches her, she suddenly jumps up and decks him before throwing more spinning blades at his comrades. Optimus stops [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] from firing on her, reminding him again of their promise to Dr. Fujiyama, then attempts to reason with Nightbird. The robot responds by attacking him with her energy sword and stealing his rifle, though she leaves her sword behind.

Watching remotely, Megatron and Bombshell are impressed with Nightbird's work. Starscream less so when Megatron suggests she would make a good replacement for the air commander.

Ratchet and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] discover the absence of the World Energy Chip and notify Prime. Using [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s sensors, the Autobots quickly relocate Nightbird, and Optimus attempts to lure her closer with her sword. She merely takes the weapon and knocks him down. The Autobots continue their attempts, unsuccessfully, to try to bring the ninja 'bot down.

[[Image:Nightbirdprime.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Prime, taking advantage of the fact [[Elita One|Elita]]'s on [[Cybertron (planet)|another planet]].]]
Meanwhile, Starscream has had enough of Megatron's insinuations about replacing him, and decks his leader. He's swiftly restrained by the other Decepticons and trapped in a cage. Megatron turns back to his spying and, seeing that Nightbird has finally been caught by the Autobots in an energy web, orders the Decepticons out on a mission to rescue her and the World Energy Chip. Optimus is able to retrieve the Chip from Nightbird, but it's dropped in the subsequent Decepticon ambush. After a brief spell in Bombshell's possession, Optimus regains the chip, but Megatron responds by freeing Nightbird from her cage and unleashing her on the Autobots.

[[Image:Nightbirdangry.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Hell hath no fury like a Nightbird scorned.]]
Starscream uses a small missile to free himself from the cage in the Decepticon base, and swiftly reaches the battle in time to watch Nightbird overwhelming Optimus with her combat skills. Seeking revenge, the Decepticon uses his [[null-ray]] on Nightbird, disabling her. Megatron is enraged and calls off the attack so everyone can pursue Starscream.

The Autobots make good on their promise by returning Nightbird unharmed to Fujiyama, who decides to put her in storage. Despite being neutralized, Nightbird casts a final, angered glare out at the cold, cold, world.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (1)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (2)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (10)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (11)
* [[Bluestreak]] (15)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (16)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (21)

|c2=
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (9)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (12)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (13)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (18)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]
* [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]]

|c4=
*[[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]]
}}

==Quotes==
"Imagine, Autobots playing nursemaid to an earth robot. It's probably just a glorified wind-up toy."
:—Look who's talking, '''Wheeljack'''.

'''Ratchet''': Dr. Fujiyama's doohickey's under that drape! 
'''Wheeljack''': If it walks it probably needs a long extension cord. 
'''Ratchet''': Heh heh heh. I wonder if batteries are included? Heh, heh, heh. 
'''Wheeljack''': When they turn it on, it'll probably blow the lights! 
'''Optimus''': We're here to guard the robot, not make jokes at its expense.
:—'''Wheeljack''' and '''Ratchet''', masters of diplomacy

"Ah, why build a robot ninja, doctor? Isn't that rather dangerous?"
:—The '''guy with the white mustache''' asks what we're all thinking.

"I bring you greetings, Optimus Prime...lethal greetings!"
:—'''Megatron'''. His writers don't get paid enough.

"I love warping minds for you, Megatron... love it!"
:—'''Bombshell''', the spokesman for ''Grand Theft Auto''.

"I'm open to suggestions... and you don't need to raise your hands before you speak."
:—Shouldn't '''Optimus Prime''' have said something like "raise your finger components" instead?

"She's not so hot!" 
"She's hot enough to replace you whenever I choose!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' utter the words that launch a thousand [[fanfic]]s.

