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Cosmic Rust (episode)

2008-05-08T01:06:43Z

72.146.134.249: /* Real-world references */

{{disambig2|episode of which Cosmic Rust appears|titular term of the episode|Cosmic Rust}}
{{episodenav|g1|season=2|45|prev=Trans-Europe Express|next=Starscream's Brigade}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|48|prev=Trans-Europe Express|next=The Core}}

[[Image:Rusted_megatron.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Don't ask, dude... Don't ask.]]
'''After finding a new weapon, Megatron becomes infected with a strange disease...one he intends to use against the Autobots.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "The Terrifying Cosmic Rust!"

==Detailed synopsis==
[[Image:Cosmic Rust Megatron infected.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[JaAm|WhY mY sHoUlDeRs hURt?]]]]
While flying through space in [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Megatron, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] discover a planet with the Autobot [[Insignia|symbol]] visible from orbit. Heading to investigate, they find a deserted city and a pillar inscribed with [[Cybertronian languages|Ancient Autobot]]. Activating a recorded message, they are warned to leave, or never return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]...all in [[Wheelie|rhyme]]. Disregarding the warnings, the [[Decepticon]]s discover a [[Lightning Bug]]. While attempting to move it, they set it off, causing the ceiling above them to be destroyed. Megatron is pleased{{m-}}the Autobots have created a weapon that will allow him to destroy them. While leaving the planet, an asteroid follows Astrotrain (look, just go with the flow) and Megatron destroys it. Bad idea, as the debris penetrates Astrotrain, with one piece hitting Megatron in the shoulder. Heading for their [[Decepticon space cruiser|base]], Starscream removes the rock, only to discover that Megatron's shoulder is covered in ruuusttt.

In [[New York]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] is being awarded for his creation of [[corrostop]], a new solution which prevents rust and corrosion. The Autobots plan to spray all the world's monuments with it, but for the moment, they only have enough to spray the [[Statue of Liberty]]. Meanwhile, Megatron's health is deteriorating rapidly, and he orders the [[Stunticon]]s to bring him Perceptor. Heading for Liberty Island, the Decepticons capture Perceptor and load him into [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], with the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s in pursuit. The Autobot jets follow the kidnappers all the way to the Decepticon base, but the [[Conehead]]s use the Lightning Bug to drive them off.

Taken within their base, Perceptor is horrified to discover that Megatron is covered in rust. The [[Decepticon leader]] offers Perceptor a chance to end the [[Great War|war]] in exchange for curing him. As Perceptor analyzes the Decepticon, he discovers that Megatron is infected with a metallic plague and that the lightning bug is exacerbating the condition. Perceptor offers Megatron corrostop, which manages to wash the rust away. Megatron declares that the Decepticons are about to be cured.

[[Image:Kentucky_fried_aerialbot.jpg|right|thumb|Kentucky Fried Aerialbot.]]
At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], the Aerialbots are explaining what happened to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], when Megatron contacts the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. Megatron says that Prime has until noon to reach Perceptor, or sunlight focused through his lens will ignite the fuse on a bomb and blow him to pieces. Despite knowing it's a trap, Prime takes all the Autobots with him to rescue Perceptor. As the Autobots arrive, Perceptor warns them to keep away, but Prime pulls Perceptor away once the bomb ignites and explodes, only for Perceptor to reveal that he is infected with [[Cosmic Rust]].

[[Image:Cosmic Rust Perceptor kick.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Fonzie would be proud.]]
Returning to the base, the Autobots query [[Teletraan I]], who tells them of the fate of [[Antilla]], the world the Decepticons visited. Then, the Autobots notice that they're infected with Cosmic Rust as well. Worse, Megatron is using the Lightning Bug to make the plague spread. Their only hope is corrostop, but [[Cosmos]] and [[Blaster]] have discovered that [[Element X]], an important ingredient for making Corrostop, is gone. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] suspects that they can use the matter duplicator to make more, if he and Perceptor can fix it. Meanwhile, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] does his best to stem the tide, but they're fading fast. Megatron is watching via [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], loving every minute of it, only to learn that the matter duplicator now works, thanks to a [[wikipedia:kick|unique solution]] provided by Perceptor. All they need is some corrostop from the Statue of Liberty to replicate.

[[Image:Cosmic Rust Autobots Statue of Liberty.JPG|thumb|150px|"You maniacs! You blew it up!"]]
Heading to the Statue of Liberty, Megatron orders the Stunticons to form [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and use the Lightning Bug to destroy the statue. However, the Autobots are already there, and the Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. The Autobot [[combiner]] is able to defeat [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and destroy the Lightning Bug. Megatron, out of ideas, orders a retreat. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] is quite pleased: they not only saved themselves, but also Lady Liberty.

