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Operation Bumblebee, Part 2

2012-04-29T17:58:16Z

71.108.7.78: /* Quotes */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==Quotes==

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

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

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

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

"Mine's bigger!"
:—That's what she said, '''Bulkhead'''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Armada (episode)

2012-04-29T03:55:30Z

71.108.7.78: /* Transformers references */

{{disambig3|Armada}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 36
|prev=Grill
|next=Flying Mind
|image=Armada-clonessurroundMegatron.jpg
|caption=Megatron remembers seeing this scenario on Tumblr.
|title="Armada"
|airdate=[[April 21]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Matt Wayne]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead is trapped on the ''Nemesis'' amid dual attempts on Megatron's life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] recovers consciousness, and realizes he's on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Unable to contact base, he begins to explore, but while hiding from [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], he runs into [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. Starscream is reluctant to help, and strikes at Bulkhead, so Bulkhead returns the favor by jumping on Starscream and literally beating the life out of him. Guiltily justifying his actions by muttering that Starscream left him no choice, Bulkhead returns to his exploration.

[[Image:Armada-protoforms.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Quick! Reprogram them into Combaticons!]]

Some 24 hours before, Starscream reaches the wreck of the ''[[Harbinger]]'' in his search for [[energon]]. Instead, he finds a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s. Elsewhere, Bulkhead picks up a strong energon reading. Starscream finds information in the ''Harbinger''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> computer on cloning, and fires up the lab equipment. Soon, five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|duplicates of himself]] stand before him. Meanwhile Bulkhead, clambering into a hole he's found, realizes there's boxed energon at the bottom of it, and that the ''Nemesis'' is arriving overhead, ready to pick it up. As he struggles, he falls among the energon and, losing consciousness, is transported up to the Decepticon ship with it.

Starscream discovers that his clones are complete duplicates of himself, personality, memories, and all. The one significant difference seems to be that the clones have intact [[Transformation Cog]]s, and thus can fly. As the ''Harbinger'' is able to track where the ''Nemesis'' is, he sends his clones to eliminate [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] once and for all. The five clones board the ''Nemesis'' and split up, one of them running into Bulkhead, who terminates the clone. The original Starscream is dismayed to discover that he feels the same pain his clones feel. Bulkhead locates a comm unit and attempts to use it to contact the other Autobots, only to set off an alarm and bring Vehicons running. As he escapes, the Vehicons are distracted by another Starscream clone, but unbeknownst to anyone, Bulkhead has inadvertently triggered a Decepticon beacon.

The beacon is detected by [[Airachnid]], who releases her [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] army from their [[stasis pod]]s to go terminate Megatron. The activity is detected by the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] [[GroundBridge]] to the location to investigate, discovering Airachnid in the middle of sending her troops. She sets some of the Insecticons after the trio, but Arcee bursts through the explosions and begins pursuing her. Optimus and Bumblebee begin mowing down Insecticons.

Bulkhead crawls through a service duct, and spots Megatron. Megatron starts heading for the bridge in response to reports that Starscream's there.

Arcee continues her pursuit of Airachnid, despite having to contend with two Insecticons. After the Insecticons are taken out, Airachnid disappears underground, and Arcee follows.

On the ''Nemesis'' bridge, Megatron finds himself face-to-faces with the four remaining Starscream clones. He offers to make them all [[second-in-command]] if they terminate Starscream for him, but the clones are stable enough to keep to the mission. Before they can open fire, the ship is attacked by Insecticons. The distraction is all Megatron needs, and he starts taking out clones. The last of the clones manages to escape as the Insecticon attack intensifies, and Megatron finally checks on what's going on outside.

[[Image:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Megatron also remembers ''this'' from Tumblr.]]

Optimus and Bumblebee finish off the last of the Insecticons that were attacking them, and start looking for Arcee. Their comrade is currently deep underground hunting Airachnid. Arcee exchanges fire with her foe, and manages to manoeuvre Airachnid onto one of the open stasis pods, which promptly closes and puts the rogue Decepticon on ice. The Insecticons attacking the ''Nemesis'' all immediately stop their attack, drop on to the ship's hull, and proclaim their loyalty to a bemused Megatron.

Within the ''Nemesis'', Bulkhead finds the ship's power core, and severely damages it with his mace, causing it to explode. The ship slowly begins its descent. As he runs to the exit, Bulkhead encounters the Starscream clone, who promptly takes off. Bulkhead is puzzled at the fact that Starscream is alive and can transform. Once the ''Nemesis'' has crashed to earth, Bulkhead is able to drive off and speed away. He soon reaches base, where the Autobots are inspecting the stasis-locked Airachnid.