"Yes, you're definitely on my replacement list, Starscream... Hahaha, she's everything I've always wanted!"
:—'''Megatron'''. Aw, all he wanted was some love.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Throughout the entire episode, the volume of the background music is a notch or two lower than normal, making it sound rather unemphatic.
* The top of Ironhide's torso is colored red instead of gray as Wheeljack says his "nursemaid" line. In the same scene, the bottom of Wheeljack's "ears" aren't flashing along with the rest of them.
* The ''round'' auditorium building somehow contains a ''rectangular'' auditorium. Later shots show the auditorium as having a domed ceiling, which is consistent with the exterior shot but doesn't make a lick of sense spatially. As Optimus apologizes to Dr. Fujiyama later in the episode, the ruined auditorium is suddenly round. Also, the opening pan across the auditorium also shows it to be of ''incredibly '' huge scale.
* As he and Ratchet crack jokes about the robot, the top segment of the side of Wheeljack's chest is colored windshield blue instead of metal armor white.
* For the most part, the episode is ''amazingly'' consistent about where the Autobots are during the unveiling of Nightbird, but as the robot is revealed, Prowl and Mirage are shown right next to each other, when they were a hundred feet apart a second before.
* When Rumble and Frenzy break into the show room, Rumble's pile drivers are rectangular prisms instead of the usual cylinders.
* One gun, many lasers:
** Frenzy's lasers pass right through the fleeing humans without affecting them. He's also somehow firing like 5 or 6 lasers at once from his two guns.
* Rumble's crotch and thigh are bizarrely misdrawn during the low-angle shot of him earthquaking, as if they don't quite connect. Your wiki editors might not have noticed this, but his crotch panel is miscolored a rather attention-getting bright red during the same scene, calling the viewer's attention right to the drawing flub.
* When Optimus Prime gets shot in the back by Megatron, he grunts and oophs in Mirage's voice.
* The "triple power booster" that Bombshell places in Nightbird's torso couldn't possible fit in the space that's shown.
* Ratchet has no red detailing in ambulance mode as he offers a lift to Brawn.
* Ratchet has a side hatch instead of his usual rear hatch as Mirage loads Brawn into him. Brawn is loaded in sideways, meaning Ratchet is wider than Brawn is tall.
* Mirage shines a light on Nightbird from an area of his chest that clearly is not a light of any kind.
* The first commercial break totally cuts off the background music in mid-phrase.
* Cliffjumper's brow is missing its details and color as he aims at Nightbird.
* When Nightbird's lightsaber is shot and deactivated, the sound effects continue for about two more seconds before they stop.
* Jazz's mouth disappears for a second as he goes to help Prime to his feet.
* Missing Seeker emblems:
** Skywarp has no wing insignia as he watches the video screen in the [[Giant Decepticon insignia|Decepticon base]].
** Starscream has only one insignia as he punches Megatron. Skywarp has none a second later as he holds Starscream, and again as he backs away from the energy cage.
** Starscream has no insignia as he lands at the battle site.
** Thundercracker and Skywarp have no insignia as the Decepticons fly off after Starscream. In fact, Skywarp doesn't seem to have his insignia at any point during the episode. Seriously, is there a single episode where they didn't screw this up?
* Miscolored Seeker nosecones:
** Starscream's top and bottom cockpit segments are yellow instead of gray as Bombshell challenges him.
** Skywarp and Thundercracker both have all-yellow nosecones as they transform to leave the base.
** Skywarp's nosecone is gray as he and everybody else transforms and launches during the start of the battle.
** Starscream's nosecone goes from all-yellow to all-gray as he leaves the base and transforms.
** Starscream's bottom nosecone segment is yellow instead of gray as he laughs at Megatron. As he transforms and flies off, his nosecone is entirely yellow. Seriously, is there a single episode where they didn't screw ''this'' up?
* Why does Hound's infrared ''beep''? Is it a radar?
* As usual, Mirage only leaves footprints when he's invisible.
* "She jammed it!" Cliffjumper says, when Nightbird throws Bluestreak's missile into his glass gas nozzle. Couldn't he just... pull the missile out?
* The animators missed a note about what Starscream was supposed to do inside the energy cage. He's all like "You can't keep me in here, Megatron! AHHHHHHH!", as if he rushed the cage and got zapped by it or something, but the animation shows him just standing there, which makes it seem like he expects to shout the system down. Sure enough, the original script contains the following direction:
:ANGLE ON MEGATRON as he moves closer to the cage.
:MEGATRON: Well, I don't see why not...!
:Starscream tries to punch at Megatron, but when his fist hits the power grid, it creates ELECTRICAL SPARKS. Starscream draws his hand back, holding it in pain.
:STARSCREAM: (SCREAMS!)<ref>[http://www.theplumedserpent.com/SerpentsEye/ETN.html "Enter The Nightbird" episode review at The Serpent's Lair]</ref>
* Hound is missing all his chest details as Optimus reacts to Megatron's arrival. It suddenly appears as the Autobots attack.
* What on earth is that weird energy ripple sound effect as Starscream drops out of the sky? As Starscream lands, his eyes are blue instead of red.
* As Starscream knocks out Nightbird, the [[null ray]] gets a truncated Autobot laser sound effect instead of the Decepticon sound.
* A dialog or script editing flub results in Starscream bizarrely gloating "Say good night to your ''Megatron''!" after blasting Nightbird. Per the original script, the line was meant to go "Say good night to your <something>, Megatron!", but whatever the original noun was, it was crossed out in black and the word "Robotessa" was hand-written in its place. <ref>[http://www.theplumedserpent.com/SerpentsEye/ETN.html "Enter The Nightbird" episode review at The Serpent's Lair]</ref> The baffling question of what the heck a "Robotessa" is aside, this hand-written re-write was apparently overlooked when the dialogue script for the recording of the episode was written up, as the spoken line shows no signs of being edited or cut-and-pasted back together, indicating that Chris Latta genuinely spoke it aloud in recording as it appears in the show. It ''would'' make sense if Starscream was addressing it towards Nightbird, but he's not.
* The glow of Nightbird's eyes starts a second before the accompanying sound effect.

