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Nanosec (episode)

2008-06-08T23:37:26Z

70.242.142.190: /* Continuity errors */

{{picsneeded|Screenshots}}
{{disambig2|an episode of Transformers Animated|the supervillain the episode is named for|Nanosec}}

{{episodenav|animated|season=1|8|http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Transformers_Animated_episodes|prev=The Thrill of the Hunt|next=Along Came a Spider}}

'''Bumblebee's self-proclaimed title as "fastest thing on wheels" is threatened by Nanosec, a super speedster crook on a deadly mission that could destroy all of Detroit.'''

==Synopsis==
During a nighttime fireworks display, a small-time thief named Nino Sexton takes advantage of the distraction to pull a heist not far from [[Detroit|Detroit's]] boardwalks. He eludes the easily bamboozled police drones, but makes the mistake of trying to steal the not-so-easily-bamboozled [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] for a getaway car. Bumblebee toys with the crook for a bit, showing off his speed, but [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] arrives and tells him to knock it off. As they argue, Sexton tries to leave, but Bulkhead stops him with his wrecking ball—which cracks apart the boardwalk, sending all three plunging down. The two 'bots hit the water while Sexton hangs on desperately to a shattered board. He is saved in the nick of time by [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], who turns him in to the police.

Meanwhile, in [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac's]] private lab, his attempt to construct a servo for [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] fails, as Megatron knew it would. The [[Decepticon]] says that [[Destronium]] is necessary to build parts of sufficient quality, but Sumdac responds that the only available Destronium is a small amount synthesized on Earth.

The next day, Prime reprimands Bulkhead and Bumblebee, then says that Bumblebee will spend the day working with [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and Bulkhead on using his head instead of his thrusters. This upsets [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]], who has been looking forward to sharing with 'Bee one of her dad's latest prototypes: a set of turbo boosters. Bumblebee's all too eager to get them attached, but [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] absolutely nixes the idea. Sari protests that her dad's equipment is perfectly safe.

Across town, a technician reports to Professor Sumdac that there are problems with the new turbo-blade cyber suit as the test subject hurtles helplessly around the test track. Sumdac resignedly asks for the design specs so he can work out the bugs. Once the suit is perfected, it will increase human speed and reaction time a thousandfold. Megatron insists that the Destronium take priority, but Sumdac notes that the available sample is too unstable; transporting it from across town would leave it useless—or worse, highly explosive—unless it could be delivered in under ten minutes. He notes that nothing is that fast, but Megatron eyes the display of the plans for the cyber suit.

Shortly, Nino Sexton is informed that someone has posted his bail, though the police drone has no info on who it was. Bemused, he walks outside, where a delivery drone hands him a package "from a friend." Nino opens it to find the cyber suit.

In traffic, Bumblebee refuses to slow down and blend in. He points out that a riderless motorcycle hardly blends in either, so Prowl generates a holographic driver, but Bumblebee still refuses to cooperate—until a traffic jam forces him to do so. When a group of police vehicles speed by, Bumblebee takes the excuse to put on his own police roof light and do some "blending".

The police turn out to be responding to a sudden rash of thefts by a hyper-fast Nino Sexton. Just after one theft, a teller comments in shock that the money vanished in a nanosec. Nino overhears and decides he likes the name. He then proceeds to elude the police easily, then encounters Bumblebee. This time, [[Nanosec]] gets away, and Bumblebee can only marvel at his speed. However, for all his speed, Nanosec finds his big bags of loot rather heavy, and he pauses to catch his breath—only to be confronted by Prowl. The crook soon escapes, but Bumblebee's had time to catch up. He's still not fast enough to overtake Nanosec before the speedster zooms through a railroad crossing with a train closing in fast. Losing his nerve at the last second, Bumblebee slams on the brakes but gets stuck on the tracks. Bulkhead manages to grab the train in time to save 'Bee from getting crushed and holds it long enough that his buddy can get out of the way.

As Nanosec rejoices in his escape, he is contacted by Megatron, who is using a strobing signal that can only be detected at ultra-high speeds. Megatron offers Nanosec a substantial reward—$50 million—for delivering the Destronium. As a downpayment, he provides an ATM code that delivers a large amount of cash out of Isaac Sumdac's private bank account. All he has to do is get the Destronium from the lab to [[Sumdac Tower]] within ten minutes.

At the Autobots' base, Bumblebee continues to try to beat his speed record, but to no avail. As he begs Ratchet to give him the turbo booster upgrade, Nanosec heists the Destronium from Sumdac Labs. Prime arrives to announce Nanosec's latest activity and location, and commands everyone to roll out to capture the villain. A dejected Bumblebee thinks it's impossible, but Sari holds up her All Spark key and says there might be a way.

As Nanosec races into town, Prime stops him with a spread of negative-friction lubricant, but once he lassos the criminal out of the puddle, Nanosec's speed allows him to turn Prime's grappling lines against him. Prime calls for back-up, so Sari activates Bumblebee's newly installed boosters with her key. Prime finally manages to catch Nanosec by his legs, but Bumblebee rockets into him, out of control, allowing the villain to escape. 'Bee and Sari nearly zoom off the edge of a half-built bridge, but Prime's line catches them. Even so, it's a struggle for the Autobot leader to hold them, so 'Bee throws it in reverse. This gets him away from the drop, but otherwise doesn't help much.

Down the road, Ratchet uses his magnets to catch Nanosec, then checks the container he was carrying. He quickly realizes the danger involved—if the Destronium detonates in its current state, it could wipe out half of Detroit. Then Bulkhead notices Nanosec, whose hood has come off, now has grey hair when he used to be a redhead. Just then, Bumblebee rockets by, still out of control and now in reverse, again knocking Nanosec free to resume his delivery. Ratchet suggests Bee switch to robot mode, which is a MUCH bigger help. Prime catches up and orders Ratchet to disable the boosters, but there's no time; Nanosec has to be caught and stopped NOW. Prime tells everyone to roll out—without any vehicle mode modifications, thank you. As they proceed, Bulkhead wonders if the Destronium turned Nanosec's hair white, but Prowl responds that loss of hair color in organics is a sign of aging. Realizing what's going on, Bumblebee activates his boosters (which are apparently under control now) and races after Nanosec, using his head AND his thrusters. Once he catches up to the slowing speedster, 'Bee easily zaps the Destronium out of his grasp and rolls off with it. He then taunts the criminal into pursuing him at top speed until Nanosec becomes literally too old for this stuff and collapses.

By this time, the Destronium is very near its flash point, and according to Ratchet, the only safe place to take it is the upper atmosphere. With a two-stage boost assist from Bulkhead and Prowl, Bumblebee manages to use his thrusters to take the Destronium high enough and chuck it away before it explodes. Ratchet and Prime then slow him down and cool him off during his reentry. As the media cover Nanosec's arrest and the averted disaster, Prime congratulates everyone on a job well done, and Prowl even offers to race Bumblebee back to the plant, but 'Bee says he and Sari will walk.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Marty Isenberg]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Matt Youngberg]] & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' January 26, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (9)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (6)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Nanosec]] (1)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (5)
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (7)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (10)
|}

==Quotes==
"I'm kinda new to this planet, but I believe you're supposed to pay for those things before you run off with them."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' holding Nanosec after he robs the warehouse

"Couldn't I just ask your Autobot friends to help?" 
"NO! I...do not wish them to see me in this weakened state."
:—'''Megatron''' tells '''Isaac Sumdac''' the absolute truth, for once. Sort of.

'''Bumblebee:''' "Turbo boosters! Suh-weet!" 
'''Optimus:''' "You're not actually thinking of hooking these things up to yourself, are you?" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Oh, of course not! I was gonna ask the doc-bot to do it for me." 
'''Ratchet:''' "Have you got your processor up your exhaust port? These things are untested, incompatible—" 
'''Sari:''' "And totally wicked fast!"
:—Bumblebee gets a few mixed signals.

"I ain't nobody's errand boy...uuunless the price is right!"
:—'''Nanosec''' hustling Megatron

'''Prowl:''' "The point of this exercise is to blend into your environment." 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Oh, right! 'Cause nothing says 'blend' like a motorcycle driving itself." 
''Prowl generates a hologram of a policeman driver for himself'' 
'''Prowl:''' "Happy?"
:—Houston, we have [[Mustache Man]] sighting.

"Word of advice: Super speed doesn't equal super strength."
:—'''Prowl''' tells it like it is.

"You know, there might be another way to get that turbo booster upgrade." 
"But, Prime's orders—" 
"Were to catch Nanosec. He didn't say HOW."
:—'''Sari''' plays the little devil on '''Bumblebee'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s shoulder.

"What is this stuff? Are you nuts?" 
"Negative friction lubricant ''(transforms)'' and technically, I'm nuts, bolts, and armored plating."
:-'''Optimus Prime''' schools '''Nanosec'''.

'''Bumblebee:''' "You ROCK!" 
'''Sari:''' "No, YOU rock!" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "No, YOU rock!" 
'''Sari:''' "No, YOU rock!" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "I said YOU rock!" 
'''Sari:''' "I said YOU rock!" 
'''Bumblebee:''' "YOU rock!" 
'''Sari:''' "YOU rock!"
:—Mercifully, the exchange ends here.

"Transform and roll out! ''(to Bumblebee)'' In your ORIGINAL vehicle mode!"
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"How do you suppose this Nanosec fellow got hold of my experimental turbo suit?" 
"I suspect it was an inside job."
:—Delightfully layered-meaning dialog between '''Professor Sumdac''' and '''Megatron'''

"Race you back to the plant?" 
"If it's all the same to you, I think we'll walk."
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Bumblebee'''

==Other notes==

===Continuity errors===
* Prof. Sumdac seems woefully dim about his own creation, stating that nothing could be fast enough to bring the Destronium across town in time, '''right after''' talking about the turbo suit. However, as the suit has just been shown to have problems, perhaps Sumdac is instead exercising some sensible caution by not even considering using it.

* Ironically, judging from the position of the train at the time Bumblebee stopped on the tracks, he ''would'' have made it if he'd kept going.

* Comparing Megatron's directions to a map of the Detroit-Monroe area, he seems to recommend taking a primarily north-south route, which seems to be the shortest distance. However, Prime says Nanosec's taking I-94, the east-west highway, which would require a substantially longer route. Even given his super speed, why would Nanosec make it harder on himself to make the 10-minute deadline? (It's possible maps.megatron.com's route doesn't use highways, meaning more traffic lights, but the map's semi-fictionalized, so it's hard to tell. And why would Nanosec care about traffic lights anyway?)

* Apparently, news spreads as fast as Nanosec can run. No one seems to be around to hear him say he likes the name after he hears the teller use the word, yet within a few hours, Prime and Sari somehow know his name as well. Maybe he quickly put up some P.R.?

* Sumdac claims that the Destronium has to be delivered quickly, or it will become too unstable. Yet Ratchet says moving the substance at high speed is what makes it volatile. So it was a lose-lose situation from the beginning. Perhaps Megatron needs to run a few more self-diagnostics before he starts his galactic conquest gig again...

* What would Megatron actually ''do'' with the destronium, even if he got it, without letting Sumdac know about it? He needs ''help'' to get his body back.

===Animation errors===
*As Bumblebee is about to go over the closed bridge, just before he goes into reverse, Sari's All Spark key is stuck in his ignition...and also depicted hanging from its lanyard around her neck.
*When the police drone tells Nanosec to freeze,his caterpillar treads are still moving.

===Transformers references===
* Bumblebee uses the term "Big Bot", which was also [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor's]] affectionate name for [[Optimus Primal]] in ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.

* Megatron is made up of [[Destronium]] circuits. The Decepticons are called [[Destron]]s in Japan. Or maybe they got it from [[Destro|a certain Scottish arms dealer...]]

* Bumblebee's battle mask bears a striking similarity to the toy-face of the original [[Generation 1]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] toy.

* Sumdac's new police drones, first seen (sort of) in [[Total Meltdown]], have been adopted by the Detroit police department...they still need to work out some bugs.

* Prowl can project a hologram of a police officer riding him...and the hologram has a [[Moustache Man|mustache]].

* Although this may not be intentional, Sari finding a loop-hole in Optimus's orders is similar to [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] doing it with [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in the second episode of [[Beast Machines]].

===Real-world references===
* Going by the semi-fictional map Megatron provides, Sumdac Tower appears to be near the interchange of I-96 and State Highway 39, while the lab with the Destronium is somewhere near the suburb of Berlin, just east of I-75. For comparison, the robot plant shown in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]" is on the lakeshore in Monroe, about six miles further southwest.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is the first time Bumblebee uses his battle mask.
* This is also the first time we see Bumblebee's rocket boosters. He loses them during atmospheric reentry, but he gets them back in the second season—just in time to have some [[Velocity|fun with race cars]].
* In the previous week's episode, "[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]", Ratchet repaired his war wound—the exposed circuitry on the dorsal side of his left forearm—when he installed his EMP generator, regained from the bounty hunter [[Lockdown]]. Only a few shots in this episode provide a view of that part of his arm, and most of them show it as whole. However, the one good view available—after the Destronium theft, when Bumblebee is begging Ratchet to install the boosters—distinctly shows the war wound still present. It's possible he's left the generator unattached so he may continue to remember the circumstances of its loss [[Arcee (Animated)|"for those who can't,"]] as he puts it.
* In this episode, Bumblebee tries to be responsible, while Sari is the one who opts for breaking the rules. Wow. That's a role reversal from [[Unicron Trilogy|previous fictions]].
* Isaac Sumdac is still using Megatron's hand as a chair. For a fleshling, he's got brass.
* Bumblebee ran Nanosec, already slowed enough to make them equal, into old age on purpose for no apparent reason. That is '''COLD'''.

{{epstub}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Alpha Trion/Generation 1

2008-06-08T19:30:40Z

70.242.142.190:

{{disambig3|Alpha Trion}}
:''Alpha Trion is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Alphatrionkhanna.jpg|right|thumb|300px|If Alpha Trion [[Shattered Glass|was a Decepticon]], you KNOW he would stroke his [[facial hair|beard]] while contemplating conquest. You know it.]]

'''Alpha Trion''' is one of the oldest living Transformers, and with that age comes a nuanced understanding of his race and their place within the universe. In his youth, he went by the name '''A3''', and in this time, he helped lead the enslaved Cybertronians in their rebellion against their cruel masters, the [[Quintesson]]s. As a result, he was instrumental in first establishing [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as an independent planet.

In his older years, he has found a comfortable role in serving as advisor to other Transformers. Though not taking part in the battles of the [[Great War]], he is firmly on the side of the Autobots, serving as a mentor and guide, especially to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Elita One]]. He is an enigmatic old robot, though he is known to be the guardian of [[Vector Sigma]] and the custodian of its [[Key to Vector Sigma|circuit key]]. His sage-like manner paints him in almost a mystic tone, and possible connections between Alpha Trion, [[Primus]], and the history of Cybertron itself have boosted him into legendary status.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Alpha Trin'''
:''Indonesian name:'' '''Alpa Trion'''
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Tai Shifu''' ("Master Titanium")

==Fiction==
===Animated continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
''Voice actors:'' [[John Stephenson]], [[Corey Burton]] ([[War Dawn]]), [[Tony Pope]] ([[Forever is a Long Time Coming]]) (English); [[Osamu Saka]] (Japanese)

[[Image:YoungA3.jpg|left|150px|thumb|[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] never misses a chance to check out A3's rugged [[facial hair|mustache]].]]

11 million years ago, a mechanoid named A3 was part of the robot rebellion against the [[Quintesson]]s on a [[Cybertron (planet) |factory world]], creating a device called the [[Coda Remote]] that would stop their [[Dark Guardian]]s. Due to a timerift created by Quintessons from the future, he was briefly pulled into the year 2006. Fortunately, his partner [[Beta]] managed to start the rebellion as scheduled, and A3 was soon returned by future [[Autobot]]s to fulfill his role in Cybertronian history. {{storylink|Forever is a Long Time Coming}}

[[Image:Alphatrionagesbackwards.jpg|thumb|right|150px|He grew a beard, picked up the Matrix, shaved his beard, and then built Optimus, apparently.]]
Years later, he would be given the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by a [[U-Haul Robot|dying Autobot leader]], but Alpha Trion himself did not become [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. It would sit in his possession, unused, until the coming of the next Autobot leader. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} In the meanwhile, Alpha Trion developed plans to rebuild Autobots to better combat the escalating [[Decepticon]] menace.