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' December 26, 1985

'''Written by:''' Paul Davids

==Notable quotes==

"Starscream! Keep your grubby fingers off that, it could be a booby trap!" 
"What trap? This is a prehistoric communication device, you uneducated dolt!" 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''', doing what they do best.

"Where there's a curse on the door, there's treasure on the other side." 
:{{m-}}'''Starscream''', who has never seen an Indiana Jones movie.

"Unfortunately, the operation is successful."
:-'''Starscream''' after removing an infected meteor fragment from Megatron

"It's some weird kind of heat ray—and it ''works''!" 
:—'''Air Raid''' expressing a not-unjustified amazement at the efficiency of the Decepticons' weapon-of-the-day

"Somebody's gotta get us back to Cybertron, Prime. I never thought the end would come like this." 
:—'''Bumblebee''', dying from Cosmic Rust and apparently wanting to destroy his home planet.

"The Cosmic Rust has infiltrated your logic circuits." 
"Maybe so, but I'll bet it hasn't affected my aim."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime'''.

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* Apparently, Blitzwing is large enough in [[alternate mode|flight mode]] to carry the Stunticons and Perceptor.

===Continuity errors===
* Astrotrain, who got damaged a lot more by the infectious meteor than Megatron, is never shown to be infected. Starscream should likewise be infected, having pulled out the asteroid fragment from Megatron, but again this is never shown. Megatron's statement that "Decepticons - '''we''' are about to be cured!" implies that he's not the only victim, though the story focus in general implies that he is.
* Couldn't Prime have moved the explosives away from the infected and very contagious Perceptor, rather than vice versa? Though the Cosmic Rust seems capable of spreading through the air, Prime could at least ''try'' not to get infected.
* According to Teletraan 1, the "Lost Legion" of Autobots had already colonized Antilla ''at [[MSTF|the dawn of time]]''. That's a pretty ambitious timetable!
* Apparently, the Decepticons' entire hope of victory relied on Menasor being able to destroy the Statue of Liberty with the Lightning Bug, and not Menasor's own tendency to smash everything he looks at.
* Perceptor didn't keep a ''single drop'' of Corrostop? Not even a laboratory sample? Not even inside the tanks of the spray hoses used to coat the Statue of Liberty?
* Despite its seemingly great potential for all sorts of useful purposes (or mischief, as the Decepticons are well aware of its existence), the Matter Duplicator is never seen again.

===Transformers references===
* References

===Real-world references===
* Teletraan 1 calls the fallen Autobot civilization the "13th Legion- the Lost Legion." This could be a reference to the Lost Tribe of Israel, which was also the 13th Tribe.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* Megatron coughs while infected with Cosmic Rust, despite [[Humanizing#Coughing|not having lungs]].
* One wonders if the reason that the Decepticons haven't yet won the war is that Megatron himself is an enormous pansy. One little chunk of asteroid embedded in his shoulder has him throwing a fit about how terribly wounded he is.
* For some reason, Megatron would rather trust Starscream to give him medical attention than, say, ''anyone else on base''.

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

War Dawn (episode)

2008-05-08T00:27:12Z

72.146.134.249: /* Continuity Errors */

[[Image:WarDawn_title.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Masterpiece Megatron and Smallest Optimus Prime face off.]]

{{episodenav|g1|season=2|43|prev=Aerial Assault|next=Trans-Europe Express}}
{{episodenav|SRLFtoon|60|prev=B.O.T. (episode)|next=Masquerade}}

'''Trapped in Cybertron's past, the Aerialbots learn the truth about Megatron and the rise of Optimus Prime.'''

*'''Japanese title:''' "Caused War"

==Detailed synopsis==
[[Image:WarDawn_Silverboltairways.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Do yourself a favor; don't fly coach on Autobot Airways.]]

[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] are racing through the skies with the [[Aerialbots]] in hot pursuit. They have kidnapped human dignitaries for unknown, but certainly nefarious, purposes. The Aerialbots are debating amongst themselves in pretty stark terms if humans are worth saving. After they out maneuver the Decepticons, Starscream dumps the hostages in mid-air. He and the others escape as the Aerialbots break off to save the humans.

Back at Autobot HQ, the Aerialbots talk amongst themselves about their admiration of the Seekers, to the ire of the other Autobots. Teletraan 1 breaks in before the argument gets out of hand and alerts Optimus Prime to strange energy readings emanating from Cybertron. They board Omega Supreme and head into the stratosphere to investigate.