===Continuity errors===
* Wheeljack's detection panels don't make any sense. They're just glorified metal detectors, that react to metal, the very thing that the Autobots and Autobot Headquarters are made of. The Autobots put them all over the ''floor'', to detect their flight-capable enemies. So does that mean the Autobots can no longer use that particular corridor?
* The scientists' reactions to Nightbird seem a bit overwrought considering that the robot has yet to do anything besides stand there.
* Dr. Fujiyama assures us that Nightbird is "not meant for battles or assassinations" as we pan over the robot. So... just what ''are'' those short knives and nunchucks and throwing stars meant for? Is Nightbird supposed to ''stab'' her way into "the horizons of robotic research"?
* The Autobots didn't think to post anybody ''outside'' the building? Since that's, y'know, where the Decepticons would come from?
* Why do the Decepticons need a whole new base just for the Nightbird project? What possible advantage does it serve?
* When Prime apologizes for losing Nightbird to the Decepticons, Doctor Fujiyama's response is that no one could have predicted it happening. Except... that's why he called the Autobots in the first place! Being a rather stereotypical Japanese guy, maybe he's just too polite to tell Prime that he botched it.
* This is the only time that Autobot Headquarters is shown to have an elevator going up into the volcano's cone. [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|Earlier]] and [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|later]] episodes contradict this notion. And just what are Prowl and Spike doing up there, anyway?
* How come the detection panels don't go off when Nightbird waves her hand next to them?
* Why is Prime helping repair Brawn? Repairs aren't usually his gig.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Why/how does Ratchet get a third-person view of Optimus and the others when he calls them up via Teletraan I?
** How is Megatron watching the whole battle from his base? Is Laserbeak there keeping tabs or something? Or is this another instance of him putting [[The Master Builders|cameras inside every random rock]]?
* At the end of the second act, Nightbird gets the drop on Prime and raises her sword as if to slice him in half. At the opening of the third act, however, she's just standing there in front of him, idly spinning the sword around, then turns and runs away for no real reason.
* Nightbird's "magnetic feet" reappear later in the episode, when she's climbing... a rock face.
* "Watch how my anti-matter blaster eats up energy!" Megatron says. We feel this amazing breach of science needs no further elaboration. (The intended idea ''may'' have been that the blaster is highly energy-consumptive and could absorb the energy net as a power supply or something; however, what's shown instead is that ''firing'' the gun ''at'' the energy net somehow dissipates it.)
* "I'm so glad you have returned Nightbird... and not a scratch on her chassis!" What about that big hole in her back from just the previous scene?
* "Safely locked up... ''forever''!" Why not just take her to pieces, then?

===Continuity notes===
* Gadgets and powers:
** Nightbird's gadgets: [[Wikipedia:Nunchaku|nunchaku]] (unused), a pair of [[Wikipedia:Sai (weapon)|''sai'' daggers]] (also unused), a wrist-mounted grappling hook, magnetic feet (they also work on rocks!), fist-replacing sawblades, [[Wikipedia:Metsubushi|some kind of spin/make bright light/disappear gimmick]], an endless supply of hip-stored energized [[Wikipedia:Shuriken|shuriken]], a lightsaber, another unused weapon which hilt is visible on her "backpack", a glowing magnetic tractor beam, and stereo speaker-nullifying metal donuts. Additionally, she vanishes after jumping over a cliff edge, leading Mirage to wonder if she has the power of invisibility.
** Cliffjumper's [[glass gas]] is a fiery glue-like substance in this episode, which he fires from a retractable wrist nozzle.
** Starscream can fire a tiny little missile from an elevating launcher on his wrist.
* In [[3H Productions|3H]]'s [[Universe (2003 comic)|''Universe'' comics]], Nightbird returned as a savage horde, which forced [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] to kill himself and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] to destroy them...which goes to show that they ''are'' good for something.
* [[Attack of the Autobots|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''' Round 3 goes to Soundwave. Score: Brawn 2, Soundwave 1 [[Child's Play (episode)|>>]]