The next Autobot leader would actually come to ''him'' when a [[Aerialbot (G1)|group of time-travelers]] lugged a dying youth named Orion Pax to his repair center. Reluctant at first, Alpha Trion sensed a strong [[spark|spirit]] in Orion Pax, and decided to rebuild him entirely... into [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. When Prime asked if Alpha Trion could rebuild his fallen girlfriend Ariel as well, Alpha Trion agreed, and mused that [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] would be a good name for a female warrior. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

[[Image:AlphaTrion.jpg|left|thumb|150px|"''Yes, she is a girl, he's just giving her a [[wikipedia: belly button]] so he can peirce it.''"]]
When next seen - millions of years later - Alpha Trion was acting in an advisory role to the [[Female Autobots]]. When their secret base was discovered by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], he suggested they move their headquarters. During the following skirmish between the Female Autobots and the Decepticons, he engaged in holographic communication with Elita One, where he (somewhat randomly) reminded her to not use her time-stopping power, for its use would likely drain her [[spark|lifeforce]]. When she immediately used this power to save her beloved Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader tracked Alpha Trion to his secret base. Alpha Trion repaired her to the best of his ability, but revealed to Optimus Prime that only Prime could save Elita by interfacing to her with his power filter. An astonished Optimus Prime stated that only his CREATOR could know that! {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}

''(Optimus Prime had apparently forgotten that Alpha Trion was his creator, although he seemed to know that Alpha Trion created Elita One. This, uncomfortably, makes Alpha Trion both of their fathers. Which would make them... )''

Alpha Trion was one of the first generation Cybertronians created by Vector Sigma. Because of this, he was custodian of the supercomputer's circuit key--but his own circuitry also functioned as a key and would allow him to interface with Vector Sigma on his own. He did just that, sacrificing his own body in order to compel Vector Sigma to imbue life into the Aerialbots to counter Megatron's [[Stunticon|new troops]] {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}.

After this, Alpha Trion appeared mostly as a spirit-guide, and had the peculiar honor of residing both within Vector Sigma ''and'' the Matrix of Leadership. He knew of the important role that both [[Nebulos]] and the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] would come to play in Vector Sigma's grand plan to rejuvenate Cybertron, and so urged Optimus Prime to help the plan become reality {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}.

====Headmasters anime====

[[Image:AlphaTrionGhost.jpg|right|thumbnail|Alpha Trion's Spooooooky Ghost]]

He twirled a lot.

{{-}}

===''Universe: Featuring the Wreckers''===
[[Image:Alphatrionwreckers.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Alpha Trion was a lion for all of two seconds.]]Alpha Trion was seemingly resurrected and/or reformatted as a lion by the [[Oracle]] to guide [[Primal Prime]] and his [[Wreckers]] in much the same way as he aided many previous Autobot leaders. {{storylink|Departure}} It is unclear whether this new form ever existed physically; its only appearance was as a vision in Primal Prime's head. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

[[Image:Alphatrionuniverse.jpg|right|thumb|150px|You know, screw this lion thing.]]
However, he did not make an appearance after this enigmatic reintroduction until [[Unicron]] posed a new threat to the balance of the multiverse. Alpha Trion, though technically still merged with [[Primus]]/Vector Sigma/Whatever, was again in his original body (but now with a cape!). He/they pulled Cybertron's greatest hero, [[Optimus Primal]], back from the dead in order to rescue recently abducted Cybertronians from the center of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Abduction}}

When Primal succeeded at this monumental task, {{storylink|Escape}} he confronted the [[Maximal Elders]] with one of his overblown speeches and was thrown in jail. Alpha Trion sent [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]] to stage a small rescue of his own, and Primal was returned to the center of Cybertron. Here, Alpha Trion presented Primal with a window into the past, present, and future of the [[Allspark]], from which he could pluck any warrior, whether they be living or dead. Primal chose [[Depth Charge|Depthcharge]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], the former of whom rejected Primal's calling. Alpha Trion quieted Primal's disappointment, letting Depthcharge go, expecting him to return of his own accord. To take his place, Alpha Trion pulled [[Omega Prime]] from the ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' universe. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Alphatriondw.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Most people kill their prizes before hanging them on their wall. Shockwave is not most people.]]
Eons ago, Alpha Trion kept watch over the Transformers when Primus entered his eternal sleep to hide Cybertron from Unicron. However, a nomadic alien race eventually conquered Cybertron, and Alpha Trion was forced into hiding. Thousands of Transformers were slaughtered, and Alpha Trion was unable to act. <ref>[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]</ref> What exactly happened afterwards is unknown, but it is implied that Alpha Trion eventually drove the invaders off Cybertron.

Alpha Trion was last seen hanging on [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s wall. This was apparently meant to be very important to the huge, over-arching plot of the entire universe, but odds are we'll never learn why. {{storylink|War and Peace}}
{{-}}

===Devil's Due===
[[Image:Historyofcybertron.jpg‎|right|thumb|150px|Trukk... ''and'' munky?]]
When [[Serpent O.R.]] downloaded some of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s memories, he saw Alpha Trion and his role in the [[Autobot rebellion|rebellion]] against the [[Quintesson]]. {{storylink|The Art of War}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===

Alpha Trion attended the funerals of [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback]], accompanied by Orion Pax, Ariel, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}

==Toys==
===Unreleased===
[[Image:Alphalion.jpg|right|thumb|150px|You'll never own me.]]
A redeco of [[Snarl (BM)|''Beast Machines'' Snarl]] was planned as Alpha Trion for the [[OTFCC]] ''[[Universe (comic)|Wreckers]]'' storyline, but this concept never made it past the paint mock-up stage.

A redecoed [[Lio Convoy]] was also considered by [[3H]] for Alpha Trion around the same time, and it was sort of this version that briefly appeared in the comic book (see above). Though the toy mock-up used Snarl, 3H hoped they could finagle the use of the Lio Convoy mold. "Alpha Lion"'s wireframe appearance in [[Departure|''Wreckers'' #1]] used Lio Convoy's body, but Snarl's head, hopefully allowing 3H to fudge either way, should they come to a decision. They didn't!

==Merchandise==
* '''Alpha Trion''' ([[Super Collection Figure]])

==Trivia==
* Interestingly, Alpha Trion is one of the very few Transformers to show signs of aging and [[facial hair|hair growth]].
* According to a note in Japan's Comic BomBom magazine, A3 was the first successful Cybertronian, A1 and A2 being failures. However, the presence of Cybertronians within the Matrix of Leadership older than Alpha Trion (as seen in [[The Return of Optimus Prime]]) makes the actual [[canon]]icity of this questionable.
* In ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'', an [[Alpha Trion (RID)|Alpha Trion]] is mentioned as an Autobot elder who created [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]].
* The ''[[Unicron Trilogy]]'' has another nigh-identical [[Alpha Trion (Energon)|Alpha Trion]]. In fact, [[BotCon 2007]] Alpha Trion's bio suggests many continuities have him, and they are all pretty much the same.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Autobot leaders]]
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Unreleased toys]]
[[Category: Elderly Transformers]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Auto Berserk

2008-06-08T19:02:36Z

70.242.142.190: /* Notable Quotes */

[[Image:Autoberserk.jpg|thumb|300px|right|My love for you is like a truck! BERSERKER!]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|17|prev=The Master Builders|next=Microbots
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=24
|prev2=City of Steel
|next2=Microbots
}}

'''After having his logic circuits damaged in battle, Red Alert feels rejected by the Autobots and allies himself with Starscream.'''

'''Japanese title:''' "Capture the Negavator!"

==Summary==

[[Image:AutoBerserk_controlroom_battle.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Sure is nice to have the G1 series on DVD, huh, Red?]]

After the [[Autobots]] successfully test a new super-weapon called the [[Negavator]], they are attacked by Soundwave and the [[cassettes]], who attempt to steal it for the Decepticons. While most of the Autobots exit the bunker to fight, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] stays behind to guard the facility and operate the Negavator. At first, Inferno stays to protect Red Alert, but he is eventually lured away by the call of battle, despite Red's protestations. Defeated, the Decepticons retreat, but not before Rumble fires a rocket into the control room, which causes the console Red Alert was operating to explode. The Autobots return to assist him, but the odder-than-normal Red Alert brushes off their help, accusing Inferno of betraying him. However, Red Alert's injuries go deeper than the surface. His logic chips have been affected, and he begins to feel as though everyone is against him.

[[Image:AutoBerserk_RedAlert_consoleexplode.jpg|thumb|right|150px| IT'S OVER 9000!!!]]

As the Autobots escort the Negavator back to [[Ark|Autobot Headquarters]], the Decepticons launch a sneak attack in a ravine that Red Alert does not detect due to his insecurities and his damaged state of mind. Optimus Prime and Ironhide are buried under the rubble caused by Rumble's landslide while the Decepticon jets attempt to take on the remaining Autobots, only to be thwarted when Smokescreen sprays a dark cloud of exhaust over them, obscuring their sensors and causing them to crash. With the Decepticons defeated a second time, Megatron retreats, leaving Starscream behind. When Optimus Prime questions Red Alert about his lack of a warning on the attack, Red instead accuses the Autobots of wanting to do away with him and runs off at the suggestion that they repair his logic circuits. Starscream, observing this turn of events, follows Red into the city.

[[Image:AutoBerserk Ironhide Not RedAlert.jpg|thumb|left|150px|For me? Aw, you shouldn't have.]]

As the other Autobots try to find Red in the city, Starscream successfully gains the trust of the paranoid Autobot by sharing his similar situation, and together they form a partnership to steal the Negavator and bring both Optimus Prime and Megatron to account for their respective betrayals. Meanwhile, the Autobots have brought the Negavator back to the bunker and secured it in the lowest level while they recharge. Hoist and Inferno are concerned that Red Alert's logic circuits will explode if they do not find him soon. Red leads Starscream to a secret entrance into the bunker, but they are unaware they are being observed by Ravage and, in turn, Megatron, who seems to be content to let the pair of traitors do the dirty work for him.

[[Image:AutoBerserk_RedAlert_on_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|150px|SURPRISE PIGGYBACK RIDE!]]

Inside the bunker, Red Alert and Starscream narrowly avoid death at the hands of the tunnel drone, but manage to set off the alarms in the process, alerting the Autobots. Commandeering the Negavator, they blast their way out of the holding chamber and use the elevator to arrive on the top level. Awaiting them are the other Autobots, who mistakenly believe Red Alert is some kind of hostage to Starscream until he tells them their intentions. At this point, Megatron and Decepticons enter, causing a sputtering Starscream to agree with Megatron that he was merely delivering the weapon to his leader. When Red Alert realizes Starscream's duplicity, he attempts to fire the Negavator, only to be pulled out of the cockpit and blasted with the Decepticon's null ray. Unbeknownst to the Decepticons, the null ray blast serves to stabilize Red's logic circuits, and they seemingly force him to use the Negavator on the Autobots. Unfortunately for Megatron, Red Alert instead sets the self-destruct mechanism on the superweapon, causing the Decepticons to flee.

[[Image:AutoBerserk_Infernosaves_RedAlert.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Don't bother trying to crucify yourself, Inferno. You'll never get that last nail driven in.]]

The Autobots run as the Negavator explodes. Discovering that Red Alert is still inside, Ironhide, then Optimus Prime attempt to enter the blaze to save their friend, but Inferno insists on doing it himself, perhaps as penance for his earlier desertion of Red. Inferno saves Red Alert from being crushed even as the remorseful Red tells the gun-slinging fire truck to leave him behind. Outside, the other Autobots cheer as Inferno carries the injured Red Alert out of the flames. Red attempts to apologize for all the trouble he has caused them, but Optimus Prime is the one who accepts the blame, for it was his insistence on testing the Negavator that started their problems. Prime declares they are glad to have Red Alert back, and commends both him and Inferno for their bravery. Red replies that with friends like the Autobots, it's easy to be brave.

{{-}}

==Stats==
'''Original Airdate:''' 16 October 1985

'''Written by:''' [[Antoni Zalewski]]

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Tracks]] (4)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (8)
*[[Grapple]] (9)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (10)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (11)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (12)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |

*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Cassettes]]
**[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (13)
**[[Ravage]] (14)
**[[Rumble]] (15)
**[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] / [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] † (16)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (18)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (19)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (20)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (21)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (23)

†-''Soundwave'' calls for ''Buzzsaw'', but ''Laserbeak'' ejects

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Guests'''
*Army Officer #1 (5)
*Army Officer #2 (6)
*Fire Chief (24)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |

|}

==Notable Quotes==

'''Soundwave:''' "Eject. Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Buzzsaw. Destroy Autobots!" 
'''Frenzy:''' "With pleasure! We'll turn that bunker into a burial mound!"
:-'''Frenzy''' more than willing to go through with '''Soundwave's''' orders.

"You need a complete overhaul!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', in response to a (hilariously) panicking Red Alert.

"Someday I want to build something that doesn't get trashed!" 
:—'''Grapple''', digging out the ruins of his bunker.

"I'm fine! It's just an electroglitch that comes and goes. Comes and goes."
:—'''Red Alert''' demonstrates that he's definitely ''not'' fine.

"Why can't anyone see it?! '''Inferno wants my job!'''"
:—'''Red Alert''' spirals down into paranoia...

'''Inferno:''' "You need immediate repairs!" 
'''Red Alert:''' "Don't give me any of that. You just want to disassemble me for spare parts! Never! I won't let you!"
:— ...and hits bottom...

'''Hoist:''' "Let me fix you!" 
'''Red Alert:''' "Stay back. I know ''just'' how you want to fix me!"
:— ...and then grabs a shovel.

"I've got ''morons'' on my team!"
:—'''Megatron''' having a life-changing realization.

'''Dirge:''' "Hey! My circuits electric blew just out!" 
'''Thrust:''' "Too mine! I'm blind flying! 
'''Starsceam:''' "Away move, before collide we!" 
:—The Seekers, scrambled by Smokescreen.

'''Fire chief:''' "Hey! That's my car! Put it back where ya found it!!" 
'''Ironhide:''' "Oh, uh, sorry, chief; it looked like a friend of mine!" 
[''Transforms and drives off''] 
'''Fire chief:''' "No two ways about it -- I gotta take that vacation!" 
:—Ironhide mistakes a real car for Red Alert

==Other Notes==

===Animation and/or Technical Glitches===
* When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes, Frenzy sort of comes out twice, but his colors are replaced with Ravage's half-way out.
* When Buzzsaw is flying around he has the color scheme of Lazerbeak.
* In one scene, on Red Alert's door it says "F D D", as opposed to "F ⌂ D" (where ⌂ is a Fire Dept. badge).
* Thrust's colors are off at one point; he is red and black instead of the normal red and white.
* As the Decepticons retreat for the second time in the show, Ramjet mispronounces Starscream's name as "Starscweam".
* Grapple's head colors change in this episode from completely white, as in all his previous appearances, to gray and white. This latter color scheme is the one used from this episode on.
* When Ironhide walks past Optimus Prime with the intention of rescuing Red Alert from the fire of the Negavator's destruction, his right arm clips right through Prime's left arm.

===Continuity Errors===
* When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes and calling their names, he calls for Buzzsaw, but Laserbeak is ejected instead and seen throughout the episode.
* It is unclear why the fire chief is merely angry at Ironhide for manhandling his car, but is surprised when he sees Ironhide transform, commenting that he needs to take a vacation. Are giant robots common in this city, but transforming giant robots aren't?

===Transformers References===
* References

===Real-World References===
*Megatron's line about "morons" is a verbatim quote from the 1970s classic ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''.
*Red Alert cops the tagline of Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry: "Go ahead, Soundwave... make my day."
[[Image:AutoBerserk_OptimusPrime_closedeyes.jpg|thumb|right|150px|My eyes! The goggles do nothing!]]

===Miscellaneous Trivia===

* As Optimus Prime and the other Autobots stagger out of the fire and smoke, Optimus Prime's eyes are closed (apparently to shield them against the smoke), much like a human's.

* Frenzy actually tackles Optimus Prime. Strong little guy....

*Optimus Prime's gun apparently works like a machine gun.

*This is one of the few times, possibly only time, when Megatron criticizes Soundwave. Must come as a shock to Soundwave who usually only hears praises.

===Keywords===
(''separate by commas and link each one so a page can be created for it if it does not already exist'')

[[Negavator]]

==External Links==
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0808814/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep33/ Teletran93's page for this episode]

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

The Master Builders (episode)

2008-06-08T19:00:14Z

70.242.142.190: /* Notable quotes */

[[Image:Masterbuilder.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The Master Bait -- uh, Builders]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|16|prev=Dinobot Island, Part 2|next=Auto Berserk
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=20
|prev2=Dinobot Island, Part 2
|next2=The Insecticon Syndrome
}}

'''Grapple and Hoist ally themselves with the Constructicons.'''

==Detailed synopsis==

[[Grapple]] shows [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] a working model of a [[Solar Tower]] he wants to build and the two of them take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus is occupied at the moment because [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] is teaching him how to play [[basketball]]. Optimus likes Grapple's concept, but rejects the plan because it would be difficult to defend the tower against attack.

The conversation is cut short when Teletraan 1 alerts them that Powerglide has been shot down by Starscream and Skywarp. Hoist and Grapple leave to repair the Autobot plane. On their return, Grapple tries to convince Hoist to build the tower with him, regardless of Prime's orders, but Hoist isn't going for it.

Their conversation is cut short when they are trapped by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s. Scrapper says they've left the [[Decepticons]] and proposes a joint project. Grapple, enamored with his solar tower idea, agrees, but wants proof of their partnership. They promise to bring proof back and fly off.

On their return to Decepticon headquarters, Megatron confronts the Constructicons with video tape of their conversation with Grapple. They all swear loyalty to Megatron, and insist they plan to betray the Autobots. Satisfied with their explanation, Megatron lets them go with a present. They return to Grapple and Hoist with "proof," an entire truckload of energon. Convinced that they are working in good faith, Grapple and Hoist agree to the partnership.