Under the ocean, Megatron gripes about the Aerialbots and losing air supremacy. Soundwave reports in that the Autobots have left earth, and Megatron goes after them across the space bridge. On Cybertron, Megatron explains that he has a time machine called a [[Chronosphere]] that he planned on using to steal energy from the past. Now, he wants to set a trap for the Aerialbots and send them back into the past.

[[Image:Slingshot war dawn 1.jpg|thumb|right|170px|As tradition dictates, Slingshot and Starscream greet one another by pulling each other's finger.]]

The Autobots arrive on a dark and dingy Cybertron, and are attacked by Starscream and the others. Slingshot tries to get the Decepticons to stop attacking and talk to them. Starscream and the others drop down for a chat while Silverbolt frets. After gaining their trust, Screamer leads them right onto Megatron's Chronosphere. Silverbolt tries to warn them that it's a trap but it's too late. Megatron activates the device, intending to send them back to the beginning of time. The Aerialbots are encased in a purple bubble and disappear.

Seconds later, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots ram through the wall of the building and attack. Prime shoots the machine in order to stop it from trapping the Aerialbots in the past. The Decepticons retreat and Optimus orders the machine repaired. He estimates it has sent the Aerialbots 9 million years into the past to Cybertron's [[Golden Age]].

[[Image:OrionPax_Ariel.jpg|left|thumbnail|"Hi, I'm Machobot... who are you?"]]

The bubble bursts and the five planes reappear on Cybertron, but a different world than the one they left. This Cybertron is bright and alive. The Aerialbots admire the scenery and argue about whose fault it was that the planet was trashed. Slingshot isn't ready to blame the Decepticons and says they are misunderstood. They are interrupted by a small ‘bot who introduces himself as [[Orion Pax]]. He works at the docks unloading energy shipments. Orion's friend [[Dion]] and girlfriend [[Ariel]] introduce themselves too. Dion alerts them to come outside and see the new type of flying robot that everyone is talking about. The Aerialbots go out and see Megatron, Soundwave and Shockwave flying overheard. Orion and Dion admire the flying robots, and Silverbolt warns them away from their hero worship. But does anybody listen to him? Nooooo.

After Orion goes back to work unloading ships, he is approached by a visitor who introduces himself as Megatron. Orion shows him around but when they reach the energy storehouse Megatron orders the Decepticons concealed outside to attack. When Orion tries to stop him, Megatron mercilessly shoots him and his two friends. The Aerialbots arrive after the battle to find the three Autobots inoperative.

Back in the present, Megatron is planning a counterattack to regain the Chronosphere. In nearby wreckage, Shockwave spots the body of a Guardian Robot, sans head, and Megatron plans to reactivate it. Meanwhile, Optimus, Wheeljack, Ironhide and Ratchet are still trying to repair the device.

[[Image:WarDawn_Prime_killingmachine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hot lead is the right of all sentient beings!]]

In the past, the Aerialbots are carrying Orion's lifeless body to someone who can help. Slingshot is singing a very different tune now; he swears revenge on Megatron. A [[Alpha Trion (G1)|mustached figure]] from a doorway calls to them and suggests they go someplace else for help. Decepticon attacks have caused severe casualties among the Autobots. After the Aerialbots ask again, he agrees to fix Orion. After an unknown amount of time, the stranger emerges with a rebuilt Orion Pax, now going by the name Optimus Prime. Prime and the Aerialbots rush off to join the battle, while the stranger muses about rebuilding Ariel into a female warrior named [[Elita One]].

Just as the tide of battle is turning in the Decepticons' favor, Megatron is confronted by Optimus Prime, who takes out the entire Decepticon front line by himself. Meanwhile, the Aerialbots have returned to the docks to find the Decepticons raiding the energy stores.

Flashing to the present, the time machine has been fixed, but Megatron and the Decepticons attack. To further complicate things, they let loose the Guardian Robot against the Autobots.

Back in the past, the Aerialbots set charges to blow up the storehouse in order to keep the energy out of Megatron's hands. Unfortunately, they are trapped inside because Decepticon warriors are blocking the exits. Silverbolt orders Slingshot to blow up the storehouse anyway. Just as the charges go off, the Chronosphere scoops them up and brings them back to the present. They merge into [[Superion]] and take out the Guardian Robot. Megatron retreats and an enraged Slingshot yells after him.

As they head back to Omega Supreme, Silverbolt describes their adventures in the past, and Optimus finally recognizes the Aerialbots as the ones who saved him. Ratchet demands to know what's going on and Optimus starts to tell the tale.