===Real-world references===
* The title could be a reference to the film ''[[wikipedia:Enter_the_Dragon|Enter the Dragon]]''. This would not be the last time the film is referenced in a Transformers series.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Nightbird's lightsaber ignites with the standard Star Wars lightsaber effect, and gets the usual lightsaber-waving sound effects repeatedly when it's used.
** The seeker ball that Luke trains with aboard the ''Millennium Falcon'' can be heard darting about as Nightbird waves her sword at the approaching Optimus Prime.

===Trivia===
* The first ''female'' ninja robot? So are there already a lot of ''male'' ninja robots running around out there?

* Dr. Fujiyama's assertion that "the technical components are irreplaceable, and are needed for research" is... curious. If he built the thing himself, why would it be so impossible to manufacture new parts?

* When the Autobots are chasing Nightbird up a cliff, Cliffjumper can't jump the cliff. This has been the source of much fandom snickering over the years. Congratulations, fandom; you get the joke. Good job.

* Back in the late 1990s, this episode was at the center of a huge and long-running [[fandom]] flap on [[alt.toys.transformers]], initiated by [[Raksha|certain Decepticon fans]] who interpreted Nightbird's scowl as a clear sign that she was a sapient life form, rather than a mindless automaton. In conjunction with certain lines of dialog from Megatron, some fans further concluded that Nightbird could be seen as a romantic foil for Megatron. These arguments and the opposing viewpoints led to much agony for everyone involved.

* The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave comic]] "[[Infestation]]" featured Nightbird in her own movie, aptly named ''[[Aztec Theatres|Enter the Nightbird]]''.

* Doctor Fujiyama the ''Famous'' Scientist!

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/enter_the_nightbird.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Fireflight (G1)

2010-03-05T03:46:57Z

70.107.115.100:

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{picsneeded}}
{{disambig3|Fireflight}}
:''Fireflight is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:DW G1Fireflight.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Hey guys! I was off on a mission somewhere while you were fighting the [[Giant Purple Griffin]]. Hope that wasn't a problem!"]]
'''Fireflight''' combines a childlike sense of wonder with the soul of a daydreamer, resulting, unfortunately, in one major menace to airborne navigation. Near collisions and crashes come fast and frequent when he's around. If Aerialbots had to be certified to take to the air he'd have been grounded for life long ago. Fireflight means well and has a good heart, he just can't help losing himself in the beauty of the world when seen from the sky. It's hard for his teammates to get too mad at someone so filled with wonder and innocence, but at the same time it's also hard to fly next to someone who's never paying any attention to where he's going.

Fireflight combines with his fellow [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''Firebolt'''
:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Boule de Feu''' ("Fireball")
:''Italian name:'' '''Optor'''
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Fei Huo''' （飞火, "Flying Fire"）

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff MacKay]] (English), [[Yoku Shioya]] (Japanese)

At one point during the eternal war with the Autobots on Earth, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] grew fed up with how his opponents ruled the roads and created a group of Decepticon cars known as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s. In order to give his new warriors life, he brought them to Cybertron and tracked down the ancient supercomputer, [[Vector Sigma]], to input cybernetic personalities into the Stunticons. Thanks to a series of traps and drones in their way, the Autobots failed to prevent Megatron from succeeding and returning to Earth. Seeking to even the playing field, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] conceived of the idea of retrofitting several broken-down Cybertronian ships into Earthen jets, and bringing them to life as a team of Autobot flyers. With the help of his tech-savvy soldiers, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], Wheeljack, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and Prime's own creator, [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], Optimus's plan was enacted and the Aerialbots were born. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[Image:Fireflightwardawn.jpg|thumb|200px|left|"No, I'm Fireflight. He's Air Raid. I'm the one who needs horse blinders to pay attention."]]Fireflight's spacey demeanor got his partners in trouble from time to time. As the Aerialbots were searching the Middle East for a squadron of stolen jets, Slingshot and Skydive found the jets being reprogrammed by Megatron and the Decepticons as a remote-controlled air force. The two Aerialbots summoned their fellow flyers, but while Silverbolt and Air Raid turned up quickly, Fireflight was lost out somewhere in the sands for a good portion of the battle with the [[Giant Purple Griffin]], leaving his teammates vulnerable and unable to combine and form Superion. Only after he finally got his head together and followed up on Skydive's signal did the Aerialbots manage to gain the upper hand. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