[[Image:master_builders_prime_basketball.jpg|thumb|left|Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin', all cool/and shootin' some b-ball outside of the school...]]
Meantime, Optimus is playing basketball with Tracks, Inferno and Smokescreen. After he shuts Tracks down during a drive to the net, Prime notices that Tracks needs maintenance, but no one knows where Hoist is. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends Powerglide out to find the missing Autobots. Powerglide finds the solar tower and reports back.

Grapple is in his element, directing the Constructicons as the tower is built, and blissfully unaware of their deception. The Constructicons merge to form Devastator in order to place the sun-focusing sphere at the top of the tower. With the last piece in place, the tables turn. Megatron attacks Grapple and Hoist and claims the tower as his own. The Decepticons get to work collecting the energy.

The Autobots arrive and attack. The Constructicons form Devastator and fight back. Prime tricks Devastator into trying to kick Smokescreen but he kicks the tower instead. A few more rounds of laser fire send Devastator crashing into the tower, demolishing it. Megatron and the Constructicons retreat.

The Autobots dig in the debris to try and find Grapple and Hoist. Brawn discovers them encased in a sheet of metal and punches it apart. Grapple and Hoist apologize for the trouble they've caused. Prime is in a forgiving mood, but says they have to clean up the mess themselves. As the others drive off, Grapple and Hoist fondly remember the tower.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' 8 October 1985

'''Written by:''' [[David N. Gottlieb]] and [[Herb Engelhardt]]

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Powerglide]] (1)
*[[Grapple]] (4)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*'''[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]''' (7)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (20)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (21)
*[[Tracks]] (22)
*[[Brawn]] (24)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (25)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (26)
*[[Warpath]] (27)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |

*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (3)
*[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s
**[[Scrapper]] (10)
**[[Hook]] (11)
**[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (12)
**[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (13)
**[[Mixmaster]] (14)
**[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
*'''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]''' (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (18)
*[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s
**'''[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]''' (23)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Spike Witwicky]] (8)

'''Guests'''
*[[Construction Foreman]] (19)

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*[[Teletraan I]] (9)
|}

{{-}}
==Notable quotes==

"Move over, blue skies. Here comes old Powerglide, king of the cloud chasers, sultan of the stratosphere, ace of the air."
:--'''Powerglide''', king of self-esteem.

"Well, if he's not impressed, I'll... be ''de''pressed."
:--'''Grapple''' worries about whether Optimus Prime will agree on his proposal for a Solar Tower.

"Am I 'drooling' correctly?" 
"The word is 'dribbling', Optimus!"
:--'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike''' play basketball.

"Hey, hey, hey! Airborne is reborn! Thanks a zillion! And awaaaay we go!"
:--'''Powerglide''' after he is repaired by Hoist and Grapple.

"Hold your fire Autobots!" 
"And miss a chance to nail you? Never!" [''fires missiles'']
:--'''Scrapper''' attempts to open a dialogue with '''Hoist''' and Grapple

'''Megatron:''' "Ahhh, my loyal Constructicons. You are loyal, aren't you? No! You're traitors! And you can't deny it." 
'''Scrapper:''' "Megatron, y-y-you got it all wrong!" 
'''Hook:''' "We're still working for you, and for the glory of the Decepticons." 
'''Bonecrusher:''' "You see we eavesdropped on their plans." 
'''Long Haul:''' "Plans to build a whopper solar tower!" 
'''Scavenger:''' "That'd produce megawatts of energy." 
'''Mixmaster:''' "Energy we can use to destroy the Autobots. Get it, Get it, heh-huh?" 

'''Bonecrusher:''' "We'll just help ourselves if you don't mind." 
'''Long Haul:''' "Or even if you do!" 
'''Construction foreman:''' "Who me? M-mind? Why should I! hehe... he."
 [''tears up his blueprints'']
: -- the Constructicons rob a hapless building site.

"As soon as the Power Tower is finished, I need to find a place to sign my name... in very large letters."
:--'''Grapple''' as the Solar Tower is approaching completion.

"Watch out Spike! I'm driving for a layoff!" 
"Its a layup Prime! Watch out for Tracks!"
:--'''Optimus Prime''' gets basketball lessons from '''Spike'''

"'Get this.' 'Bring that.' I thought I was finally gonna ''build'' somethin'!"
:--'''Long Haul''' after being told to bring another solar panel.

'''Devastator:''' "Ha, ha! We'll both get a kick out of this!" 
:--'''Devastator''' taunts Smokescreen

"Hey, anybody want some economy-sized wall plaques?"
:--'''Ironhide''', commenting on Hoist and Grapple's impressions on a iron slab.

"There'll be other towers to design and build, Grapple." 
"It ''was'' magnificent... for a little while, wasn't it, Hoist?" 
"Incredible. Absolutely incredible."
:--'''Hoist''' and '''Grapple''', amid the ruins of the Solar Tower.

{{-}}

==Other Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* Near the end, when they're about to dig [[Hoist]] and [[Grapple]] out of the rubble of the solar tower, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] is given [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s colors; although he doesn't speak you can recognize it as Cliffjumper by the spoiler across his chest.

* When the [[Autobots]] are approaching the [[Solar Tower]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] is not to be seen at all, when they finally transform to robots, one of the first shots shows Inferno, but none after. Probably meant to have been [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] in that shot.

===Continuity errors===
* Continuity errors

===Transformers references===
* Scrapper claims that the Constructicons admired Grapple's work back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Constructicon (G1)#Origin controversy|Hmmm...]]

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===

* When remastered for DVD by [[Rhino Entertainment]], the re-created title card for the episode was incorrectly rendered as "The Master Builder." This title appeared on all associated material included with the DVD set, and can be seen in the screen shot above.
* Apparently random rocks are equipped by the Decepticons with video cameras.
* The Autobots shoot lasers out of their headlights when they drive into battle.
* Megatron has a compartment in his chest that holds a pair of binoculars.
* Megatron gave the Constructicons his Energon because he says that its the most important thing to him. Was anyone else expecting the [[fusion cannon]]?
* Seriously, can you imagine the [[scale | size]] of the ball that the Autobots need to play basketball?

===Keywords===
[[Solar Tower]], [[wikipedia:basketball|basketball]]

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

* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0808858/ IMDb's page for this episode]

* [http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep32/ Teletran93's page for this episode]

{{epstub}}
[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Master Builders]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Atlantis, Arise!

2008-06-08T18:49:34Z

70.242.142.190: /* Summary */

[[image:SubAtlantica_Undersea.jpg|right|thumb|300px|There's fire burning... underwater. Don't ask.]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|8|prev=The Autobot Run|next=Day of the Machines
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=16
|prev2=The Immobilizer
|next2=Enter the Nightbird
}}

'''The Decepticons ally with the undersea realm of Sub-Atlantica. But they may be more treacherous than Megatron expected.'''

==Summary==
[[Image:Atlantis Arise Sub-Atlanticans Decepticons.JPG|thumb|left|150px|And when you see Aquaman, tell him his superpower sucks.]]
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] summons [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] to the control room, saying that [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] have detected massive energy readings underwater. The Decepticons investigate and encounter the [[Sub-Atlantica]]ns, a race who hope to conquer the surface world one day. Megatron negotiates a deal with [[Nergill]], King of Sub-Atlantica, offering Decepticon military technology in exchange for access to their [[geothermal]] storehouses. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] distrusts the Sub-Atlanticans, who communicate with each other telepathically.

[[Image:Atlantis Arise Autobots football.JPG|thumb|150px|[[Eject|R U READY 4 SUM FOOTBALL?]]]]
Near the [[Autobot]] [[Ark (G1)|base]], [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] are playing a game of [[football]] with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] arrives before the Dinobots accidentally kill anyone, telling them there is a massive energy reading emanating from near the [[Decepticon space cruiser|Decepticon base]]. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dispatches Bumblebee, [[Brawn]], Hound, and Wheeljack to investigate, with Spike tagging along. The Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans attack and take Wheeljack prisoner. After raising the city from the bottom of the ocean, the Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans prepare to attack [[Washington, D.C.]] as a sign of their new alliance. Nergill communicates with his soldiers, telling Megatron that they will imprison Wheeljack in his dungeons. However, at Starscream's orders, Soundwave unscrambles the message and learns that Wheeljack is to be taken to their laboratory.

The Autobots head for Washington, hoping to stop the Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans. Prime has Spike and Bumblebee head for Sub-Atlantica, hoping to rescue Wheeljack, while the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] takes the others to Washington. The Sub-Atlanticans raise a [[force field]] over Washington, trapping the Autobots inside. In Sub-Atlantica, Nergill is developing a disruptor which will shut down [[Transformer]]s. Starscream discovers this and is shot by Nergill, who learns that it is less effective on Decepticons. As Nergill leaves, Starscream attempts to drain power from Wheeljack, but Bumblebee and Spike stop the [[Air Commander]].

[[Image:Atlantis Arise Megs Lincoln memorial.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Four score and seven million years ago, I founded a [[Decepticon Empire|new nation]]...]]
Heading for Washington, Nergill uses the disruptor to defeat the Autobots, but holds back on the Decepticons. As the Sub-Atlanticans secure the Capitol building, his soldiers ask when to move against the Decepticons, but Nergill decides to wait a little while longer. Meanwhile, Megatron (sitting at the [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln Memorial]]) tells [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] that they will deal with the Sub-Atlanticans soon enough.

Wheeljack calls in the Dinobots, who manage to penetrate the force field but come to blows with the Cons. Megatron and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] fight, and Nergill tries to shoot them both, but Starscream causes Nergill to miss. Grimlock grabs the disruptor and destroys it, causing the Autobots to revive. The Decepticons and Sub-Atlanticans retreat back to their own city, with the Autobots in pursuit.

[[image:SubAtlantica_Asplode.jpg|right|thumb|150px|But the others chose to stay, sitting in their porches with their shotguns, and eventually evolved into mermaids. And they would sing and dance, and ring in the new...]]
Back at Sub-Atlantica, Megatron demands an answer to Starscream's treason charge against Nergill, but Nergill informs him that the Autobots are coming. They invade the city, and the Dinobots begin smashing everything in sight.

Nergill decides to destroy the city, hoping to destroy the Transformers as well. Spike, Wheeljack, and Bumblebee follow, hoping to stop Nergill, with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage]] in pursuit. The two [[Mini-Cassette]]s realize Nergill's intentions, and Rumble tries to bury him in rubble, but it's too late. Nergill throws a device into his energy containers, which starts a chain reaction that destroys the city. The Autobots and Decepticons manage to retreat, while the Sub-Atlanticans and their home disappear under the waves. Prime says they probably won't see Nergill again for a long time.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' October 3, 1985

'''Production number:''' 700-23

'''Written by:''' [[Douglas Booth]]

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.'')
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]

! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Hound]] (10)
* [[Swoop]] (11)
* [[Snarl]] (12)
* [[Slag]] (13)
* [[Wheeljack]] (14)
* [[Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Jazz]] (15)
* [[Windcharger]] (16)
* [[Trailbreaker]] (17)
* [[Brawn]] (18)
* [[Ironhide]] (19)
* [[Prowl]] (20)
* [[Sludge]] (21)
| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (1)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Soundwave]] (4)
* [[Starscream]] (5)
* [[Skywarp]] (6)
* [[Thundercracker]] (7)
* [[Rumble]] (22)
* [[Ravage]] (23)
| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Spike Witwicky]]

'''Guests'''

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |
*[[Nergill]]
*Sub-Atlantican General
|}

==Notable quotes==
"Are you sure humans do this for fun?" 
:—'''Hound''', after playing a game of football with the Dinobots

"Autobots bite off more than they can chew, then send for dinobots. Come Snarl, Sludge, we go!" 
:-'''Grimlock''', responding to the SOS call by Wheeljack. Apparantly he does not want Slag or Swoop.

"There. This throne was made for me!" 
:—'''Megatron''', sitting on the throne at the Lincoln Memorial.

"Me Grimlock here again, Optimus Prime, to pull your diodes out of laser fire."
:—'''Grimlock, lecturing Optimus Prime

"Okay, Grimlock. Time for you and the Dinobots to act prehistoric!" 
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"You don't frighten me, you mechanical throwbacks!" 
"Good, Megatron! We love stupid enemies!" 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Grimlock'''

"Ruining Autobots is my life!"
:—'''Starscream''' finds his true calling.

==Notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[Image:Optimus prime doppelgaenger.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Prime uses [[budding]] to hold up the Washington monument.]]
*As the Washington Monument starts to fall, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] stands for a second, another Optimus Prime pops out of him.
*When the Dinobots break through the force field, Starscream is among the group fighting them off, even though he was last seen in Sub-Atlantica.

===Continuity errors===
* Spike is obviously some sort of super human. He can survive in the "deepest part of the Atlantic ocean" wearing only a bathing suit and using a simple oxygen tank and googles. Amazing that he isn't crushed under the weight of the ocean and doesn't freeze to death.

===Transformers references===
* In [[Transformers: The Game]], [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also takes the Lincoln Memorial throne as his own. This is only in the Decepticon campaign, however.

*While it mostly comes off as arrogance, Grimlock has a point when he lectures Optimus Prime about the Autobots depending on the Dinobots to save them. When the Dinobots are becoming aware of the fact that they're just a ''deus ex machina'', you know that it's time to add a little more depth to your stories.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
[[Image:Atlantis Arise Hound roof.JPG|thumb|150px|woops! can't get my fancy cushions wet!]]
* Megatron refers to Laserbeak and Buzzsaw as "vultures". They're supposed to be condors.
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] has a folding sunroof. That is awesome. His toy did not. That is not awesome.
* The Lincoln Memorial is strangely [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]-[[scale|sized]].
* They have in fact seen the last of Nergill.
* Watch out for the hilarious irony of Starscream shouting "TRAITOR!" and stopping Nergill from shooting Megatron in the back.

===Keywords===

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

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

The Autobot Run

2008-06-08T18:48:27Z

70.242.142.190: /* Notable quotes */

{{picsneeded}}
[[Image:The Autobot Run title shot.JPG|thumb|350px|thumb|See Autobot. See Autobot run. Run, Autobot, run!]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|7|prev=The Immobilizer|next=Atlantis, Arise!
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=65
|prev2=A Plague of Insecticons
|next2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}

'''When the Autobots perform a race for charity, the Decepticons take the opportunity to trap them in their vehicle modes.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "Stop the Transform!"

==Detailed synopsis==
While watching a car race, [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] and [[Chip Chase|Chip]] comment on how cool it would be to see the Autobots perform in a race as well.

[[Image:Transfixatron.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A collection of [[character model]]s gathers around the Decepticons' new weapon.]]
Meanwhile, in an old west ghost town, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s have completed the [[Transfixatron]], a new device that will lock a [[Transformer]] in the mode they currently occupy (usually vehicle mode). [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] arrives, informing the Decepticons about the Autobot race. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] complains that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] is wasting time with the device instead of leading an attack. In response, Megatron tests the device on his whiny subordinate, and it's a success. Starscream is stuck in jet mode and begs to be released, saying he'll do whatever Megatron wants and he's too valuable to the Decepticon cause. Megatron gets bored of Starscream's pleas and frees him. Satisfied with the test, Megatron orders the Constructicons to start working on a second device whose purpose will be revealed later.

Chip and Spike suggest their race idea to the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] agrees, as long as it's for charity. [[Huffer]] complains that it's a waste of time and a bad idea (as usual), but the Autobots decide to do it. Huffer, [[Brawn]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] remain to guard the [[Ark (G1)|base]].

The Autobots arrive at the track and wait at the starting line in robot mode before they compete "in the greatest automobile race in history." Some numbskull in the audience wonders aloud where their cars are. The Autobots transform, and the race is on with a whole lot of trash talk. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Sunstreaker and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] rush ahead of the slower vehicles like Trailbreaker and Ironhide.

During the race, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleports to a position over the track and uses the Transfixatron on the Autobots, who don't notice. The Autobots near the finish line, but they're kicking up so much dust its impossible to tell who won. "The real winners are us, folks!" says the announcer.

Next up, the Autobots line up to do some stunts and make "Evel Knievel look like a kiddie car driver," according to Spike. But Sunstreaker's attempt to jump the other Autobots falls short and he has to be saved by [[Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers.

Before they can do anything else, the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots attempt to [[Transformation|transform]], only to find that they are all stuck in vehicle mode. Optimus orders the Autobots to ram the Decepticons, but they simply shoot out the Autobots' tires, fire rays to make their engines overheat and disable their radios. Helpless, the Autobots are herded away by the 'Cons.

[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] takes Spike and Chip back to the base, hoping Ratchet and Wheeljack can figure a fix for the Transfixatron ray. As usual, Huffer complains, but a massive bearhug from Brawn gets him to shut up, while Ratchet and Wheeljack get to work.

At the ghost town, Megatron forces Optimus Prime to watch his soldiers die one by one in the Constructicons' second device, a horrific crushing machine, starting with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] dispatches [[Roller]] to distract Megatron, allowing Prime to ram the crusher, which frees Ironhide. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] manages to send a signal to [[Teletraan I]], just as Ratchet and Wheeljack finish working on a device which will allow the Autobots to transform...a grenade. (Real good thinking there, guys.)