{{-}}

==Stats==
'''Original airdate:''' December 25th, 1985

'''Production number:''' 700-58

'''Written by:''' [[David Wise]]

===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:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (4)
* [[Slingshot]] (5)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
* [[Skydive (G1)|Skydive]] (8)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (13)
* [[Orion Pax]] (16)
* [[Dion]] (17)
* [[Ariel]] (18)
* [[Alpha Trion]] (20)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (21)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (2)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (14)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (15)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (19)

|}

==Notable quotes==
"There's only one way to get those Aerialbots off our tails and that's to dump the chumps.”
:—'''Starscream''' right before he dumps the chumps, er, humans.

"Are those guys crazy?" 
"Crazy or even dumber than I first suspected." 
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Starscream''' talking about the Aerialbots who stopped fighting and want to "talk" to the Seekers.

'''Starscream''': "Okay ''buddies'', we'll talk. What do you want to know?" 
'''Slingshot''': "I want to know why Optimus Prime thinks you're evil." 
'''Starscream''': "That old rust bucket doesn't know a thing about Decepticons. Stick with me. I'll teach you some things about the Decepticons, all right." 
'''Silverbolt''': "I don't believe this!"
:—'''Starscream''' prepares to school the '''Aerialbots'''.

“Those little twerps. They're tryin' to switch sides!”
:—'''Ironhide''' comments on the dubious loyalty of the Aerialbots.

"A warrior doesn't need a head, just a good strong body." 
:—'''Megatron''', commenting on the damaged Guardian robot that is about to be reprogrammed to serve the Deceptions.

"You may not recognize him, for he is no longer Orion Pax. He is the first of our new defenders... Optimus Prime." 
"I was wrong, my friends. I admired Megatron merely because he was powerful. I failed to see how he used that power."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' introducing '''Optimus Prime'''.

'''Optimus Prime:''' "You've caused enough destruction for one day, Megatron!" 
'''Megatron:''' "I haven't even ''started!''" 
(Megatron fires several shots at Optimus Prime, all of which bounce off harmlessly) 
'''Megatron:''' (shocked) "You, who are you?!" 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "Your worst nightmare!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' confront each other for the first time.

"It all began about nine million years ago..." 
"Oh, great! This is going to be one of those ''long'' stories!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''', after the latter demands to know what's going on.

==Other notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*The air battle at the beginning of the episode is filled with errors: Firstly, Slingshot is coloured like Air Raid when Skywarp is bearing down upon him. Moments later, Sky Dive fires purple lasers at Skywarp. Moments after ''that'', black panels on Thundercracker's hull are mis-aligned. Finally, Slingshot's cockpit is unpainted, as is Starscream's chest.
*While Megatron berates the Seekers for allowing the Aerialbots to defeat them, Starscream's lower right arm is coloured red.
*When Ariel is shot by Megatron, her cel is not properly aligned with the background, so one of her legs floats over the energon cubes.
*Ariel is shown with the Aerialbots running to find her own body.
*Air Raid explains to Fireflight why Megatron wouldn't recognize them 9 million years in the past, and Fireflight says, “Huh?” but the scene cuts to a close up of Air Raid so it looks like he's saying it instead. Huh?

===Continuity Errors===
* It is unclear why the Aerialbots (bar Silverbolt) are so impressed by the Seekers considering the ease with which the Decepticons were defeated.
*Optimus Prime somehow knows exactly what the Chronosphere is doing despite the fact he was out of earshot when Megatron said it.

===Transformers References===
*This takes place "a few weeks" after "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]", according to Optimus Prime.

===Real-World References===
*Reference

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*This episode introduces a lot of major mythological elements from the ''Generation 1'' cartoon, including the origin of Optimus Prime and [[Elita One]] and showing the start of the [[Great War|Third Great War]].

*In a interview, writer David Wise says that the meeting between Orion Pax and Megatron happened differently in the original version of the script. Megatron was to blast Orion's arm off and then use it to decapitate him. Sunbow, fearing the scene was too violent, had it changed.

*For whatever reason, [[John Stephenson]] wasn't in this episode and thus [[Thundercracker]] had a different voice.

*It's been speculated that Dion was also rebuilt and reformatted by Alpha Trion, but there is much [[fandom]] debate on who he was rebuilt into, with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] being the two most popular suspects.

*This episode is one of the two episodes before the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] featuring a [[Female Transformers|female Transformer]].

*Footage from this episode was used to represent a historical video in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", the opening movie for ''[[Transformers Animated]]''.

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

[[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>