The last Starscream clone returns to the ''Harbinger'' and lets the original Starscream know the mission failed. He's about to shoot his progenitor, when Starscream turns and blasts him, complaining about the shared pain he experiences as he finally terminates him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (6)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clones]] (3)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is for [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]! For Bumblebee! For ''everything''."
:—'''Bulkhead''' delivers some much-deserved payback unto Starscream. Well, actually his clone, but what's the difference?

"You left me no choice."
:—'''Bulkhead''' pulling an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]].

"My genetic code provides my clones with a T-Cog I no longer possess and all I get is their agony?!"
:—'''Starscream''' laments over the side-effects of cloning.

"Exterminating you was so gratifying the first three times."
:—'''Megatron''' approaching the last of Starscream's clones.

"When you extinguish my spark, make it hurt. You know I would extend that courtesy to you."
:—'''Airachnid''', creepy to the last.

'''Bulkhead''' (rushing inside the Autobot's base)''':''' Guys, you are not gonna believe the day I had! 
''Bulkhead spots Airachnid in stasis, then looks at Ratchet and Arcee'' 
'''Bulkhead:''' Oh, you too, huh?
:—It's been a busy day for everyone.

"AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGHHH! ''Scrap'', that hurt!"
:—'''Starscream''' after killing the last clone.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
* Previously, one Insecticon was so powerful that it was able to fight toe-to-toe with Megatron (deprived of his fusion cannon). The Insecticons in this episode are considerably weaker, enough that several go down in one hit and another is taken out by crashing into a tree. You can do plenty of rationalizing—the Autobots have an open battlefield and their ranged weapons which Megatron did not, a lot of Insecticons die from crashing out the air rather than from attacks—but this downgrade is nothing special, being a widely observed phenomenon with armies of generic henchmen in fiction of all kinds.
*So where does Starscream keep getting those replacement missiles from, anyway?

===Continuity notes===
* Starscream returns to the ''[[Harbinger]]'', first seen in "[[Partners]]", the episode in which he defected.
* Starscream references sneaking on board the ''Nemesis'' and meeting Optimus Prime in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]".
* Starscream mentions [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|killing Cliffjumper]] and [[Crossfire|sparing Arcee's life]]... again.
* Bulkhead pounds Starscream (well, his clone really, but still...) for killing Cliffjumper and damaging Bumblebee's T-cog in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Starscream laments over losing his T-cog in "Operation Bumblebee, Part 2".
* Airachnid had apparently repaired her [[Crossfire|severed limb]]. It didn't last.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream follows in the footsteps of his [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' predecessor]], who also once cloned [[Starscream clone (Animated)|multiple copies of himself]].
*Starscream's clones are mentally linked to him via [[binary bonding]].
*We see protoforms again.
*The name of this episode references a Transformers Anime, Transformers Armada.

===Real-world references===
* Starscream's activation of the clones, with all the electricity and cackling, seems inspired by [[Frankenstein|''Frankenstein'']].
* The Nemesis has [http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Jefferies_tube Jefferies tubes].

===Trivia===
* The Insecticons speak for the first time. They're still vermin, though.
* Soundwave, Knock Out, and Dreadwing do not seem to be on board the Nemesis to defend it from its Insecticon assailants for some unknown reason.
* Oddly, immediately after he laments the lack of energon on the Harbinger, and after spending episodes going on about how he needed to scrounge for scraps just to survive, Starscream, on finding the clones, takes some of his own energon from his arm to power the clones. Perhaps his ambitions got the better of his common sense, or he was counting on the clones winning and he could then resupply on the Nemesis.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 2

2012-04-28T04:00:20Z

71.108.7.78: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 28
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 1
|next=Orion Pax, Part 3
|image=
|caption=
|title="Orion Pax, Part 2"
|airdate=[[February 25]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}

'''Jack learns how to restore Optimus's memory.'''

==Synopsis==
On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] points his missiles at [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]. Accidentally addressing him as "Optimus Prime", the former Seeker realizes something is wrong. Through a brief conversation, Starscream learns of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s deception to Orion, and states that the archivist has much to learn. He begins to speak, but is interrupted by a team of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]. Starscream leaps into action and makes a quick escape, and Pax is ordered to stay in his quarters, his curiosity piqued.