Spike and the other Autobots arrive to save their comrades, but [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] to deal with them. After a game of keep-away with the grenade, Chip manages to get it close enough to release its energy, allowing the Autobots to transform to robot mode. The Constructicons form [[Devastator]], but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and Wheeljack fire the Transfixatron at giant Decepticon, causing the [[Combiner]] to separate. The Decepticons retreat, and the Autobots destroy the Transfixatron.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' October 31, 1985

'''Written by:''' [[Donald F. Glut]]

==Notable quotes==
"Well, guys, what's next? I'm for anything except demolition derbyin'."
:—'''Jazz'''

"I can't change back to my normal, handsome self!"
:—Modest and humble '''Sunstreaker'''

"I just knew the race would be a bad idea, but would anyone listen to me? Oh, noooo!" 
"Stifle it, Huffer, or I'll put my footio in your audio!!"
:—'''Huffer''' being an ass and '''Brawn''' looking to kick some.

"Ironic isn't it, Autobots, that after so many valiant battles, you will meet your end in the crushing jaws of this device so lovingly fashioned by my Constructicons."
:-'''Megatron's''' concept of irony is off.

"Later, guys. It's been really great knowin' ya."
:—Headed for the crushing device, '''Ironhide''' accepts his fate.

"What is that?" 
"I call it a TARGET!"
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Starscream''' spotting Roller

"I'm transforming! I see my true beauty emerging!"
:—'''Sunstreaker'''

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] appears twice in this episode: first when Megatron is gloating about the Transfixatron, then when the Decepticons arrive at the race. Of course, it's ''possible'' that Shockwave came to [[Earth]] during this episode, but the idea of him just popping up and hanging around in the background seriously goes against the established notion that he always stays on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as its full-time guardian.
* When the Autobots are un-transfixed and transform into robot modes, Gears is colored like Brawn.

===Continuity errors===
* References

===Transformers references===
* This is Roller's third and final appearance.
* This is the first episode where the Transformers formally refer to themselves as ''Transformers''.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is one of three episodes from Season Two which were animated by [[AKOM]] (the others being "[[The Core]]" and "[[City of Steel]]"). They share similar art and animation styles, as well as some character model oddities.
* Megatron can shoot laser beams from his eyes, especially when he wants to scare away earth germs.
* Wheeljack states that the [[Transfixatron]] will "cancel Devastator's robot mode", though one would really expect it to just transfix Devastator ''as'' Devastator.
* The idea of a [[Transfixatron|device to keep a Transformer frozen in one mode]] would be revisited over the years in other fictions, with [[Tarantulas]]'s [[transformation lock lens]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[transformation lock virus]], and [[Spotlight: Soundwave|an experimental weapon]] created by Shockwave.

===Keywords===
(''separate by commas and link each one so a page can be created for it if it does not already exist'')

==External links==
*

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Autobot Run]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

The Autobot Run

2008-06-08T18:48:09Z

70.242.142.190: /* Notable quotes */

The Autobot Run

2008-06-08T18:47:11Z

70.242.142.190: /* Notable quotes */

{{picsneeded}}
[[Image:The Autobot Run title shot.JPG|thumb|350px|thumb|See Autobot. See Autobot run. Run, Autobot, run!]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|7|prev=The Immobilizer|next=Atlantis, Arise!
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=65
|prev2=A Plague of Insecticons
|next2=The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}}

'''When the Autobots perform a race for charity, the Decepticons take the opportunity to trap them in their vehicle modes.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "Stop the Transform!"

==Detailed synopsis==
While watching a car race, [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] and [[Chip Chase|Chip]] comment on how cool it would be to see the Autobots perform in a race as well.

[[Image:Transfixatron.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A collection of [[character model]]s gathers around the Decepticons' new weapon.]]
Meanwhile, in an old west ghost town, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s have completed the [[Transfixatron]], a new device that will lock a [[Transformer]] in the mode they currently occupy (usually vehicle mode). [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] arrives, informing the Decepticons about the Autobot race. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] complains that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] is wasting time with the device instead of leading an attack. In response, Megatron tests the device on his whiny subordinate, and it's a success. Starscream is stuck in jet mode and begs to be released, saying he'll do whatever Megatron wants and he's too valuable to the Decepticon cause. Megatron gets bored of Starscream's pleas and frees him. Satisfied with the test, Megatron orders the Constructicons to start working on a second device whose purpose will be revealed later.

Chip and Spike suggest their race idea to the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] agrees, as long as it's for charity. [[Huffer]] complains that it's a waste of time and a bad idea (as usual), but the Autobots decide to do it. Huffer, [[Brawn]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] remain to guard the [[Ark (G1)|base]].

The Autobots arrive at the track and wait at the starting line in robot mode before they compete "in the greatest automobile race in history." Some numbskull in the audience wonders aloud where their cars are. The Autobots transform, and the race is on with a whole lot of trash talk. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Sunstreaker and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] rush ahead of the slower vehicles like Trailbreaker and Ironhide.

During the race, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleports to a position over the track and uses the Transfixatron on the Autobots, who don't notice. The Autobots near the finish line, but they're kicking up so much dust its impossible to tell who won. "The real winners are us, folks!" says the announcer.

Next up, the Autobots line up to do some stunts and make "Evel Knievel look like a kiddie car driver," according to Spike. But Sunstreaker's attempt to jump the other Autobots falls short and he has to be saved by [[Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers.

Before they can do anything else, the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots attempt to [[Transformation|transform]], only to find that they are all stuck in vehicle mode. Optimus orders the Autobots to ram the Decepticons, but they simply shoot out the Autobots' tires, fire rays to make their engines overheat and disable their radios. Helpless, the Autobots are herded away by the 'Cons.

[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] takes Spike and Chip back to the base, hoping Ratchet and Wheeljack can figure a fix for the Transfixatron ray. As usual, Huffer complains, but a massive bearhug from Brawn gets him to shut up, while Ratchet and Wheeljack get to work.

At the ghost town, Megatron forces Optimus Prime to watch his soldiers die one by one in the Constructicons' second device, a horrific crushing machine, starting with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] dispatches [[Roller]] to distract Megatron, allowing Prime to ram the crusher, which frees Ironhide. [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] manages to send a signal to [[Teletraan I]], just as Ratchet and Wheeljack finish working on a device which will allow the Autobots to transform...a grenade. (Real good thinking there, guys.)

Spike and the other Autobots arrive to save their comrades, but [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] to deal with them. After a game of keep-away with the grenade, Chip manages to get it close enough to release its energy, allowing the Autobots to transform to robot mode. The Constructicons form [[Devastator]], but [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and Wheeljack fire the Transfixatron at giant Decepticon, causing the [[Combiner]] to separate. The Decepticons retreat, and the Autobots destroy the Transfixatron.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' October 31, 1985

'''Written by:''' [[Donald F. Glut]]

==Notable quotes==
"Well, guys, what's next? I'm for anything except demolition derbyin'."
:—'''Jazz'''

"I can't change back to my normal, handsome self!"
:—Modest and humble '''Sunstreaker'''

"I just knew the race would be a bad idea, but would anyone listen to me? Oh, noooo!" 
"Stifle it, Huffer, or I'll put my footio in your audio!!"
:—'''Huffer''' being an ass and '''Brawn''' looking to kick some.

"Ironic isn't it, Autobots, that after so many valiant battles, you will meet your end in the crushing jaws of this device so lovingly fashioned by my Constructicons."
:-'''Megatron's'''concept of irony is off.

"Later, guys. It's been really great knowin' ya."
:—Headed for the crushing device, '''Ironhide''' accepts his fate.

"What is that?" 
"I call it a TARGET!"
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Starscream''' spotting Roller

"I'm transforming! I see my true beauty emerging!"
:—'''Sunstreaker'''

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] appears twice in this episode: first when Megatron is gloating about the Transfixatron, then when the Decepticons arrive at the race. Of course, it's ''possible'' that Shockwave came to [[Earth]] during this episode, but the idea of him just popping up and hanging around in the background seriously goes against the established notion that he always stays on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as its full-time guardian.
* When the Autobots are un-transfixed and transform into robot modes, Gears is colored like Brawn.

===Continuity errors===
* References

===Transformers references===
* This is Roller's third and final appearance.
* This is the first episode where the Transformers formally refer to themselves as ''Transformers''.

===Real-world references===
* References

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is one of three episodes from Season Two which were animated by [[AKOM]] (the others being "[[The Core]]" and "[[City of Steel]]"). They share similar art and animation styles, as well as some character model oddities.
* Megatron can shoot laser beams from his eyes, especially when he wants to scare away earth germs.
* Wheeljack states that the [[Transfixatron]] will "cancel Devastator's robot mode", though one would really expect it to just transfix Devastator ''as'' Devastator.
* The idea of a [[Transfixatron|device to keep a Transformer frozen in one mode]] would be revisited over the years in other fictions, with [[Tarantulas]]'s [[transformation lock lens]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[transformation lock virus]], and [[Spotlight: Soundwave|an experimental weapon]] created by Shockwave.

===Keywords===
(''separate by commas and link each one so a page can be created for it if it does not already exist'')

==External links==
*

{{epstub}}

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Autobot Run]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

A Plague of Insecticons

2008-06-08T18:36:18Z

70.242.142.190: /* Continuity Errors */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the similarly-named Marvel UK Annual story|Plague of the Insecticons!}}
{{Picsneeded}}
[[Image:Plague Insecticons robot mode.JPG|thumb|350px|We're gonna need a big swatter! A really big swatter!]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=1|15|prev=Countdown to Extinction|next=Heavy Metal War
|series2=SRLFtoon
|episode2=64
|prev2=Fire on the Mountain
|next2=The Autobot Run
}}

'''Reports of giant insects terrorizing Bali lead the Decepticons to discover their long-lost comrades, the Insecticons.'''

'''Japanese title:''' "The Mystery of the Insectron"

==Summary==
On the island of Bali, there is a swamp through which people rarely travel. It is the [[Demon Swamp]], and in that swamp lie monsters who appear to be enormous insects. But they are not insects, they are [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], and they are [[Transformer|robots in disguise]]. They are driven by a single, unrelenting desire: food. Attacking a trio of boats, the insects feed on the grain, but quickly become interested in the reports of a farm. At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] overhears the reports of "robot insects", and a team is taken aboard [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] to investigate while [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] remains to alert [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the rest of the [[Autobot]]s.

[[Image:Inseticon_Base.jpg|thumb|"Ravage, get back here! They're just bugs, how big could they be?"]]
However, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] comes across the transmissions, and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] is intrigued. He takes a group of [[Decepticon]]s to Demon Swamp, where [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage]] to locate the robots' lair. The Decepticons discover that the lair is not a hollowed-out rock, as it appears, but an escape pod ejected from the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]] that brought them to [[Earth]]. [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] realizes what Megatron has already figured out: The robot insects are Decepticons who have been modified to take insect [[alternate mode|beast mode]]s—[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, if you will.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime is leading the rest of the Autobots to the farm, but they are blocked by a local festival. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] leads the Autobots down a shortcut...which turns out to be a dead end. Refusing to admit defeat, Sideswipe decides to drill his way through the solid rock. Arriving at the farm the Insecticons are attacking, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Windcharger]], and [[Brawn]] attack, only to discover that the Insecticons possess some impressive [[weapons systems]]. Worse, they can make clones of themselves by using shells and scrap metal. Overwhelmed, the Autobots take cover amid the crops, but Shrapnel releases a fragmentation grenade which cuts the crops down to size. Finally, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots realize they're in over their heads, but Skyfire has been damaged and cannot [[transformation|transform]]. Shrapnel finds something familiar about the Decepticons, and when Megatron explains that they came from Decepticon science, Shrapnel extends his hand in friendship...an alliance which will be solidified by destroying the Autobots at the farm.

Elsewhere, Sideswipe is getting nowhere slowly with his drilling, so Optimus Prime decides on a simpler tactic and drives right through the rock wall. Coming up on the farm just in time, Sideswipe and [[Sunstreaker]] tackle the Decepticons, who withdraw to a nearby oil refinery to recharge before they destroy the Autobots. During the respite, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] repairs Skyfire, who follows them in the air while the Autobots follow from the ground. The Insecticons attack Skyfire, and Wheeljack goes to help but is knocked out of the air by Kickback. Shrapnel takes control of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, causing them to drive toward the Autobots, but [[Trailbreaker]] disrupts Shrapnel's control with his [[force field]]. Optimus throws Brawn at Shrapnel, but Kickback knocks him off. Fortunately, Skyfire is able to catch Brawn.

[[Image:Skeet_surfin.jpg|thumb|"First wave, don't get tired. Second wave, aim higher. Third wave, pull and fire. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088286/soundtrack Skeet Surfin']]..."]]
At the refinery, the Decepticons are busy making some [[energon cube]]s. Megatron offers the Insecticons a tanker filled to the brim, and the trio gorge themselves. Unfortunately, it also cause the oil to leak into the ocean. As the Autobots arrive, the Decepticons force them to take some cover. Shrapnel uses a shrapnel grenade to knock Optimus, Brawn, and Wheeljack into the ocean, where the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] warns that the oil could ignite. On cue, Thundercracker lights the oil on fire, only for the Autobots to knock him into the flaming water. Before the ship goes kaboom, [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] is able to douse the flames. However, storm clouds appear overhead, and Shrapnel uses them as a means to fire electricity at the Autobots. Spike realizes that the rubber in their tires will serve as insulation. Some Autobots go to vehicle mode, while others stand on them, neutralizing Shrapnel's abilities. In addition, Trailbreaker uses his force field to neutralize Shrapnel's control over the clones, causing them to go to pieces. Megatron realizes that he's losing, so the [[Decepticon leader]] employs a time-honored strategy: "If I can't have it, no one can." Megatron sets the tanker on fire and pushes it toward the refinery. However, Optimus pushes the tanker underwater, and Megatron with it. Rising to the surface, Megatron prepares to blast Bumblebee and Spike, only for Optimus Prime to throw the tanker ''through the air'' at Megatron.

The Insecticons observe the deteriorating situation and decide to cut their losses. They begin to feed off the [[energon]], but Megatron, his rage overwhelming his common sense, orders the Decepticons to attack the Insecticons. As the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit, the Autobots claim victory. Optimus Prime still worries that the Insecticons will inevitably be drawn back towards the Decepticons, but when and if that happens, the Autobots will be ready.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' December 19, 1984

'''Written by:''' [[Donald F. Glut]]

===Featured Characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
! style="background:#FFEEB8" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Brawn]]
*[[Skyfire]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Spike Witwicky]]
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]]

'''Guests'''
*Fisherman 1
*Fisherman 2
*Fisherman 3
*Villagers
*Oil Refinery Worker 1
*Oil Refinery Worker 2

| style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top" |

|}

==Notes==
===Technical/Animation Glitches===
* When [[Ark (G1)|the ''Ark'']] is first seen, it's colored silver instead of orange.
* When Sideswipe and Sunstreaker get ahead of Optimus Prime after breaking out of the tunnel, both are coloured in Sunstreaker's yellow color scheme for a brief moment.
*When the Insecticons charge towards the Autobots, Bomshell's Decepticon insignia is blinking.
* When the Autobots and Spike board Skyfire, Bumblebee and Spike remain visible for a split second as the door closes behind them, not in front of them as one would expect. They inexplicably disappear in the very next shot, when Skyfire takes off.
* When the Decepticons and Insecticons flee from the field, Thundercracker in jet mode is colored in Skyfire's white-and-red palette.
* When Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are controlled by Shrapnel, for a couple of seconds Sunstreaker is coloured black instead of yellow.
* Just before Brawn asks Optimus to throw him, he is in vehicle mode, then he transforms from robot to vehicle mode, and is then standing in robot mode.

===Continuity Errors===
* If the Insecticons had landed four million years ''before'' the crash of the ''Ark'', and have presumably been active throughout all previous episodes, how come neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons ever learned of their existence until this episode. And when they did learn, how did they find out simultaneously?
* How does Skyfire manage to hide in the bushes with the other, shorter Autobots? He's about four Bumblebees tall!
* Why do the Decepticons and the Insecticons not know each other if they were all on board the ''Nemesis''? Even if you assume that there were lots of Decepticons on board and Megatron didn’t know them all personally (which in itself is doubtful), the Insecticons must surely know who Megatron is! It's entirely possible to retcon this by claiming that the Insecticons were [[protoform]]s who had not come online and were activated by the pod as a method of preserving them. However, the protoform concept hadn't been introduced yet, so...did they get amnesia

===Transformers References===
*References

===Real-World References===
* The Insecticons inhabit the real world island of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali Bali], which is part of the nation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia Indonesia]

===Miscellaneous trivia===
[[Image:Rumble_Plague_of_insecticons.jpg|thumb|"It's not sawed-off, it's [[kitbash]]ed."]]
* Brawn is facing Megatron, Soundwave, Thundercracker, and all three Insecticons, and he still sees a bright side: They didn't bring [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] along. Ah, if only [[Gears]] and [[Huffer]] were more like that.
* However the [[rumble (G1)|"sawed-off nerd"]] does show up later to help the other Decepticons fill energon cubes at the nearby oil refinery.
* Optimus Prime really is the strongest of the Autobots: He throws a massive oil tanker through the air at Megatron. Have you ever seen [[Devastator]] do something like that?