{{storylink|War Dawn}}
{{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

After the death of Megatron and the retaking of Cybertron, Fireflight and the Aerialbots became part of the Autobot Fleet. When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Spike were kidnapped to [[Quintessa]], the rescue party alerted the Aerialbots to swoop by for covering fire and pick-up. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} When the Quintessons destroyed their own planet to get at the Autobots, the resulting blast wave destroyed the Aerialbots' ship, sending Fireflight and the rest hurtling through space. Although they clearly survived, Skydive, Fireflight and Slingshot were not seen after the explosion. They eventually impacted on [[Goo #8739B]], and were rescued by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

{{Note|In the episode "[[Dark Awakening]]", several jets in the Autobot Fleet resembling the Aerialbots' alt modes were destroyed by the Quintessons. Repeatedly. Since the Aerialbots unquestionably survived the attack, it would seem their character models were merely used to build up the size of the fleet, and the casualty figures.}}

Before long, history repeated itself (literally) as Fireflight and the Aerialbots had another time travel adventure involving Alpha Trion, only this time it involved the ancient Autobot himself traveling into the present from the past, back from when he was merely A3. The Quintessons were experimenting with [[Time Window]] technology when Perceptor and a group of Autobots came across their work. Summoned for reinforcements, Rodimus Prime arrived with Superion and the other Autobots to drive the Quintessons off the asteroid. As the time window was left open, a robot named A3 materialized on the asteroid. It wasn't until after the Quintessons convinced the Autobots that the window needed to be closed for the sake of the universe, and A3 returned to his own time, that Fireflight and the Aerialbots realized they had once again been in the presence of "the father of the Autobots". {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

[[Image:Fireflightfightorflee.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Photo featuring Fireflight finding fireflies while flying.]]Once, Air Raid led the Decepticon duo of [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] into an asteroid field where Fireflight and his fellow Aerialbots were waiting to spring an ambush. The Aerialbots messed the Decepticons up pretty badly, especially after they transformed into Superion. Eventually, Fireflight and the others chased the Decepticons through a strange warp in space. This proceeded to have no consequences for [[Sandstorm (G1)|anyone]] [[Paradron|whatsoever]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}}

Fireflight and the Aerialbots were spending a relaxing day watching home movies on [[Teletraan II]] when things suddenly got serious, as the Autobots' computer off-handedly informed them [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] was never destroyed in his last battle with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. When they tracked Trypticon to his new staging grounds, Fireflight and the Aerialbots launched from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], but the Decepticon presence in [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] was more than they had anticipated. The Aerialbots made a hasty retreat when confronted with overwhelming firepower, but soon returned with reinforcements and drove the Decepticons from Carbombya. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

During a battle in space, Fireflight and the Aerialbots may or may not have been present. Superion, at least, was surely there on the planet [[Eurythma]]...sometimes. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

[[Image:Fireflightfightorflee2.jpg|thumb|200px|left|"Sensors have turned up evidence of a dot, sir. It appears to be a red one."]]After [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] took some hostile fire over the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], Rodimus Prime dispatched Fireflight and the Aerialbots to investigate. They were caught in a crossfire between the brain-addled Junkions and the Quintessons, who were responsible for messing with the Junkions' air waves, and their minds. Even after becoming Superion, the Aerialbots took heavy fire and had to be brought back to [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] on Cybertron for repairs. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} Later, Fireflight and the Aerialbots were working with Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus in Europe to fend off the latest wave of Decepticon attacks. When Trypticon arrived, they played the bi-planes to his King Kong. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

During the Decepticon invasion of Japan, the Aerialbots fought against [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] when he tried to derail a bullet train full of passengers. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} Sometime thereafter, Fireflight and the Aerialbots were recruited by Rodimus Prime to rescue the body of Optimus Prime from [[Gregory Swofford|Swofford]] and [[Mark Morgan|Morgan]]. Unfortunately, this only meant they were among the first Autobots exposed to the [[Hate Plague]]. Despite the madness induced by the red dust, the Aerialbots were apparently still willing to form Superion. Superion ran amok, causing serious property damage, infecting [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taking several other Autobots out of action. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

When the Decepticons invaded Cybertron searching for the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], the Aerialbots tried to stop them. Unfortunately, they didn't reckon with [[Sixshot]]. Fireflight was knocked out of the sky when Sixshot turned into a winged wolf and tore his wings right off. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] then took his [[power pack]] to use as fuel for the giant rocket engine they were constructing for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====