Back at base, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] finishes adjustments on the [[GroundBridge]]'s power level, hoping to increase its range. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] pilots a test subject in the form of a toy car into the bridge, but instead of teleporting, it is destroyed. Raf consoles Ratchet on the failure, saying it was only the first try, but Ratchet thinks it was a doomed idea from the start. In an effort to cheer him up, Raf tells the story of his slow triumph over the rope climb in gym class, but it falls on oblivious ears, since Ratchet doesn't understand what gym class has to do with increasing the Ground Bridge's power level.

In the halls of the ''Nemesis'', Starscream deftly maneuvers his way past many guards, blasting a door out in his bid for freedom. Seconds away from escape, a laser blast catches his tail, and he spins to the ground. Orion is soon visited by Megatron, who apologizes for the commotion. Orion asks why Megatron told him Starscream was dead, and he replies that Starscream is dead to the Decepticon cause—a defector to the Autobots. Megatron departs, but Orion's interest is piqued by Starscream's reference to him, and he begins to read more about this "Optimus Prime." On the database page for Optimus Prime (which displays a false image of a menacing-looking robot), Orion reads that the name belonged to the leader of the Autobot faction, who was not Ratchet, as Megatron told him.

[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] arrives at base, and reports no leads on the location of the Decepticons' [[space bridge]]. About to send Bulkhead on his way to the next search quadrant, Ratchet receives a high-frequency message of peculiar nature: it is addressed to him, and is from Starscream. The plane tells him that he must come alone with a medical kit to repair him, in exchange for valuable intel about Optimus.

In a forest, the Ground Bridge portal opens, to the surprise and dismay of the wounded Starscream, for both Ratchet and Bulkhead step out. Ratchet plays no games with his help, refusing to repair him unless he gets some useful information. Realizing his compromised position, Starscream tells all, but succumbs to horror when he finds the Autobots already know it as well, and plan to abandon him as a result. As Ratchet and Bulkhead depart, the medic responds to Starscream's pleading with the ultimatum that unless he knows anything about the space bridge, he's going to rot. The jet is amazed that his troops finished his project when he was gone, then realizes that this is the information Ratchet is looking for. He smugly shows the Autobot where it hurts.

The group convenes at base to discuss the plan of action in seizing the space bridge. [[June Darby|June]] voices her concern at the prospect of [[Jack Darby|Jack]] traveling to another planet, but is reassured by [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[William Fowler|Fowler]], and realizes the necessity of his mission. Ratchet works out a plan, where all four Autobots storm the space bridge chamber, jamming communications to block the deployment of Decepticon reinforcements. Fowler offers Jack a spacesuit for use on Cybertron, and Arcee volunteers to go with him. The Ground Bridge opens, and the team enters.

[[Image:TFP Orion Pax Part 2 - Jack Salute .jpg|thumb|left|200px|Don't wanna close my eyes, don't wanna fall asleep...]]At the Space Bridge complex, the team makes quick work of the guards. One attempts to send a message to control, but is stymied by Ratchet's scrambler and Bulkhead's fist. They arrive at the bridge, and Jack, fully decked out in a donated spacesuit from [[NASA]], is bridged to the location. The space bridge is activated, and the duo step through to Arcee's homeworld and Jack's destiny.

In the complex, the remaining Autobots are stopped in their tracks by a transmission from [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]], asking for a status report. As he makes continual demands for a report, who should take the call is fumbled over, as Ratchet and Bulkhead's voices would be recognized, and Bumblebee can't speak at all. Ratchet settles on Agent Fowler, and he is patched through. He manages to field the call, and turns it around, asking Breakdown how he was, to surprising success.

Meanwhile, Orion searches through all files he can on "Optimus Prime", only to find that they have been altered, the true files encrypted, to his chagrin. However, Orion, a skillful hacker, manages to get past them and find an image that shocks him; ''he'' is Optimus Prime! This does not go unnoticed by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] and Megatron. The latter vows that he ''will'' see to it that Orion completes [[Project Iacon]], even if he has to inflict grievous pain on him.

On Cybertron, Jack and Arcee follow the [[Key to Vector Sigma|Key]]'s signal and are surprised to find that it leads to [[Kaon]], the Decepticon capital, which is now abandoned, except, as Arcee puts it, for "Vermin". As they advance on foot, they cross a bridge, unaware that underneath them, one such Vermin is transforming and beginning to follow them...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (10)

|c2=
*"[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]" (2)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15)
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] (16)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (5)
*[[June Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (13)
*[[Jack Darby]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (1)

}}

==Quotes==
"You do not suggest that our leader...would speak falsehoods?" 
"You truly are being kept in the dark, aren't you?"
:—'''Starscream''', upon learning of '''"Orion's"''' deception.