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

[[Category: Generation 1 episodes|Plague of Insecticons]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy

2008-06-08T17:36:18Z

70.242.142.190: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig2|the '''Transformers Animated''' episode|the crime syndicate featured in this episode|Society of Ultimate Villainy}}
[[Image:SUV-SocietyofUltimateVillainy-TitleCard.jpg|thumb|300px|Yet none of them is a soccer mom.]]

{{episodenav|animated|24|season=2|prev=A Fistful of Energon|next=Autoboot Camp}}

'''Aided by a mysterious benefactor, Detroit's B-level villains team up to take down the Autobots once and for all.'''

==Summary==
[[Image:Bumblebee Slo Mo.jpg|thumb|left|Tell me, doctor, where are we goin' this time? Is it the '50s, or 1999?]]

[[Nanosec]] is on the loose again and leading the [[Autobot]]s for a merry chase. As they pursue him, they wonder how and why he's young again. They're no closer to catching him, so [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] instructs [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] to head off down a side street and come back around to cut off his escape. Bumblebee disregards this order, reasoning that he's the "star player" and is more than fast enough to get Nanosec on his own. As he speeds up, a mysterious force hits him and stops him in his tracks, which leaves the other Autobots no room to react. Nanosec escapes, and before Bumblebee can snap out of it, the Autobots crash into him. Optimus Prime expresses his disappointment in the little yellow one and orders him back to base so that [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] can run a diagnostic on his drivetrain.

Bumblebee ignores this order as well, resolving to find Nanosec again to prove to Optimus that he isn't malfunctioning. His search proves fruitless until [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] discovers that due to his scanning of [[Captain Fanzone]]'s car, Bumblebee has a built-in police scanner. Hearing a report of a robbery in progress, he reasons it's Nanosec and heads over. He's wrong, though, as it turns out to be the [[Angry Archer]]. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he decides to capture the ''other'' villain. Again, he is about to pursue when mysterious blue energy skids him to a halt. Sari urges him to have Ratchet check him out, but he still believes it's nothing serious. A third and final crime scene turns out to be [[Professor Princess]] trying to level a video arcade. Yet again, Bumblebee is stopped by the blue energy, and since it affects him in his robot mode, he finally admits he has a problem. However, Sari has noticed that her key reacts when the energy lashes out, and she surmises that an AllSpark fragment may be at fault. As she deduces this, a shady figure on a rooftop skulks off.

[[Image:Clock hideout.jpg|thumb|right|The <s>Bat</s> Clock Cave]]

Soon, that same figure meets with the other three villains at her lair, introducing herself as [[Slo-Mo]]. She reveals that she has aided each of them on their respective heists recently by using her timepiece, which can disable machines, even Transformers. She and Nanosec hit it off immediately, due in no small part to the fact that her time-based superpowers are what restored him to the prime of youth. She proposes to all of them that they make a great team and should form a crime syndicate. Professor Princess protests that she is not a criminal, but is quickly convinced.

[[Image:SUV.jpg|thumb|left|Are we there yet? No. Are we there yet? No. Are we there yet? No! Are we there yet? NO!]]
Soon, news reports are everywhere regarding the new crime wave and its perpetrators. Bumblebee is quite frustrated at being repeatedly thwarted by Slo-Mo, but is soon hopeful when he hears a burglar alarm. This time, the criminals have bitten off more than they can chew, having loaded themselves down with too much loot. They try to escape and are initially successful, stopping Bumblebee. However, the cops soon have them surrounded without any getaway car. Slo-Mo receives a call on her watch phone and gets an offer from an anonymous benefactor. Taking the deal, the gang pile into a dull-yellow Hummer and peel out. With the police in hot pursuit, their patron speaks through the vehicle's console and tells them he's a big fan of their weird, wacky adventures. He says to consider the Hummer a down payment on what he hopes will be a beautiful business relationship. Slo-Mo seems less than impressed, as she considers herself the leader of the cartel, and it's just a truck. The voice then tells her to press the red button. A humongous turret rises from the back of the Hummer, blasting the police to smithereens. Having gotten their attention, their newfound benefactor mentions a scheme of heists that should make them all fabulously rich, as they will be stealing components to a weapon they can sell on the open market.

Definitely interested, the gang heads to a Sumdac Systems factory. Angry Archer attempts to blast the lock open with an explosive arrow, but Professor Princess announces that she has defused all of his weapons because she disapproves of violence...unless it is really colorful and pretty. Gleefully blasting an even ''bigger'' hole in the fence, she leads them in. The voice instructs them on what to steal, which is quickly rounded up by Nanosec while Slo-Mo takes care of the police robots.

[[Image:Watching SUVs.jpg|thumb|right|Bee: Where are the donuts? Sari: Huh? Bee: You can't have a stakeout without donuts!]]

Bumblebee and Sari spot them and speculate on what they're up to based off of the items they stole, but hang back as they realize they'll never catch the crooks if they get blasted by Slo-Mo again. Shadowing the cartel from a safe distance, they follow them to the roof of a parking garage. The gang's unseen patron instructs them on how to assemble the device in spite of their skepticism. Archer and Nanosec ask the purpose of the device and how it's going to make them money. The voice explains that it's ultimately useless without the final piece: Slo-Mo's superpowered timepiece. The crazy doll refuses to give up her superpowers, which angers her benefactor, who reveals himself to ''be'' their getaway vehicle, the Decepticon [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]].

Swindle makes it clear to them that he isn't about to take "no" for an answer, and he isn't above using his multitude of weapons systems against the puny fleshlings either. Blasting the floor out from under her cohorts, he squares off against Slo-Mo. She's initially confident that her timepiece will take care of him, but a useful purchase from the Vok proves more than enough to deflect it. Bumblebee races to intervene, but the debilitating blasts ricocheting off of Swindle's force field mean he can't get near the battle. Realizing he's in over his head, with much haranguing from Sari, he calls in Optimus and the other Autobots. Leveling his main cannon at Slo-Mo, Swindle is reminded by the dame that if he blasts her, he risks destroying her watch as well. Feeling a bit silly, the Decepticon recovers quickly and reveals he could simply take it using his integrated tractor beam. The MacGuffin retrieved, he then blasts the floor out from under ''her'' too.

[[Image:TFASwindlefullyarmed.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Swindle is the reason the Autobots of ''Animated'' don't have guns. He stole them all.]]

Slipping the timepiece into its intended slot in the device, Swindle quickly dials up his favorite warmonger, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. Expressing how glad he is that the old despot is still functional (and looking well), he brags about a weapon that would easily turn the tide against the Autobots and consign them to a fate worse than being offlined. Though his interest is piqued, Megatron is nonetheless dubious as to whether Swindle could pull it off. The arms dealer proves only too eager to show off the many merits of his wondrous new invention, and pulls a "But wait, that's not all!" that succeeds in blacking out every mechanical device in Detroit...even the Autobots!

Both Bumblebee and the Autobots speeding to the scene are left frozen, unable to move or talk, but aware of their surroundings. Sari notices, however, that [[Sumdac Tower]] is still powered up, and she deduces that its emergency forcefield kicked in, protecting it from the device as long as the emergency generators held. Unfortunately, being a little girl, Sari has no real chance of dragging Bumblebee to the safety of the tower. She receives aid from an unexpected source: the spurned cartel, who want to even the score with Swindle. Aiding her in transporting Bumblebee, they watch as she uses her key to gain access to the tower and suffers dismay when the Reception Bot announces their location as [[Porter C. Powell|Powell Tower]]. Once within the shield, both Bumblebee and Powdered Sugar are quickly revived, and Sari is able to use her key to jury-rig personal force fields for both the Autobot and his new, reluctantly accepted team of villainous backup. She also reprograms the Reception Bot's greeting to her satisfaction.

[[Image:Swindle gettin towed.jpg|right|thumb|And this is why [[Captain Fanzone|I]] ''like'' tow trucks!]]

Though Swindle proves quite ready for the big payback, the villains manage to buy enough time for Bumblebee to sucker-punch the Decepticon with his stingers, whilst Sari deactivates the device with her key. Slo-Mo attempts to retrieve her timepiece, and a scuffle ensues, resulting in it falling over the ledge and directly into Swindle's hands. All seems lost, but the rest of the Autobots arrive on the scene. Swindle is about to turn the timepiece upon Bumblebee's backup, but the little yellow Autobot charges in and lets his forcefield deflect the Decepticon's shot, paralyzing Swindle. Optimus Prime once again scolds the young hot shot, but Bumblebee gloats, shooting out Swindle's tires. Meanwhile the villains, showing ''why'' they're B-grade, attempt to escape in Swindle, only to be apprehended by the timely arrival of Captain Fanzone and the police. Fanzone notes that Swindle will be stripped at a police impound lot and sold for parts. He seems quite confident that the police department will get their Christmas bonus checks this year.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Dean Stefan]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]], [[Ciro Nieli]], & [[Shunji Oga]]
*'''Original airdate:''' May 31, 2008

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s

! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |

*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (12)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |

*[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (11)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |

*[[Nanosec]] (1)
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (6)
*[[Angry Archer]] (7)
*[[Professor Princess]] (8)
*[[Slo-Mo]] (9)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (13)

|}

==Quotes==

"An Autobot. Verily, the arrows of outrageous misfortune seek to pierce me to the quick. ''Exeunt!''"
:{{m-}}'''Angry Archer'''. Yon criminal maketh his escape...or something.

"Explosions aren't nice...except when they look like ''BEAUTIFUL RAINBOWS!''"
:{{m-}}'''Professor Princess''', ever the fashion plate.

"Ooh, I like a man who works fast!" 
"And I like a girl who takes it slow."
:{{m-}}'''Slo-Mo''' and '''Nanosec''' go over the target audience's heads. Hopefully.

"Negatronic force field emitter. A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures, the Vok. If you're ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be sorry."
:{{m-}}'''Swindle''' thinks the Vok are quite nice. It probably helps if they're not [[Planet Buster|destroying your planet]].

"Megatron, you old warmonger! It's been stellar cycles. I can't tell you how tickled I was to learn that my favorite customer was still online. You look great by the way." 
"Oh, spare me the platitudes, Swindle. How did you get this frequency?" 
"A mutual bounty-hunting friend provided it in exchange for a weapon or two. Professional scruples prevent me from revealing his name." 
"Scruples? You'd sell your own motherboard to the highest bidder." 
:{{m-}}'''Swindle''' pours on the charm while '''Megatron''' pours on the acid.

"Are you seeing this? Are you loving this? Every machine, every robot in Detroit, inoperable! I could spring a leak, I'm so excited!"
:{{m-}}'''Swindle''' about to sell you some Ginsu knives.

"Welcome to Sumdac Tower. Porter C. Powell is a booger-head."
:{{m-}}'''Receptionist-Bot''' calls it like it is...with a little help from Sari Sumdac.

"Where's the off switch on this thing? Oh yeah, right here."
:{{m-}}'''Sari.''' Yep, she found the right thing.

'''Optimus''': You should have called us sooner. If that weapon had gotten into Megatron's hands{{m-}} 
'''Bumblebee''': I know. I guess I just wanted to prove that I still had my touch. 
'''Ratchet''': Well, I hope you've learned something about team work. 
'''Bumblebee''': Oh, yeah. Even the star player needs backup sometimes. 
:{{m-}}Bumblebee learns the value of teamwork. Humility? Not so much...

==Other notes==

===Continuity errors===
* Nanosec's mugshot should either have a long beard, as he was [[Nanosec (episode)|apprehended]] right after Bumblebee had run him into old age, or be out of his costume, as he was also apprehended ''before'' he became a super-speedster.

* It was shown throughout the episode that the watch's slowdown effect was only temporary. It only gained the ability to "freeze" its targets permanently when it was put into Swindle's machine. Yet later, Swindle is said to be frozen "permanently" by a reflected blast from just the watch itself. Maybe it was holding a last fully charged shot? Or maybe Bumblebee was wrong. (Imagine that!)

* Swindle is all impressed by Vok forcefield technology, but apparently forcefields designed by [[Isaac Sumdac]] are just as powerful. Though Sumdac did steal all his technology from Megatron; perhaps a deal with the Vok was just (much, ''much, MUCH'') safer for Swindle.

* Either the S.U.V. team knew Swindle was time-blocked and they should have known he wouldn't move, or they thought he was still fully functional and were ready to climb into the Decepticon that tried to kill them 5 minutes ago. So what was their plan, exactly?

* While it's explained why Nanosec had the accelerated aging reversed, there's no given reason for the effect to have ''stopped'' once he was young again. Possibly Slo-Mo gave him "booster shots"(snicker) off camera.

===Transformers references===
* The final numbers on the cards the villains hold up in their mugshots correspond to the episodes in which they first appeared.

* Swindle mentions having dealings with the [[Vok]] on [[Nexus Zero]].

* Swindle mentions that he got Megatron's frequency from a "mutual bounty-hunting friend" in exchange for new weaponry. Gee, who could [[Lockdown|THAT]] be?

* Fanzone mentions Swindle will be stripped and sold as parts. [[B.O.T. (episode)|How ironic]]...

* One of Swindles weapons was G1 Megatron's fusion cannon.

* When Swindle holds up the time piece at one point, it bears a striking resemblance to the Matrix of Leadership

===Real-world references===
* Nanosec and the Archer's team name suggestions of "The Fast and the Villainous" and "The League of Extraordinary Criminals" are references to ''[[Wikipedia:The Fast and the Furious|The Fast and the Furious]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', respectively.

* Nanosec calls the Archer "William Smell", referencing legendary Swiss archer [[Wikipedia:William Tell|William Tell]].

* Nanosec says he is "tanned, rested, and ready," which was a slogan attached to a [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6DB103DF932A25754C0A961948260 fake 1988 presidential campaign] for Richard Nixon.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This episode was first shown in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It made its English language debut in Canada, one week before its American debut.

* This episode has the most "guest" voice actors yet, at three: [[Brian Posehn]] (Nanosec), [[Kath Soucie]] (Professor Princess), and [[Fred Willard]] (Swindle).

* Bulkhead appears, but has no dialogue.

* Bumblebee's stingers actually knock Swindle down{{m-}}the first time in the entire series that this weapon hasn't just bounced ineffectually off a Decepticon's hide. Maybe Swindle should trade off some of his weapons for a little more armor.

* When Professor Princess falls butt-first on Nanosec's face, there's an odd squishy sound, followed by her looking very surprised. Either this is a case of cartoon sound-effects gone wrong, or that fall REALLY scared her.

* In the end, Swindle is trapped in a state that Bumblebee could not stand being in for less than an hour, ''forever'', and the Autobots don't seem to object to him being ripped apart and sold for spare parts. That seems a ''tad'' excessive.

* Bumblebee and Sari discover that he has a built-in police scanner, which makes sense, since Bumblebee scanned Captain Fanzone's car for his vehicle mode.

*The Society members all put their seat belts on when they clamber into their getaway SUV. Even among villains, safety must always come first! [[Public service announcement|Now you know...]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suv: Society of Ultimate Villainy}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Lockdown (Animated)

2008-06-08T17:32:58Z

70.242.142.190: /* Animated cartoon */

:''Lockdown is a bounty hunter commonly allied with the [[Decepticon]]s in the [[Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Tfalockdowna.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Not bad, for a human."]]

'''Lockdown''' is a bounty hunter by choice and a Decepticon by necessity more than anything else. He's got no real loyalty towards [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], but the Decepticons always pay on time and allow him access to the systems upgrades he craves. Besides that, he's really such a nasty piece of work that it's just easier for him to be a 'Con than not. That, and the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] don't nearly pay as much as the Decepticons. Driven by the chase, he'll hunt down any prey you like... for a price.

Aside from his fees, Lockdown likes to collect trophies from his Autobot victims, and he has displayed a number of parts that appear to be stolen. (His hook and chainsaw arms appear to be stolen as well, since they don't match his color scheme.) The [[Autobot]]s consider his actions appalling, while [[Lugnut]] views his mercenary ways an insult to the Decepticon cause, but Lockdown does not care. As long as Megatron and the Decepticon leadership will give him his upgrades, Lockdown will get the job done.

{{quote|I'm not that good with names and faces, but I never forget a trophy.|Lockdown|"[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{ongoing}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Lance Henriksen]] (English), [[Kaspar Eichel]] (German)
During the war, Lockdown worked as a bounty hunter. One of his jobs was to bring an [[Arcee (Animated)|intelligence officer]] who carried vital information in for questioning. He encountered [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], broke off one of the Autobot's forehead chevrons and stole his [[EMP]] generator, turning the healing tool into a weapon. During said encounter, Lockdown's right arm was destroyed when he launched it at Ratchet, causing him to replace it with a decidedly more menacing one (namely, the hook seen above). He was also indirectly responsible for Arcee losing her memory.