When the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s confronted Menasor at a baseball stadium, Fireflight and the Aerialbots arrived as back-up. They formed Superion to engage Menasor and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] was injured, Superion targeted the Decepticon combiners' legs, shaking them loose and giving the smaller Protectobots a chance to link up with the Decepticon gestalts and override control of their bodies. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5}} After the Autobots discovered a utopia island paradise, it was besieged by Megatron and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, who wanted to build an impregnable fortress. [[Kenji]] radioed for help, and Optimus Prime sent Fireflight and the Aerialbots to the rescue. As Superion they fought off [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] using their smarts to outthink the evil warriors. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6}}

====''Scramble City'' cartoon====

Fireflight and the Aerialbots were dispatched from the [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]] project by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] to aid Optimus Prime in battle with the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Their aerial firepower frankly overwhelmed the marauding Decepticons, and sent them home with their transistors between their struts. On his second attempt, Megatron sent the Stunticons, who were considerably more successful in engaging the Autobots. Damaged in jet modes, Fireflight and the Aerialbots chose instead to merge and form Superion. As Superion, they possessed scramble combining abilities, but so did the Stunticons when they formed Menasor. The Aerialbots were in the midst of reconfiguring their limb formation when Fireflight, being...well, a daydreaming idiot, mixed up whether he was supposed to be the right leg or the left. His indecision gave Menasor time to shoot him down, and [[Wildrider]] assumed the place of Superion's right leg instead, corrupting his programming. Abashed by his boner, Fireflight teamed up with Optimus Prime to assault Menasor, and retook his place as Superion's limb. {{storylink|Scramble City}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====

In 2010, Galvatron kidnapped [[Doctor Dalton]] of [[Eran]] to utilize his skills and improve the Decepticons' combiner technology. Fireflight and the Aerialbots joined the Protectobots in assaulting Trypticon, in hopes of rescuing the hostage scientist. Fireflight and his team formed Superion for a first strike, but the Decepticon combiners countered with their deployment modes, launching the Stunticon and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] troops with enough force to tear Superion apart. The Protectobots stood guard over [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] as he performed battlefield triage on the Aerialbots in his repair bay mode, bringing them back on-line. Silverbolt then transformed into launcher mode and unleashed Fireflight and the Aerialbots in their own scramble attack, blinding Menasor and Bruticus long enough for the Autobots to escape safely with Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====

Fireflight and the Aerialbots were stationed at Autobot City on Earth in 2011. When Galvatron attacked Cybertron via the old [[Space Bridge]] network, the Aerialbots were summoned to Cybertron as reinforcements. They soon arrived with the [[Trainbot]]s and quickly joined the battle. Fireflight and his team formed Superion and battled [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and Devastator. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Later, the combined Aerialbots fought alongside [[Raiden]] and Defensor against the Decepticon combiners, and were nearly crushed when Bruticus collapsed a building on their position. They were bailed out by the arrival of the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]]. When Hot Rod began his search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] on Earth, Fireflight and the Aerialbots returned to the humans' planet to assist him. They confronted the Stunticons in the desert, pitting Superion against Menasor yet again. The battle was so fierce it eventually carried them to the Arctic where Hot Rod was searching. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

Fireflight and his flying comrades joined the [[Triple Changer]]s in distracting the Decepticons long enough for [[Twincast]] to sneak inside Trypticon and gather data on the [[Madmachine]]. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} Sometime later, Fireflight and the Aerialbots were on a research vessel that passed near a [[Metamorpho|strange meteorite]]. The meteorite had been altered by Galvatron to produce gravity-warping waves whenever it detected metal, and so it sent the Aerialbots and their ship twisting through space. Although the Decepticons tried to intervene, the Autobots eventually recovered Fireflight and his injured colleagues. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}}

Following a lengthy repair cycle, Fireflight and the Aerialbots were ready for action when Galvatron and the Decepticons laid siege to Cybertron one last time. Transporting to Cybertron from Earth, they raced into battle (on foot, for some reason). Fireflight and the team got the drop on the Stunticons when they merged into Superion, smashing and scattering the 'Cons before they could form Menasor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} As the fighting continued, the Aerialbots battled Abominus as Superion and later separated to trade blaster fire with the Stunticons. The warring only came to an end once [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s bombs blew up [[Vector Sigma]] and annihilated the planet.{{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

When a giant carnivorous plant attacked San Francisco, Ultra Magnus dispatched Fireflight and the Aerialbots to combat it. Although they made frequent bombing runs on the organism, the Aerialbots were unable to stop it. Only the arrival of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] and his powerful giant [[Transtector]] brought an end to the creature's rampage. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Fireflight and the Aerialbots were part of a strike team that flew to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] to disrupt Scorponok's gathering of Decepticons. They immediately formed Superion upon entering the battle. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}}