"The Decepticon Space Bridge is located right here, deep within an energon mine." 
"Adjacent to a raw fuel supply, clever. What's our intel?" 
"A...reliable source" 
:—'''Ratchet''' talks to '''Arcee''' about their tip, without realizing he's calling a Decepticon reliable.

"Command, this is Space Bridge Control! We are under attack! Command, do you read me?" 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>commlink static* 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Bulkhead smashes the Vehicon's face''* 
"Shhhh."
:—A '''Vehicon''' is reminded of the no-talking rule by '''Ratchet'''.

"Thank you, Starscream." 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Bulkhead looks at Arcee''* 
"Who else would it have been?"
:—'''Arcee'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s too clever by half.

"Don't worry, Space Bridging is just like Ground Bridging." 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Space Bridge fires up with a loud noise''* 
"Just a little more intense!"
:—'''Arcee''' tries to ease Jack's nerves about going on the big boy rides.

'''Fowler''': "Somebody say something, pronto!" 
'''Ratchet''': "Rafael, patch in Agent Fowler."
:—Agent Fowler gets exactly what he wants, just not what he expected.

"You have one nano-cycle to respond or—" 
"This is Space Bridge Control. Situation normal." 
"Normal? You sure about that?" 
"We were just calibrating the subsystems and we, uh, had a surge, but it's fine now. How are ''you''?" 
"Uh...uh... Never better. I know it's thankless down there. Keep up the good work, huh?" 
"Will do. Control out."
:—'''Breakdown''' and '''Fowler''' demonstrate that hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good "how are you" at your side.

"My name is Orion Pax, I am far from being a prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' admits he's not worthy to be a prime.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
*There's no evidence of [[Dark Energon]] on Cybertron, much less any [[Terrorcon (Prime)|zombies]], despite Megatron having used enough to cover the entire planet in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".

===Continuity notes===
* The braces on Raf's legs from last episode are gone. This is not so jarring as it seems at first, as the events of that led to his condition (in "[[One Shall Fall]]") took place two months prior, according to Fowler.
*Ratchet notes that Breakdown would recognize his or Bulkhead's voice. The latter is due to Breakdown and Bulkhead's rivalry (seen from Breakdown's first appearance in "[[Deus Ex Machina]]"), and the former is probably from Breakdown's encounter with Ratchet in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
*Kaon, the Decepticon capital, makes its first actual appearance, following Megatron's dream recreation of it in "[[Sick Mind]]". Jack remembers it from the events of that episode after Arcee identifies it.

===Transformers references===
*The false image of Optimus Prime had some resemblance to G1 Ultra Magnus.

===Real-world references===
*The scene of Fowler talking to Breakdown is a reference to a similar scene in ''[[Star Wars]] Episode IV: A New Hope''. However, this time the guy on the other end responds more warmly to the "how are you?" bit.

===Trivia===
* Aww, Breakdown cares about the worker bots.
* This is the second time Megatron denounces a mistake relating to Starscream that he "[[Out of His Head|does not intend to make again]]".
*A neat, slowed down version of Bulkhead's weapon transformation is seen, as opposed to the normally lightning fast animation employed.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Armada (episode)

2012-04-22T17:32:05Z

71.108.7.78: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Armada}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 36
|prev=Grill
|next=Flying Mind
|image=
|caption=
|title="Armada"
|airdate=[[April 21]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Matt Wayne]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead is trapped on the Decepticon Warship amid dual attempts on Megatron's life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] recovers consciousness, and realizes he's on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Unable to contact base, he begins to explore, but while hiding from [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], he runs into [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. Starscream is reluctant to help, and strikes at Bulkhead, so Bulkhead returns the favor by jumping on Starscream and beating the life out of him. Reflecting that Starscream left him no choice, Bulkhead returns to his exploration.

Some 24 hours before, Starscream reaches the wreck of the ''[[Harbinger]]'' in his search for [[energon]]. Instead he finds a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s. Elsewhere, Bulkhead picks up an energon reading. Starscream finds information in the ''Harbinger''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> computer on cloning and fires up the lab equipment. Soon, five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|duplicates of himself]] stand before him. Meanwhile Bulkhead, clambering into a hole he's found, realizes there's boxed energon at the bottom of it, and that the ''Nemesis'' is overhead ready to pick it up. As he struggles, he falls among the energon and, losing consciousness, is transported up to the Decepticon ship with it.