On modern-day Earth, Lockdown was hired by [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] to bring in the Autobot presumed responsible for [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]'s death, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. He captured Prime using the EMP generator and, impressed by Prime's own personal modifications, stole his axe and forcibly removed Optimus's grapplers, something that traumatised him later on. When the Autobots came to rescue Prime, Lockdown made short work of [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], on the other hand, proved a bigger challenge, but Lockdown came out on top (after having a tire mark smudged on his face). He was about to leave in his ship with his new trophies, when Ratchet, who had been suffering from war flashbacks, came on the scene and soundly thrashed him, partially because the stolen EMP generator didn't work on Ratchet himself. Pinning Lockdown, Ratchet painfully removed both Prime's grapplers and his own EMP generator. Lockdown was forced to watch as Ratchet crippled his ship and escaped with a weakened Optimus. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

After arriving on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], Blitzwing remarked that the Decepticons hadn't heard anything from Lockdown since he contacted Blitzwing. Mentioning Lockdown's name made [[Lugnut]] get a little bent out of shape. {{storylink|Lost and Found (Animated episode)|Lost and Found}}

[[Image:AFistfulofEnergon-Lockdownwithhelmet.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I feel like a ninja]]
[[Image:AFistfulofEnergon-Lockdowninponcho.jpg|right|thumb|Space banditos? Never heard of them.]]As it turns out, Lockdown survived the crash and his ship was repaired. Learning of a large bounty on [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], Lockdown headed back to Earth, expecting a serious fight to take him down. It turned out that Prowl managed to take down Starscream for him. During a fight over the Decepticon, they realized that Starscream escaped. Heading to Earth on his ship, he discovered Prowl had stowed away. Prowl offered to help Lockdown, and the bounty hunter offered a suit of armor to assist.

Upon landing on Earth, Lockdown and Prowl discovered Starscream (both purple and more cowardly than usual) and Prowl managed to take him down. Lockdown contacted Megatron to set up a meet, but Prowl wanted to turn him over to the Elite Guard. Lockdown subdued Prowl and took Starscream. At the warehouse, the Autobots arrived with ''another'' Starscream. Lockdown tried to take his leave, but Megatron commanded him to stay. Then the two Starscreams revealed that they were clones with bombs in their chests. Lockdown managed to get away in the chaos, then contacted Prowl with an offer of a partnership. Prowl rejected his offer, saying that all the mods were for weak processors, and warned Lockdown never to contact him again, or he'd turn him over to the Elite Guard. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

{{spoiler|S.U.V.: Society of Ultimate Villainy}}
At some point after he left Earth, Lockdown traded information to [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] in exchange for weapons.

==Toys==
===Transformers Animated===
*'''Lockdown''' (Deluxe, 2008)
[[Image:Deluxe_Lockdown.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Arrr, matey...]]
:Lockdown transforms into an amalgam of a 1980s Corvette and a 1960s Cougar. He looks freaking terrifying. And he has a hook, essentially making him the "pirate" to Prowl's "ninja". The hook arm can be removed to reveal a normal arm under it; the hook can be attached to either arm. Due to his lanky build, he comes out a fair bit taller than most of his fellow Deluxe-class toys, towers over many Voyagers and even stands eye-to-eye with some Ultras (from series that had Ultras). However, online reviews note that Leader Class Megatron is taller, with Lockdown's head meeting his chin.

:The EMP generator can be attached to Ratchet. There is currently much rejoicing. But it cannot be attached to Prowl. There is currently much complaining.
{{-}}

*'''Lockdown''' (Activators,2008)
:A scout class version of Lockdown, featuring a button-activated auto-transformation, yes it will be awesome.
{{comingsoontoy}}

*'''Lockdown''' (Deluxe, 2008?)
:A [[retool]] of the original Lockdown toy, with flame deco and a new chainsaw weapon.
{{comingsoontoy}}

[[Category: Animated characters]]
[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Bounty hunters]]

==Trivia==
* According to [[Derrick Wyatt]]'s blog, his original concept for Lockdown was as a freakish Frankenstein-like monster. It was altered to better fit Lockdown's more business-like nature. [http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/05/evolution-of-lockdown.html]
* Lockdown's final model, itself, is ''"reminiscent of skull like head and an undertaker's tux"'' (sic)... hey, he even has coat-tails! [https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=2803441425110630377&isPopup=true]
* Meanwhile, Wyatt has explicitly said that Lockdown is '''not''' based on [[Death's Head]].
* The [[character model|cartoon model]] for Lockdown shows an amusing [[homage]] to the older [[toy]]s. Instead of an ordinary Decepticon symbol, his chest carries what appears to be a [[rubsign]].
* His toy's vehicle mode is adorable yet terrifying. Like if [[Wikipedia:Cars_%28film%29|Cars]] had had a serial-killer character.
* Lockdown is the only Transformer who landed on Earth to retain his Cybertronian [[alternate mode|alt-mode]].
* Despite having lost the EMP generator, Lockdown retains the external engine it comprises in his vehicle mode, as seen in "[[A Fistful of Energon]]". Perhaps he found a substitute or a replacement?
* The interior of Lockdown's vehicle mode sports a chain-steering wheel and a skull on the gear stick. Now that's hardcore.
* In episode "[[A Fistful of Energon]]" he mentioned something about a spark-to-spark to Prowl. Perhaps he has feelings?
* On both his toy and in most character models, Lockdown has a Decepticon insignia, on the show he instead has something that looks like a [[Rubsign]]. In fact, if Megatron didn't pay better than the Elite Guard, he wouldn't even ''be'' a Decepticon.<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Survival of the Fittest

2008-06-08T17:12:33Z

70.242.142.190: /* Transformers references */

[[Image:Road appear.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Warehouse sweet warehouse.]]
{{episodenav|animated|12|season=1|prev=Lost and Found (Animated episode)|next=Headmaster (episode)}}
'''Sari is kidnapped and the evidence points to the Dinobots. So Prowl and Bulkhead head to a mysterious island to investigate—with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Window sari.jpg|left|thumb|200px|How much is that Sari in the window?]]
Concerned for [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s safety as possessor of the [[Sari Sumdac's key|All Spark Key]] and knowing they can't be around every minute to protect her, the [[Autobot]]s decide to give her self-defense lessons. She doesn't do so well, but undaunted, she continues to practice alone in her room that night. She then goes to bed, but a shadow passing by her window makes her curious enough to get up again. She opens the window and is confronted by the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]] [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]. [[Image:SwoopSari.JPG|right|thumb|200px|I will make you one of my children of the night.]]
Shortly afterward, [[Isaac Sumdac|her father]] stops by to deliver a bedtime snack and is shocked to find her missing.

He immediately contacts the police and the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] orders everyone to [[Roll out|roll out]] immediately. Come morning, the police search Sari's room and question Doctor Sumdac. [[Captain Fanzone]] coordinates operations from the lobby of [[Sumdac Tower]], checking security video footage and struggling with the operation of his mobile phone. The Autobots arrive, and he asks if anything unusual happened yesterday. [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] mentions her self-defense lessons, to which Fanzone raises some objection, noting that hanging around Autobots might just be, oh, dangerous for a little girl. Just then, Prime spots Swoop on the security footage replay. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] doesn't think it's possible, but Prime notes they never did find out what happened to the escaped Dinobots. Behind him, Bulkhead and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] hold a quiet conversation about whether to tell Prime about their role in the Dinobots' escape, but decide to investigate the Dinobots' island themselves first. Fanzone notices them whispering, figures they must be discussing something relevant, and decides to follow this new lead on his own.

[[Image:Before and after.jpg|left|thumb|150px|It's [[Kremzeek]]! He's in the phone!]]
That night, Prowl and Bulkhead take a cargo ship out to the Dinobots' island, with Fanzone pursuing them in a police department mini-sub. By daylight, the Autobots arrive on the island and start exploring, with Fanzone coming ashore shortly afterward. Suddenly, Prowl spots tracks, indicating someone besides the Dinobots is on the island. As they arrive at the edge of the central crater, Bulkhead expresses second thoughts about setting the Dinobots free. What if someone were to find them there? Prowl deactivates his holographic generator and notes that currently won't be an issue, as the Dinobots appear to be gone.

From within his new headquarters, [[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] observes the two visitors and sends the Dinobots, who are waiting behind him, to deal with the pair.

[[Image:Donkey Fanzone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Donkey Fanzone.]]
Back outside in the valley, an outraged Bulkhead growls that they should have melted down the Dinobots as Dr. Sumdac wanted, but Prowl insists the Dinobots are more than just machines, that they are truly alive and so had to be saved. Bulkhead counters by asking who's going to save Sari. The two then leave to explore the island further, with Fanzone pursuing close behind—well, as close behind as possible after dealing with various mishaps.

In Meltdown's control room, [[Colossus Rhodes]] offers to pound the Autobots to scrap, but Meltdown stays him. Sari figures they're both as good as arrested and taunts them until Rhodes bulks up and scares her into silence.

Outside, Bulkhead and Prowl discover Captain Fanzone sinking in quicksand and haul him out. Prowl asks why he's following them, but Fanzone counters by asking what they're doing on an abandoned island research facility in the middle of Lake Erie, and they fall silent.

[[Image:Fanzone in Quicksand.jpg|thumb|200px|left|This is why I like nature.]]
Still watching the proceedings, Meltdown decides it's time to greet his guests personally and leaves Rhodes to guard Sari. Rhodes taunts Sari for a change, but Sari just asks to go to the toilet.

On the surface, Fanzone continues to question Bulkhead about the situation, wondering if there's something he's not being told. Bulkhead abruptly points out the Dinobots behind Fanzone as the possible missing piece of info. Prowl offers to deal with the Dinobots, as they trust him, but [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] orders the Dinobots to attack. Prowl is confused, but Bulkhead figures it's pretty straightforward: The Dinobots kidnapped Sari and now want to destroy them. He also lets slip that he and Prowl helped the Dinobots escape. During the skirmish, Prowl notes acid burns on Swoop's leg plating and deduces that someone with the ability to burn the Dinobots is forcing them to act this way. The Autobots and Fanzone manage to make a run for it, only to find themselves in a dead-end canyon. When Meltdown confronts them, Prowl finally puts it all together, realizing that the villain is behind the Dinobots capturing Sari and attacking them. Meltdown gleefully monologues about finding an island with its own security system just when he needed a place for private experiments, and how Sari will now be his latest subject. An enraged Bulkhead charges, but Meltdown's acid blasts a painful hole in the Autobot's chest.

Prowl and Fanzone run to help him, but Meltdown touches a remote-control button and sends the pair plummeting through a trap door down into a steel-lined holding pen. There, he pits them against two of his less successful experiments in creating transforming humans, people capable of taking on any shape at will. He notes that the failures were a result of using adult test subjects, whereas a still-growing human should prove much more promising. And what better choice than the daughter of his arch-rival, Isaac Sumdac? He then leaves to administer his formula to Sari while his two mutants take care of Prowl and Fanzone.

Elsewhere in the base, Sari tricks Cyrus Rhodes into checking out the rest room toilet, then uses her key to flood water on him, shorting out the electrode/pistons that let him bulk up. When he turns to attack her, she trips him, then locks him in the bathroom and takes off. Somehow, she finds the controls to turn off the laser barrier keeping Prowl and Fanzone trapped in the holding pit. Freed just in time, they take off and quickly locate Sari. Informed of Bulkhead's predicament, she guides them out the way she was brought in. As they start down the hall, Fanzone spots a rack of spare protective suits for Meltdown and grabs one.

[[image:Dinobotsrobotmode.JPG|right|thumb|200px|"Your death will be swift."]]
Prowl gets the two humans past a closing steel door and outside, where Sari quickly uses her key to heal Bulkhead. Before they can celebrate, Meltdown shows up with the Dinobots. Sari launches into a flying kick which totally misses Meltdown, but serves as the distraction needed for Prowl to score a hit. Before a stunned Meltdown can recover, Fanzone tackles him and wraps him up in a spare protective suit he grabbed. Meltdown orders the Dinobots to attack, but Prowl points that that Meltdown has no power over them any more. In preparation for revenge, the Dinobots [[transformation|transform]] into robot mode, surprising the others. Prowl offers the panicking Meltdown a choice: going to prison or being left to the Dinobots' (lack of) mercies. Just then, Colossus Rhodes (whose electronics apparently dried out) and the two mutants burst out of the entrance into the underground facility, only to draw the Dinobots' attention to themselves. The mighty mechanical trio ignite their weapons and quickly trounce the three mutants.

That evening, Fanzone and the Autobots take Sari and the captive Meltdown and Rhodes back to Detroit. Fanzone calls Dr. Sumdac to give him the good news, and Bulkhead and Prowl wonder if they should admit about the Dinobots to Prime. Fanzone assures Prowl that as long as the Dinobots stay on the island and out of Detroit, he doesn't have a problem with them. Prowl thanks him for all his help, and the two acknowledge they make a decent team, despite their different physical compositions. Watching Sari try out another kick on Bulkhead, Fanzone expresses continuing doubts about teaching ninja moves to eight-year-olds. Prowl agrees, noting Sari can apparently take care of herself in her own unique fashion.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Steven Granat]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]] & [[Makoto Fuchigami]]
*'''Original airdate:''' March 8, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s

! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (6)
*[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (7)
*[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (10)
*[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (11)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (9)
*[[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] (12)
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] (13)

'''Guests'''

|}

==Quotes==

"This is why I hate machines!" 
"No need to be such a technophobe, Captain." 
"A technophobe is someone who ''fears'' technology. ''(Smashes cell phone)'' Does '''''this''' look like'' '''FEAR TO YOU?!'''" 
"Um... my mistake."
:—'''Captain Fanzone''' straightens out '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s perceptions of him.

'''Fanzone:''' You're teaching an eight-year-old to do ''nerve blows''? 
'''Ratchet:''' You want her to pick it up in the street? 
'''Prowl:''' This is part of every protoform's elemental programming. 
'''Fanzone:''' Say what? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Yeah, it's not like we're having her fight [[Decepticon]]s. 
'''Prowl:''' Yet.
:—Fanzone and the Autobots debate the finer points of child education.

"Wait a minute—roll that back." 
"Sure thing, dollface."
:—The '''Reception Bot''' gets sassy with '''Optimus'''.

"Help!" 
"That sounded like Captain Fanzone." 
"Y-Yeah, hey, I—I do a really good impression of myself '''screaming for help!'''"
:—Even in mortal danger, '''Captain Fanzone''' zings '''Prowl'''.

"Who better than the daughter of my arch-rival, the bane of my existence, the simpering fool who is unworthy to lick the mud off the heels of my platform shoes—booga-looga-looga-looz—Professor Isaac Sumdac?"
:—'''Meltdown''' gets down with his bad self while monologuing. It appears that the suit is more than just for show.

"Dibs on Lefty{{m-}}I hate lawyers." 
:{{m-}}'''Captain Fanzone''' actually hates something besides machines.

"Meltdown not hurt Dinobots... Dinobots hurt Meltdown."
:{{m-}}'''Grimlock'''. Run far, run fast, Melty.

'''Fanzone''': What the...?! 
'''Sari''': Whoa...! 
'''Bulkhead''': Uh... they couldn't do that before. Right? 
'''Meltdown''': No, no no stop! Keep them away from me! 
'''Prowl''': Your choice, Meltdown. Prison? Or do we leave you to your pets? 
''[Dinobots move toward Meltdown]'' 
'''Meltdown''': Get away. ''Get away''! '''Get away'''! '''''Away'''''! 
:{{m-}}Meltdown panics while the Autobots and humans learn that the Dinobots are [[Transformer|more than meets the eye]].

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===
* Fanzone ''presses buttons'' on a ''rotary-dial'' cell phone. Of course, he also manages to get touch-tone sounds from them, so perhaps the rotary dial is just simulated. Y'know, to make him feel more familiar with the device.

===Continuity errors===
* When Sari is kidnapped by Swoop, she's just wearing socks on her feet (having crawled out of bed). When she's imprisoned in Meltdown's lair, she has her boots on again.

* The passage of time between Sari's kidnapping and the arrival on the island is wonky. Isaac appears to arrive at Sari's room with a snack mere minutes after she's gone to bed not too late in the evening, but the police and Autobots show up once the sun has risen. The "search party" heads for the Dinobots' island that ''night''... and arrive in the daylight. Did nearly ''forty-eight hours'' really pass all this time, and Meltdown did nothing?

* Apparently, there's nothing wrong with cutting a cargo ship free of its moorings and sailing it out into the middle of Lake Erie without permission. (Prowl and Bulkhead must have convinced either the ship's captain or its computerized pilot system to make an unscheduled trip.)

* Why does Meltdown bother to send the Dinobots, then go to handle his guests himself several minutes later? Sure, it works out, but was it planned that way?

* Why does Prowl think that Sari can defend herself against the Decepticons by ''kicking'' them?

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Meltdownexperiments.jpg|right|thumb|200px|They've got the power to surprise.]]

* [[Meltdown's experiments|Meltdown's genetically engineered minions]] (previous failed attempts at producing "human transformers") bear a striking resemblance to the ''[[Generation 1]]'' [[Pretender]]s [[Submarauder]]/[[Gilmer]] and [[Bomb-Burst]]/[[Blood]].

* The notion of creating non-mechanical or organic Transformers [[Savage/Noble|is not new]] in Transformers lore.


===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is the first episode in which Snarl and Swoop transform. They still haven't spoken, however.

* This is also the first episode in which Fanzone refers to any of the Autobots by name, suggesting he's getting used to them being more than machines.

* Bumblebee appears in this episode, but doesn't speak. It's strange considering his personality, not to mention that he has the closest relationships to Sari out of all the Autobots.