When one of Scorponok's Death Towers emerged in Washington D.C., Fireflight and the Aerialbots were dispatched to investigate it. As part of Superion, Fireflight participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''Thanks to his previous connection to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] began experiencing dreams and visions of new Transformers, beginning with an etching of Superion he made without even being consciously aware of it. {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} By sharing his visions with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], Buster was able to clarify the images and understand the future of the evolution of the Cybertronian race—amalgam model robots like the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]' [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], capable of a more-streamlined merging into a more powerful form. It was these visions which allowed Optimus Prime and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] to conceive of and construct the Aerialbots. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

Working on a plan to reverse engineer the gestalt technology the Decepticons had used to create Devastator, Optimus Prime and the Autobots staged a daring raid on the Decepticon base of operations, giving [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] enough time to digitally record the Constructicons' electrical transformation pattern for study. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} Working off that blueprint, Wheeljack successfully created Fireflight and the Aerialbots. During the new warriors' testing phase, however, the Autobots were alerted to a Decepticon operation at Hoover Dam. Only the Aerialbots were fast enough to reach the location in time, and so Prime was forced to send them into battle before their programming was completed.

The unfinished programming quickly proved to be an issue, however—only [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] had received the personality directives that made human safety a top priority. When Fireflight's dogfighting with [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] very nearly caused a deadly avalanche, the Aerialbot leader needed to directly order Fireflight to blast the rocks with his [[fire-fog missile]]s before anyone was killed.

The Aerialbots eventually turned the tide on the Decepticons and drove them off, giving them time to focus on the energy siphon which was the core of the problem. At Silverbolt's command, they merged into Superion and began dismantling the drill device. A problem arose, however, when [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s [[cerebro-shell]] controlled pawn [[Ricky Vasquez]] pointed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (in his gun mode) at the giant Autobot. Because the majority of the Aerialbots were not programmed specifically to protect human life, Superion only saw a potential threat that needed to be eliminated. As the human fought against the Decepticons' control, Silverbolt too fought inside Superion's gestalt mind to protect the human. In the end, Silverbolt was forced to disengage Superion to keep him from destroying the human. Luckily, Ricky was more successful and managed to break the cerebro-shell's hold long enough to point Megatron at the drill and destroy it, ending the threat. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

After the near disaster at Hoover Dam, Optimus Prime had the Aerialbots shut down and their programming completely erased. Returned to a blank slate, he then inputed fully-programmed personalities for them with the Matrix before their next mission. It, uh...didn't help. In battle with [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] as Superion, the Aerialbots were attacked by [[Circuit Breaker]], deactivated, and captured by [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]. It was only a lucky break that they were eventually freed. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

As [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] took over the Autobots, Fireflight and the other Aerialbots took an extended leave of absence from the war, since the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] commander focused Autobot resources on repairing their fallen comrades and prepping the Ark to become spaceworthy again.

Sometime later, it was Fireflight, [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] who were the first to respond to a distress call from Buster Witwicky, the Autobots' old human ally who had been prisoner to the Decepticons for nearly a year. This led the combined Autobot and Decepticon forces into battle with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who had acquired the nigh-infinite power of the [[Underbase]] for himself. The Aerialbots were his first victims, wiped out in a single blast of cosmic power in the skies over New York City. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

Along with the other deactivated Autobots aboard the Ark, Fireflight and the Aerialbots were eventually revived by the [[Nucleon]] super-energy Grimlock and the Dinobots recovered from [[Hydrus Four]].

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
''Fireflight was present with the entire Earthforce team outside Autobot Earthbase when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] unveiled his brand-new unbreachable defensive system. This was unfortunate, as Wheeljack had forgotten that, once activated, the system could only be turned off from the inside. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] elected to run the gauntlet and reach the shutdown console inside, and the Aerialbots provided air support for him. Fireflight and his buddies gunned down the [[Acid Bats]] at the entryway, giving Prowl his chance to get through. {{storylink|The House that Wheeljack Built!}}''

{{note|Unlike the rest of Earthforce, the return of the Aerialbots (besides Silverbolt) was never explained on panel. Presumably, Wheeljack rebuilt them in the Bodyshop much like he did for [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]].}}