Starscream discovers that his clones are complete duplicates of himself, personality and all. As the ''Harbinger'' is able to track where the ''Nemesis'' is, he sends his clones to eliminate [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] once and for all. The five clones board the ''Nemesis'' and split up, one of them running into Bulkhead, who terminates the clone. The original Starscream is surprised to find that he feels everything his clones feel. Bulkhead locates a comm unit and attempts to use it to contact base, only instead to set off an alarm and bring Vehicons running. As he escapes, the Vehicons are distracted by another Starscream clone, but unknown to anyone, Bulkhead has inadvertently started a Decepticon beacon.

The beacon is detected by [[Airachnid]], who calls out her [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] army to go terminate Megatron. The activity is detected by the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] [[GroundBridge]] to the location to investigate, discovering Airachnid in the middle of sending her troops. She sets some of the Insecticons after the trio, but Arcee bursts through the explosions and begins pursuing her. Optimus and Bumblebee begin mowing down Insecticons.

Bulkhead crawls through a Nemesis duct, and spots Megatron. Megatron starts heading for the bridge in response to reports that Starscream's there.

Arcee continues her pursuit of Airachnid, despite having to contend with two Insecticons. After the Insecticons are taken out, Airachnid disappears underground, and Arcee follows.

On the ''Nemesis'' bridge, Megatron finds himself face-to-faces with the four remaining Starscream clones. He offers to make them all [[second-in-command]] if they terminate Starscream for him, but the clones are stable enough to keep to the mission, but before they can open fire, the ship is attacked by Insecticons. The distraction is all Megatron needs, and he starts taking out clones. The last of the clones manages to escape as the Insecticon attack intensifies, and Megatron finally checks on what's going on outside.

Optimus and Bumblebee finish off the last of the Insecticons that were attacking them, and start looking for Arcee. Their comrade is currently deep underground hunting Airachnid. Arcee exchanges fire with her foe, and manages to maneuver Airachnid onto one of the open Insecticon pods, which promptly closes and puts the rogue Decepticon into stasis. The Insecticons attacking the ''Nemesis'' all immediately stop their attack, drop on to the ship's hull, and proclaim their loyalty to Megatron.

Within the ''Nemesis'', Bulkhead finds the ship's power core, and hits it very hard, causing it to explode. The ship slowly begins its descent. As he runs to the exit, Bulkhead encounters the Starscream clone, who promptly takes off. Bulkhead is puzzled at the fact that Starscream is alive and can transform. Once the ''Nemesis'' has crashed to earth, Bulkhead is able to drive off and speed away. He soon reaches base, where the Autobots are inspecting the stasis-locked Airachnid.

The last Starscream clone returns to the ''Harbinger'' and lets the original Starscream know the mission failed. He's about to shoot his progenitor, when Starscream turns and blasts him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clones]] (3)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is for [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]! For Bumblebee! For ''everything''."
:—'''Bulkhead''' delivers some much-deserved payback unto Starscream. Well, actually his clone, but what's the difference?

"You left me no choice."
:—'''Bulkhead''' pulling an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]

"My genetic code provides my clones with T-Cogs I no longer possess and all I get is their agony?!"
:—'''Starscream''' laments over the side-effects of cloning.

"Exterminating you was so gratifying the first three times."
:—'''Megatron''' approaching the last of Starscream's clones.

"When you extinguish my spark, make it hurt. You know I would extend that courtesy to you."
:—'''Airachnid''', creepy to the last.

'''Bulkhead''' (rushing inside the Autobot's base)''':''' Guys, you are not gonna believe that day I had! 
Bulkhead spots Airachnid in stasis, then looks at Ratchet and Arcee... 
'''Bulkhead:''' You too, huh?

"DOOWAAHHH, scrap! That hurt!"
:—'''Starscream''' after killing the last clone.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* The Insecticons magically disappear from the top of the ''Nemesis'' after Bulkhead destroyed the Power Station.

===Continuity errors===
* In the episode "[[Orion Pax, Part 2]]"., the Insecticon on Cybertron was actuated by the Autobot signal, but when Arcee finds the nest of Insecticons, they didn't actuate.

===Continuity notes===
* Starscream returns to the ''[[Harbinger]]'', first seen in "[[Partners]]", the episode in which he defected.
* Starscream references sneaking on board the ''Nemesis'' and meeting Optimus Prime in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]".
* Starscream mentions [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|killing Cliffjumper]] and [[Crossfire|sparing Arcee's life]].
* Bulkhead pounds Starscream for killing Cliffjumper and damaging Bumblebee's T-cog in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Airachnid loses [[Crossfire|another limb]].

===Transformers references===
*[[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]] [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]].
*Starscream's clones are mentally linked to him via [[binary bonding]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* The Insecticons speak for the first time. They're still vermin, though.

{{epstub}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]