* Part of Grimlock's transformation is recycled animation from "[[Blast from the Past]]".

* Captain Fanzone's phone seems remarkably outdated compared to the mobile phone his subordinate is shown using; it's the size of a brick, has a permanently extended antenna and amazingly features a rotary dial (or at least a simulated one; he still punches touch tones on it) to ring in the numbers... and even then Fanzone can't figure out how to use it. The man was clearly born a century after his time and presumably would be more comfortable around gramophones and [[Hearts of Steel|steam]] [[Secret Weapon: D-5|locomotives]].

* Fanzone's dialog suggests that a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Erie is not as preposterous as it might seem, as the island was formerly a research facility of some shape or form.

* Bulkhead seems to be more than a match for all three Dinobots here, yet they make incredibly short work of the mutants and Colossus Rhodes. (Colossus had previously proven to be a decent enough challenge for Bulkhead, Prime, Prowl and Ratchet.) Maybe their sparks just weren't in it? Or they were holding back? Or that could be attributed to Bulkhead being really pissed at them during the fight, which made him a much more ferocious warrior than the Dinobots were expecting.

* A lawyer turned into a blood-sucking monster... surely there's no deeper message here.

* Do we really want to know what that key slot was doing on the controls for a toilet?

* The two mutants are conspicuously absent in the final scene (Fanzone notes "got 'em both," indicating only two prisoners). As they appear in later episodes, they were obviously not destroyed, but this implies they were left imprisoned on the island, subject to the Dinobots' whims. If so, this seems harsh, given the two were (presumably) innocent victims of Meltdown's experiments. If they're somehow being held on ship, not mentioning or showing them seems to be quite an oversight.

* Although most human villains in the series to date have been shown in a comedic light, Meltdown seems the odd man out with some rather disturbing, more adult-oriented themes. He attempts murder (of rival Isaac Sumdac); he experiments to create mutants, which constitutes crimes against Humanity; he tortures the Dinobots into submission by burning them with his acidic touch; and he kidnaps a prepubescent girl for purposes of experimentation... but he darn sure can ''dance''.

* Speaking of adult themes, when the police learn that Sari is missing, they question the father and send divers into the river. ''HARSH.''

* It's rather unsettling how nobody, particularly Captain Fanzone, seemed to know that Meltdown wasn't in jail any more. Either Fanzone's inability to work with technology kept him from hearing, or information flow among the Detroit Police Department is really poor, even when a dangerous supervillain has broken out of jail. And on that note, it seems that, just like in comic books, prisons here aren't suited to hold superpowered criminals.

* The episode ends before Bulkhead, Prowl, and Fanzone return Sari to her father, and before the Autobots report back in to Prime. What they ''tell'' Prime (about where they found Sari) is extremely unclear, as discussed further under "[[Megatron Rising - Part I#Miscellaneous trivia|Megatron Rising - Part I]]".

* Prowl can kick with his knees ''while the wheels are turning'' and ''can ride on walls.'' This is awesomeness!

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Survival of the Fittest

2008-06-08T17:12:13Z

70.242.142.190: /* Transformers references */

[[Image:Road appear.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Warehouse sweet warehouse.]]
{{episodenav|animated|12|season=1|prev=Lost and Found (Animated episode)|next=Headmaster (episode)}}
'''Sari is kidnapped and the evidence points to the Dinobots. So Prowl and Bulkhead head to a mysterious island to investigate—with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Window sari.jpg|left|thumb|200px|How much is that Sari in the window?]]
Concerned for [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s safety as possessor of the [[Sari Sumdac's key|All Spark Key]] and knowing they can't be around every minute to protect her, the [[Autobot]]s decide to give her self-defense lessons. She doesn't do so well, but undaunted, she continues to practice alone in her room that night. She then goes to bed, but a shadow passing by her window makes her curious enough to get up again. She opens the window and is confronted by the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]] [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]. [[Image:SwoopSari.JPG|right|thumb|200px|I will make you one of my children of the night.]]
Shortly afterward, [[Isaac Sumdac|her father]] stops by to deliver a bedtime snack and is shocked to find her missing.

He immediately contacts the police and the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] orders everyone to [[Roll out|roll out]] immediately. Come morning, the police search Sari's room and question Doctor Sumdac. [[Captain Fanzone]] coordinates operations from the lobby of [[Sumdac Tower]], checking security video footage and struggling with the operation of his mobile phone. The Autobots arrive, and he asks if anything unusual happened yesterday. [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] mentions her self-defense lessons, to which Fanzone raises some objection, noting that hanging around Autobots might just be, oh, dangerous for a little girl. Just then, Prime spots Swoop on the security footage replay. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] doesn't think it's possible, but Prime notes they never did find out what happened to the escaped Dinobots. Behind him, Bulkhead and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] hold a quiet conversation about whether to tell Prime about their role in the Dinobots' escape, but decide to investigate the Dinobots' island themselves first. Fanzone notices them whispering, figures they must be discussing something relevant, and decides to follow this new lead on his own.

[[Image:Before and after.jpg|left|thumb|150px|It's [[Kremzeek]]! He's in the phone!]]
That night, Prowl and Bulkhead take a cargo ship out to the Dinobots' island, with Fanzone pursuing them in a police department mini-sub. By daylight, the Autobots arrive on the island and start exploring, with Fanzone coming ashore shortly afterward. Suddenly, Prowl spots tracks, indicating someone besides the Dinobots is on the island. As they arrive at the edge of the central crater, Bulkhead expresses second thoughts about setting the Dinobots free. What if someone were to find them there? Prowl deactivates his holographic generator and notes that currently won't be an issue, as the Dinobots appear to be gone.

From within his new headquarters, [[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] observes the two visitors and sends the Dinobots, who are waiting behind him, to deal with the pair.

[[Image:Donkey Fanzone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Donkey Fanzone.]]
Back outside in the valley, an outraged Bulkhead growls that they should have melted down the Dinobots as Dr. Sumdac wanted, but Prowl insists the Dinobots are more than just machines, that they are truly alive and so had to be saved. Bulkhead counters by asking who's going to save Sari. The two then leave to explore the island further, with Fanzone pursuing close behind—well, as close behind as possible after dealing with various mishaps.

In Meltdown's control room, [[Colossus Rhodes]] offers to pound the Autobots to scrap, but Meltdown stays him. Sari figures they're both as good as arrested and taunts them until Rhodes bulks up and scares her into silence.

Outside, Bulkhead and Prowl discover Captain Fanzone sinking in quicksand and haul him out. Prowl asks why he's following them, but Fanzone counters by asking what they're doing on an abandoned island research facility in the middle of Lake Erie, and they fall silent.

[[Image:Fanzone in Quicksand.jpg|thumb|200px|left|This is why I like nature.]]
Still watching the proceedings, Meltdown decides it's time to greet his guests personally and leaves Rhodes to guard Sari. Rhodes taunts Sari for a change, but Sari just asks to go to the toilet.

On the surface, Fanzone continues to question Bulkhead about the situation, wondering if there's something he's not being told. Bulkhead abruptly points out the Dinobots behind Fanzone as the possible missing piece of info. Prowl offers to deal with the Dinobots, as they trust him, but [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] orders the Dinobots to attack. Prowl is confused, but Bulkhead figures it's pretty straightforward: The Dinobots kidnapped Sari and now want to destroy them. He also lets slip that he and Prowl helped the Dinobots escape. During the skirmish, Prowl notes acid burns on Swoop's leg plating and deduces that someone with the ability to burn the Dinobots is forcing them to act this way. The Autobots and Fanzone manage to make a run for it, only to find themselves in a dead-end canyon. When Meltdown confronts them, Prowl finally puts it all together, realizing that the villain is behind the Dinobots capturing Sari and attacking them. Meltdown gleefully monologues about finding an island with its own security system just when he needed a place for private experiments, and how Sari will now be his latest subject. An enraged Bulkhead charges, but Meltdown's acid blasts a painful hole in the Autobot's chest.

Prowl and Fanzone run to help him, but Meltdown touches a remote-control button and sends the pair plummeting through a trap door down into a steel-lined holding pen. There, he pits them against two of his less successful experiments in creating transforming humans, people capable of taking on any shape at will. He notes that the failures were a result of using adult test subjects, whereas a still-growing human should prove much more promising. And what better choice than the daughter of his arch-rival, Isaac Sumdac? He then leaves to administer his formula to Sari while his two mutants take care of Prowl and Fanzone.

Elsewhere in the base, Sari tricks Cyrus Rhodes into checking out the rest room toilet, then uses her key to flood water on him, shorting out the electrode/pistons that let him bulk up. When he turns to attack her, she trips him, then locks him in the bathroom and takes off. Somehow, she finds the controls to turn off the laser barrier keeping Prowl and Fanzone trapped in the holding pit. Freed just in time, they take off and quickly locate Sari. Informed of Bulkhead's predicament, she guides them out the way she was brought in. As they start down the hall, Fanzone spots a rack of spare protective suits for Meltdown and grabs one.

[[image:Dinobotsrobotmode.JPG|right|thumb|200px|"Your death will be swift."]]
Prowl gets the two humans past a closing steel door and outside, where Sari quickly uses her key to heal Bulkhead. Before they can celebrate, Meltdown shows up with the Dinobots. Sari launches into a flying kick which totally misses Meltdown, but serves as the distraction needed for Prowl to score a hit. Before a stunned Meltdown can recover, Fanzone tackles him and wraps him up in a spare protective suit he grabbed. Meltdown orders the Dinobots to attack, but Prowl points that that Meltdown has no power over them any more. In preparation for revenge, the Dinobots [[transformation|transform]] into robot mode, surprising the others. Prowl offers the panicking Meltdown a choice: going to prison or being left to the Dinobots' (lack of) mercies. Just then, Colossus Rhodes (whose electronics apparently dried out) and the two mutants burst out of the entrance into the underground facility, only to draw the Dinobots' attention to themselves. The mighty mechanical trio ignite their weapons and quickly trounce the three mutants.

That evening, Fanzone and the Autobots take Sari and the captive Meltdown and Rhodes back to Detroit. Fanzone calls Dr. Sumdac to give him the good news, and Bulkhead and Prowl wonder if they should admit about the Dinobots to Prime. Fanzone assures Prowl that as long as the Dinobots stay on the island and out of Detroit, he doesn't have a problem with them. Prowl thanks him for all his help, and the two acknowledge they make a decent team, despite their different physical compositions. Watching Sari try out another kick on Bulkhead, Fanzone expresses continuing doubts about teaching ninja moves to eight-year-olds. Prowl agrees, noting Sari can apparently take care of herself in her own unique fashion.

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Steven Granat]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]] & [[Makoto Fuchigami]]
*'''Original airdate:''' March 8, 2008

===Featured characters===
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s

! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (6)
*[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (7)
*[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (10)
*[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (11)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" | '''Regulars'''
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (8)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (9)
*[[Prometheus Black|Meltdown]] (12)
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] (13)

'''Guests'''

|}

==Quotes==

"This is why I hate machines!" 
"No need to be such a technophobe, Captain." 
"A technophobe is someone who ''fears'' technology. ''(Smashes cell phone)'' Does '''''this''' look like'' '''FEAR TO YOU?!'''" 
"Um... my mistake."
:—'''Captain Fanzone''' straightens out '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s perceptions of him.

'''Fanzone:''' You're teaching an eight-year-old to do ''nerve blows''? 
'''Ratchet:''' You want her to pick it up in the street? 
'''Prowl:''' This is part of every protoform's elemental programming. 
'''Fanzone:''' Say what? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Yeah, it's not like we're having her fight [[Decepticon]]s. 
'''Prowl:''' Yet.
:—Fanzone and the Autobots debate the finer points of child education.

"Wait a minute—roll that back." 
"Sure thing, dollface."
:—The '''Reception Bot''' gets sassy with '''Optimus'''.

"Help!" 
"That sounded like Captain Fanzone." 
"Y-Yeah, hey, I—I do a really good impression of myself '''screaming for help!'''"
:—Even in mortal danger, '''Captain Fanzone''' zings '''Prowl'''.

"Who better than the daughter of my arch-rival, the bane of my existence, the simpering fool who is unworthy to lick the mud off the heels of my platform shoes—booga-looga-looga-looz—Professor Isaac Sumdac?"
:—'''Meltdown''' gets down with his bad self while monologuing. It appears that the suit is more than just for show.

"Dibs on Lefty{{m-}}I hate lawyers." 
:{{m-}}'''Captain Fanzone''' actually hates something besides machines.

"Meltdown not hurt Dinobots... Dinobots hurt Meltdown."
:{{m-}}'''Grimlock'''. Run far, run fast, Melty.

'''Fanzone''': What the...?! 
'''Sari''': Whoa...! 
'''Bulkhead''': Uh... they couldn't do that before. Right? 
'''Meltdown''': No, no no stop! Keep them away from me! 
'''Prowl''': Your choice, Meltdown. Prison? Or do we leave you to your pets? 
''[Dinobots move toward Meltdown]'' 
'''Meltdown''': Get away. ''Get away''! '''Get away'''! '''''Away'''''! 
:{{m-}}Meltdown panics while the Autobots and humans learn that the Dinobots are [[Transformer|more than meets the eye]].

==Other notes==

===Animation errors===
* Fanzone ''presses buttons'' on a ''rotary-dial'' cell phone. Of course, he also manages to get touch-tone sounds from them, so perhaps the rotary dial is just simulated. Y'know, to make him feel more familiar with the device.

===Continuity errors===
* When Sari is kidnapped by Swoop, she's just wearing socks on her feet (having crawled out of bed). When she's imprisoned in Meltdown's lair, she has her boots on again.

* The passage of time between Sari's kidnapping and the arrival on the island is wonky. Isaac appears to arrive at Sari's room with a snack mere minutes after she's gone to bed not too late in the evening, but the police and Autobots show up once the sun has risen. The "search party" heads for the Dinobots' island that ''night''... and arrive in the daylight. Did nearly ''forty-eight hours'' really pass all this time, and Meltdown did nothing?

* Apparently, there's nothing wrong with cutting a cargo ship free of its moorings and sailing it out into the middle of Lake Erie without permission. (Prowl and Bulkhead must have convinced either the ship's captain or its computerized pilot system to make an unscheduled trip.)

* Why does Meltdown bother to send the Dinobots, then go to handle his guests himself several minutes later? Sure, it works out, but was it planned that way?

* Why does Prowl think that Sari can defend herself against the Decepticons by ''kicking'' them?

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Meltdownexperiments.jpg|right|thumb|200px|They've got the power to surprise.]]

* [[Meltdown's experiments|Meltdown's genetically engineered minions]] (previous failed attempts at producing "human transformers") bear a striking resemblance to the ''[[Generation 1]]'' [[Pretender]]s [[Submarauder]]/[[Gilmer]] and [[Bomb-Burst]]/[[Blood]].

* The notion of creating non-mechanical or organic Transformers [[Savage/Noble|is not new]] in Transformers lore.

*[[Super Dragon Fist|Seriosly.]]


===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This is the first episode in which Snarl and Swoop transform. They still haven't spoken, however.

* This is also the first episode in which Fanzone refers to any of the Autobots by name, suggesting he's getting used to them being more than machines.

* Bumblebee appears in this episode, but doesn't speak. It's strange considering his personality, not to mention that he has the closest relationships to Sari out of all the Autobots.

* Part of Grimlock's transformation is recycled animation from "[[Blast from the Past]]".

* Captain Fanzone's phone seems remarkably outdated compared to the mobile phone his subordinate is shown using; it's the size of a brick, has a permanently extended antenna and amazingly features a rotary dial (or at least a simulated one; he still punches touch tones on it) to ring in the numbers... and even then Fanzone can't figure out how to use it. The man was clearly born a century after his time and presumably would be more comfortable around gramophones and [[Hearts of Steel|steam]] [[Secret Weapon: D-5|locomotives]].

* Fanzone's dialog suggests that a volcanic island in the middle of Lake Erie is not as preposterous as it might seem, as the island was formerly a research facility of some shape or form.

* Bulkhead seems to be more than a match for all three Dinobots here, yet they make incredibly short work of the mutants and Colossus Rhodes. (Colossus had previously proven to be a decent enough challenge for Bulkhead, Prime, Prowl and Ratchet.) Maybe their sparks just weren't in it? Or they were holding back? Or that could be attributed to Bulkhead being really pissed at them during the fight, which made him a much more ferocious warrior than the Dinobots were expecting.

* A lawyer turned into a blood-sucking monster... surely there's no deeper message here.

* Do we really want to know what that key slot was doing on the controls for a toilet?

* The two mutants are conspicuously absent in the final scene (Fanzone notes "got 'em both," indicating only two prisoners). As they appear in later episodes, they were obviously not destroyed, but this implies they were left imprisoned on the island, subject to the Dinobots' whims. If so, this seems harsh, given the two were (presumably) innocent victims of Meltdown's experiments. If they're somehow being held on ship, not mentioning or showing them seems to be quite an oversight.

* Although most human villains in the series to date have been shown in a comedic light, Meltdown seems the odd man out with some rather disturbing, more adult-oriented themes. He attempts murder (of rival Isaac Sumdac); he experiments to create mutants, which constitutes crimes against Humanity; he tortures the Dinobots into submission by burning them with his acidic touch; and he kidnaps a prepubescent girl for purposes of experimentation... but he darn sure can ''dance''.