====Generation 2====
After the defeat of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his Decepticons on [[Klo]], the Autobots split into smaller combat units throughout the universe. Once Optimus Prime and Grimlock learned of the threat posed by the second generation [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian army]], though, the Autobot forces reconsolidated under their command. Fireflight and the other Aerialbots were first seen after the Autobots had retreated to an asteroid sanctuary for retraining. They were, um, outsmarted by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

Later on, Fireflight was fighting with his fellow Aerialbots in the skies of Ethos, defending the planet against genocide by the Cybertronian Empire. Even Skydive's battle plans weren't doing any good, however, and Fireflight was about to give up the fight when the cavalry arrived, in the form of the Decepticon [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Rotor Force]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} The Autobot/Decepticon alliance soon stood against the Cybertronian Empire at Autobase on Earth. Fireflight was seen working a one-two combo with [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]—he'd knock jets out of the sky, and the Dinobot would roast 'em when they hit the ground. {{storylink|Total War!}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
At some point in the late 20th century, Fireflight and the Aerialbots joined the crew of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' in fighting the Decepticons on Earth. They were rendered inactive when the ''[[Ark II]]'' exploded in mid-air on its journey back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} Fireflight and the Aerialbots were revived by Optimus Prime in 2002 using the Autobot Matrix of Leadership {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} and, in their Superion form, battled the Decepticons in the Northwest Territories of [[Canada]] {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} and again in [[San Francisco]]. When the insane General [[Robert Hallo]] launched a nuclear missile at the city, intending to destroy all of the Transformers, the Aerialbots as Superion sacrificed their lives to destroy the missile. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}} The remains of the Aerialbots were gathered up and studied by [[Earth Defense Command]]. {{storylink|Generation One issue 0|Generation One issue #0}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* '''Fireflight''' (Aerialbot, 1986)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A3'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-52'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Photon displacer gun]]"

: Fireflight transformed into a red F-4 Phantom II with white wings. He could combine with his fellow Aerialbots to form Superion. As a [[Combiner|Scramble City]]-style combiner, he could form the arm or leg of Superion, or any other compatible combiner, though his nominal location was as Superion's right arm.

*'''Superion''' (Multi-pack, 1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-55'''
**''Accessories'': "Photon displacer gun"

: Fireflight was available by himself or as part of the Superion giftset.

{{-}}
===Generation 2===
* '''Fireflight''' (Aerialbot, 1994)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A3'''
**''Accessories'':

:One of the few actual [[Repaint|repaints]] of the line, Fireflight retains the same colors as his G1 predecessor, but features more silver paint (primarily on the chest), an Autobot tampograph and different stickers.

===Classics===
[[Image:Classics2006 Legends Fireflight.JPG|right|250px|thumb|]]
* '''Fireflight''' (Legends, 2006)

:Fireflight is a red and beige [[redeco]] of [[Legends Class|Legends of Cybertron]] [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], transforming into a cargo plane. He was going to be named [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], but the [[trademark]] was unavailable, so his name and identity was changed.

:The [[redeco]] was also once conceived as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], but there was too much white already in the toyline, thus it was changed to Powerglide. And then Fireflight. Identity crisis, anyone?

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]].

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
====G1 Series====
[[Image:Universe2008 Fireflight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]]
*'''Superion''' (Multi-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' Shield/double-cannon, Autobot-type [[energon star]]

:Available only as a component of ''Universe'' Superion, this version of Fireflight is a dark brown and grey redeco of the ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' [[Sky Shadow (Energon)|Sky Shadow]]/[[Terradive (Energon)|Terradive]] mold, transforming into an A-10 "Thunderbolt" plane. He can also form a leg or arm to any ''Energon''-series "[[Powerlinx]] [[Combiner]]" super robot, though his nominal placement is as the right leg to Superion. He comes with a shield/double cannon that can become a footplate or "hand" for his combined mode, plus a blue "super energon" Autobot-style energon star that fits over his [[spark crystal]].

:He shares his mold with fellow Superion pack-mate [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]].

:Fireflight was released, along with the others in this box set, in ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' (2008) packaging in Australia and Singapore, but it is unknown if this version will be released anywhere else. This set has recently been announced as a Target-[[exclusive]] set in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Superion (ROTF)|Superion]] packaging for North America. Thus, this toy doubles as [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[Fireflight (ROTF)|Fireflight]].

:This mold was also used to make [[Fun Publications]] [[Transformers Collectors Club]]-[[exclusive]] ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Fireflight/fireflight.htm More information on Fireflight at TFU.info]''

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Fireflight/fireflight.htm Fireflight at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Fireflight Fireflight's ''Universe'' profile at NFTA.net]

[[Category:Aerialbots]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]