* Speaking of adult themes, when the police learn that Sari is missing, they question the father and send divers into the river. ''HARSH.''

* It's rather unsettling how nobody, particularly Captain Fanzone, seemed to know that Meltdown wasn't in jail any more. Either Fanzone's inability to work with technology kept him from hearing, or information flow among the Detroit Police Department is really poor, even when a dangerous supervillain has broken out of jail. And on that note, it seems that, just like in comic books, prisons here aren't suited to hold superpowered criminals.

* The episode ends before Bulkhead, Prowl, and Fanzone return Sari to her father, and before the Autobots report back in to Prime. What they ''tell'' Prime (about where they found Sari) is extremely unclear, as discussed further under "[[Megatron Rising - Part I#Miscellaneous trivia|Megatron Rising - Part I]]".

* Prowl can kick with his knees ''while the wheels are turning'' and ''can ride on walls.'' This is awesomeness!

[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Mission Accomplished

2008-06-08T16:35:57Z

70.242.142.190: /* Quotes */

[[Image:Offlinescream.JPG|right|thumb|350px|I get knocked down, but I get up again.]]

{{episodenav|animated|19|season=2|prev=The Return of the Headmaster|next=Garbage In, Garbage Out}}

'''Convinced there are no Decepticons left on Earth, the Elite Guard prepares to take Optimus Prime and his crew back to Cybertron, unaware of the increasing Decepticon activity taking place under their very noses.'''

==Summary==
The Autobot [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] sends a message to the Earth-based Autobots, revealing he is under attack from Decepticons and has already lost one [[space bridge]]. He requests backup, but the transmission is cut off. Ultra Magnus explains this is but one of many reports of rising Decepticon activity. Jazz thinks it is due to the rumours of Megatron's survival, and Sentinel can't resist an opportunity to make a snide comment about the source of those rumours: Optimus Prime. Magnus therefore decides that all Earth-bound Autobots will make preparations to leave the planet. When Optimus protests due to the presence of Decepticons on Earth, Ultra Magnus brushes him off, whilst Sentinel butts in with another tirade about putting Prime up for an inquiry (or a [[wikipedia:court-martial|court-martial]], as Optimus perceives it). Ultra Magnus tries to make his position clear; that in the long run, everyone is better off believing Megatron is dead. Putting forward the idea of the Decepticon leader surviving and the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] being destroyed would cause panic among the Autobots and strengthen the resolve of the Decepticons. An outraged Optimus is forced into compliance.

Back at the factory, Sari is heartbroken by the idea of her friends being forced to leave Earth. The situation is made worse when Sentinel shows up. With his usual grace and tact, he tells Sari to belt up and officially inducts Optimus's team into the war effort. In the middle of insulting the "repair grunts", he makes a gesture of sorts to Optimus: Do as Ultra Magnus says, admit he's been lying, and Sentinel will use his connections to get Optimus's military career back on track, as thanks for [[Return of the Headmaster|the recent Headmaster incident]]. When Optimus tells him what to do with his offer, Sentinel places him under formal arrest.
[[Image:Tooyoungtodie.JPG|left|thumb|Go to your happy place, Screamer.]]
On a garbage scow moving along the river, Starscream suddenly reactivates. Disorientated, he panics when he realises that not only can he not pick up any Decepticon energy signatures, he can't even pick up his own! After a moment of shock, he recovers and gets his bearings: he's alive and still on Earth. Furious at Megatron's attempt on his life, he transforms and blasts off into the sky.

At the Decepticon base, Blitzwing and Lugnut successfully test out Professor Sumdac's new Decepticon signal dampener. Mildly impressed, Megatron quickly moves on, demanding the creation of a subspace communicator so he can contact his forces in space to call off the aimless skirmishes until he can build his own space bridge. When Sumdac comments that Earth technology is too primitive, Megatron smugly informs him that they will simply steal the required tech from the Elite Guard's ship. Meanwhile, the Autobots are trying to figure out what to do with Sari, so they take her to the most together human they know, Captain Fanzone—although they do point out that most of the humans they know are criminally insane.

[[Image:MissionAccomplished-Fanzoneindressinggown.jpg|thumb|right|175px|It's not what it looks like.]]

While they handle that, Optimus is on the Elite Guard's ship, with Sentinel still trying to convince him to play ball. Optimus refuses to lie, while Sentinel says that confirming there are no Decepticons on Earth would merely confirm what their sensors are saying. While they argue, Lugnut and Blitzwing tunnel under the ship's shield and steal a tachyon transmitter. As they make their escape, they fail to notice Starscream tailing them back to base.

[[Image:Swordscream.JPG|left|thumb|And so begins the greatest TF montage of all time.]]
As Lugnut presents his prize to Megatron, Starscream makes his presence known. What follows is a quick but decisive victory for Megatron, who simply slashes Starscream before blasting him point-blank. Lugnut checks to see if Starscream is still online, and finding no spark, helps Blitzwing toss his corpse into the river. After floating downstream, Starscream suddenly reactivates again. He realises he lacks a spark and discovers he is being kept alive by a fragment of the AllSpark buried in his head, effectively making him immortal. Delighted, he declares the end of Megatron's era. As Megatron sends his message out to the Decepticons, Starscream attacks...and is promptly killed again. After a couple more fruitless attempts, he starts to wonder if he needs a new strategy. His fragment allows him to locate a second shard, and a plan begins to formulate...

[[Image:Sentinel Prime shocked.jpg|thumb|right|Sentinel Prime: Totally owned. Again.]]
At the Elite Guard ship, Magnus presses Optimus Prime to cooperate, when Jazz reveals that he's discovered a sudden surge in AllSpark energy. Concluding that it's another shard, Magnus and Jazz go to retrieve it, while Sentinel is to remain and watch Optimus. As Sentinel moans, Optimus realizes that they had only found AllSpark shards before due to [[Sari Sumdac's key|Sari's key]]. Doing a thermal scan, he discovers Starscream. Optimus tries to warn Ultra Magnus, but Sentinel threatens to put him in [[stasis cuffs]] if he tries to leave. Optimus is able to take down Sentinel (who [[Starscream (G1)|squeals]] like a [[Carly|girl]]) and place him in the cuffs, then [[roll out|rolls out]].

Meanwhile, the Autobots are watching Sari "interview" Captain Fanzone, who is not very fond of children. Optimus contacts the Autobots and tells them to meet him en route to the train.

As Starscream gloats about his plan to draw out Megatron and kill him in a massive explosion, Ultra Magnus and Jazz arrive, as do Megatron and Blitzwing. Megatron realizes that it's a trap set by Starscream, while Magnus and Jazz have trouble extracting the shard. An energy surge throws the Elite Guard off the train. Further ahead along the tracks, Optimus orders Prowl to sever the passenger cars from the main car, while Bumblebee takes Sari to use the key to remove the shard. They succeed, but the train still nearly crashes, only stopped because Ratchet uses his magnets from ahead while Bulkhead, anchored by Optimus Prime, grabs the rear of the train. High in the air, as Starscream fumes about the lost opportunity, Megatron appears, ready to beat him senseless.

[[Image:Jagged.JPG|right|thumb|Starscream refused to invoke his right to remain silent, so the Autobots decided to enforce it.]]
On the ground, Ultra Magnus reprimands Optimus Prime, while Sentinel Prime arrives and accuses him of assault. Though Optimus defends his position, both Elite Guardsmen point out that there is no evidence of Decepticons{{m-}}only for Starscream to crash into the ground mere meters away, causing Sentinel Prime to freak out at the sight of an actual Decepticon. Quickly coming back online, Starscream takes advantage of Magnus's momentary inattention to blast the Autobot leader into unconsciousness from point-blank range, taking the shard with him. The Autobots' attempts to take down Starscream fail, until Optimus comes up with a plan—although an intervention from Jazz is required to make Sentinel go along with it. Having Sentinel draw Starscream's attention, Optimus uses the stasis cuffs on the Decepticon, who is then taken to the Elite Guard ship—with his mouth riveted shut.

Ultra Magnus admits that Optimus Prime was right about there being Decepticons on Earth, and though Sentinel Prime brings up the assault and insubordination charges, Magnus still supports Optimus's actions. Magnus decides that Optimus Prime's crew will remain on Earth to locate the remaining AllSpark shards and capture the Decepticons, while the Elite Guard returns to Cybertron for Magnus to conduct the war effort. Sari is overjoyed that the Autobots are staying, but promises Captain Fanzone that they can still hang out.

Meanwhile, Megatron tells his minions to inform their double agent on Cybertron that the Decepticons have repledged their allegiance to Megatron and that their attacks will draw Autobot forces away from the Transformers' home world. Once the space bridge technology is fully developed, Megatron's group will return to Cybertron and conquer the planet from within...

==Stats==

*'''Written by:''' [[Marsha Griffin]]
*'''Directed by:''' [[Irineo Maramba]] & [[Yoshio Chatani]]
*'''Original airdate:''' April 26, 2008

===Featured characters===


(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)''
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"

! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human]]s
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (3)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (10)
| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (12)
*[[Lugnut|Lugnut]] (13)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (15)
| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (6)
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (14)
*[[Captain Fanzone]] (16)

|}

==Quotes==
"I'm not gonna have to use the stasis cuffs on you, am I, Optimus?"
:{{m-}}'''Sentinel Prime''' being kinky.

"You dare strike ME, Megatron? After all my loyal stellar cycles of—wh-wu-wait, where is everybody?"
:{{m-}}On coming back from the dead, '''Starscream''''s speech-making tendencies outweigh his observational skills.

[[Image:Number one wink.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Thumbs up, soldier!]]
'''Fanzone''': Why me? 
'''Bumblebee''': You're tops on the list of all the humans we know personally. 
'''Bulkhead''': Although, it is kind of a short list. 
'''Prowl''': And it does include [[Prometheus Black]] and [[Nanosec]]. 
'''Bumblebee''': But still, you're number one! 
:{{m-}}The Autobots try to get Captain Fanzone to adopt Sari. They need to work on their sales pitch.

"Starscream... you're alive." 
"What's the matter? You look like you've seen a [[Starscream's Ghost|ghost]]."
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' surprised to see his old buddy '''Starscream'''.

"Is that the best you could do, Starscream? And to think you actually believed you could take over as leader of the Decepticons. You couldn't lead a parade."
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' gives Starscream [[The Transformers: The Movie|a hint]].

"Fellow Decepticons, take heed. Your leader, Megatron, still lives! Though we remain dispersed throughout the far reaches of the galaxy, exiled from our true home, we are all still Decepticons, united by a common purpose. The time has come for us to put aside our differences and act as one under my undisputed leadership. Only then can we cast off the shackles of Autobot oppression. Working together, we can raise up our glorious empire once more and crush all who stand in our way!"
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' has a good speechwriter.

"When are you going to get it through your thick processor? There are no Decepticons on this planet! So keep your audio unit shut or I'll do it for you." ''[brandishes stasis cuffs]'' 
''[beat]'' "I'd like to see you try, you worthless crankshaft!" 
"THAT'S IT!" ''[ten seconds later]'' "You put me in stasis lock?!"
:{{m-}}'''Sentinel Prime''', owned by '''Optimus Prime''' yet again.

"ARGH! This day couldn't possibly get any worse!" 
''[Megatron and Blitzwing appear]'' 
"I stand corrected."
:{{m-}}'''Starscream''', enjoying his luck to the fullest.

"STARSCREAM!" 
"Sorry, you must have me confused with some other harrier jet."
:{{m-}}'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream'''. We don't think he bought it, Screamer.

"WHAT IS THAT THING?!" 
"Oh, that's right, you've never seen one up close. It's called...a Decepticon."
:{{m-}}Starscream freaks out '''Sentinel Prime''' as '''Optimus Prime''' finally gets the proof he needs.

"Yeesh, Optimus, think you could have drawn that one out any longer?" 
"You're welcome, Sentinel." 
:{{m-}}'''Sentinel Prime''' and '''Optimus Prime''', same old song and dance.

==Other notes==
*This episode was first broadcast in Canada on April 26, one week before its United States premiere, and during the American premiere of the episode "[[The Return of the Headmaster]]".

===Animation errors===
* While dropping into Megatron's mountain base for the first time, the "glow" effect on Starscream's jet exhaust is misaligned for several seconds until he 'catches up' to it.

* Just before Prime activates the thermal scan of the cloud bank supposedly concealing Starscream, Starscream is already plainly visible on the viewscreen. If Starscream wasn't meant to be concealed, then it's a continuity error, as Prime wouldn't need a thermal scan to detect him, just a magnified visual.

* Not ''really'' an animation error ''per se'', but when the Autobots stop the train, Sari is somehow not hurled forward off its roof by her own momentum, even though she is not restrained in any fashion. Unless...''she's a witch!''

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron and the other Decepticons don't seem to wonder why it is that Starscream keeps coming back, despite the fact that they note that his spark compartment is empty. (Unless Megatron did find the allspark fragment, and decided it'd be fun to keep him around as a target for violence.)

* Megatron shatters Starscream's yellow cockpit the first and fourth times he "kills" him in the episode, leaving his empty spark chamber visible. When Starscream pulls a [[wikipedia:Jack_Harkness|Captain Jack]], it is still missing. After he sees his reflection in the water the first time, and simply when they cut to a different angle on the fourth time, it is suddenly present and intact once more. (It's possible that's because of the miraculous powers of the AllSpark shard; if it can keep Starscream online, it surely can regenerate any damage he has taken.)

* The AllSpark shard Starscream recovers changes size constantly, from barely fitting into Starscream's hand, to small enough to fit into Optimus's palm with his hand closed.

* How did Sentinel get the stasis cuffs off?

* When Optimus Prime puts the newly acquired fragment of the AllSpark into its housing, there are four shards total, even though thus far, only two have been recovered by the Autobots on-screen (three if they ripped the one out of Starscream's brainpan, but seeing as he's still online, that's not likely). Optimus does note in the episode that, in the past, Sari's key had been the primary tool used to locate fragments of the AllSpark. As this has only happened in the episode "The Elite Guard" so far (as well as this episode), it is conceivable that the Autobots managed to locate two other "SmallSparks" off-screen.

* As Lugnut and Blitzwing tunnel under the force shield to the Elite Guard's ship, they leave a gigantic hole, which no one notices. And later on, the hole has mysteriously disappeared.

===Transformers references===
*Much like [[Starscream (G1)|his Generation 1 counterpart]], [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] is now immortal, only this time they actually explain why and leave him with a body.

*Megatron believes Starscream "couldn't even lead a parade", just as his G1 namesake said in "[[Starscream's Brigade]]". This line also harkens to a similar line in the G1 pilot "More Than Meets The Eye" in which Megatron remarks that Starscream "Couldn't lead ant-droids to a picnic..."

===Real-world references===
* [[Wikipedia:Mission Accomplished|The title. Nuff said.]]

* Starscream refers to his disguise as a [[Wikipedia:Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier Jet]]. Pity his model won't turn up for another hundred years or so.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Along with [[Transformer|machines]] and [[Survival of the Fittest|lawyers]], it seems [[Captain Fanzone]] doesn't like kids.

* It's not clear how Starscream ended up in the garbage scow. If the Autobots threw him there, wouldn't they have retrieved him (as proof of Decepticon activity) in "[[The Elite Guard]]"? If it was humans, why didn't they keep his body in order to study alien technology? Or, one of the Decepticons may have thrown him into the scow, as a gesture of contempt or to hide their presence on Earth...but we don't know for sure.

* In the first interior shot of the Decepticons' hideout, we see the markings on the top of their computer station resemble the upper half of the Decepticon sigil, complete with glowing eyes.

* In his speech, Megatron goes on about how the Decepticons are united by a common purpose and need to put aside their differences, yet Megatron himself is beating the slag out of a fellow Decepticon throughout the episode. How ironic.

* Starscream is not just beaten up, but ''killed'' by Megatron five times in a ''single episode''. Must be a new record.

* The Elite Guard does not come off very well in this episode: Ultra Magnus and Jazz fail to notice a large hole the size of [[Lugnut|a B2 bomber]] when leaving their ship, a tachyon transmitter gets ripped off their ship without them even noticing, Sentinel Prime freaks out at the mere sight of a Decepticon, and Ultra Magnus gets defeated by Starscream after only one shot (to be fair, it ''was'' at point-blank range, ''right in the face''.)

* Megatron mentions having a double agent on Cybertron. Who could it be?

* With this episode, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|all]] [[Ironhide (Movie)|five]] [[Bumblebee (Movie)|of]] [[Jazz (Movie)|the]] [[Ratchet (Movie)|Autobots]] from [[Transformers (2007)|the live-action movie]] have appeared in ''Transformers: Animated''.

* When Sentinel is trying to bribe Optimus, he says he could get Optimus re-instated in the Elite Guard, so apparently Optimus used to be in the Elite Guard.

* Optimus Prime's crew has already proven to be smaller and less powerful than the Decepticons yet these Autobots are all that the great Autobot Supreme Commander could think to leave to fight and capture the really powerful MEGATRON!? That plan is worse than movie Optimus Prime's.
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>