MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Autobot

2010-06-14T03:28:13Z

74.245.67.123: /* Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ttautobot|sgAutobot|autobotfilm}}
{{disambig2|the faction|Generation 2 watch-Autobot|Autobot (G2)}}
[[Image:Autobot symbol.png|right|250px|thumb|If you don't recognize this symbol, what the heck are you doing here?]]

{{quote|[['Til all are one]].|Autobot rally cry|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

The '''Autobots''' are one of the primary factions in the [[Transformer]]s mythos. They usually find themselves defending both their own race and other species against the [[Decepticon]]s and upholding justice and freedom throughout the galaxy.

They are considered "the good guys" in most, but not in [[Shattered Glass (franchise)|all]] Transformers stories.

A generally heroic, honorable group, they tend to be dedicated to peace, and feel a need to protect other races from the Decepticons. As a result, they are usually Transformers who change into non-combat oriented alternate modes such as domestic vehicles, cars, trucks, or rescue vehicles. This is not ''always'' the case, however, as their ranks certainly contain ne'er-do-wells, malcontents, and unsavory types, and the necessities of war have led many to adopt more combat-oriented alternate forms. While the Autobots have usually found themselves outnumbered by the Decepticons, the Autobots have always had home-field advantage, having not only the humans' military support, but also having more places on Earth to fall back on, while the Decepticons are entirely unwelcome on Earth.

Key concepts that repeat throughout most continuities are the use of the name [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] (or a variation thereof) to denote Autobot leadership, and the existence of an artifact of great life-giving power, usually referred to as a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]", traditionally held by their leader.

The collective noun for Autobots (like ''pride of lions'', ''murder of crows'', or ''bewilderment of Architects'') is an "exaltation."<ref><tt>...more dangerous than an exaltation of Autobots.</tt> — [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]] (2009) p 101</ref>

:''Japanese name:'' '''Cybertron''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron'')
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Autobotok'''
:''Italian name:'' '''Autorobot'''
:''Polish name:'' '''Autoboty'''
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comic):'' '''Autobóticos'''
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comic):'' '''Optimus'''

==Generation 1 / Beast Era==
===Marvel comics continuity===
====Generation 1 comics====
[[Image:Primag2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The birth of Prima, the first Autobot. Just before Primus went around handing out cigars.]]
In the beginning [[Primus]] created the Transformers, a race of living robots that could change their bodies into the likeness of weapons, vehicles, and machinery, and all Transformers were Autobots, and he saw that they were good. The Autobot symbol (or [[Autobrand]] as it is sometimes called) was based on the face of the [[Last Autobot]], the sleeping guardian Primus left for the day when his plans came to fruition.

At first Autobot numbers were small (a mere [[Thirteen original Transformers|13]] began things), but through [[Reproduction|budding]] they expanded their race to fill the planet. When the correct level of population was reached, a mechanism triggered and memory of the process was wiped from the Transformers minds. At some point in these early days Unicron was able to reach through the mental link he shared with Primus and sow the seeds of corruption in a few Autobots, though this dark cult of Unicron would not bear fruit for a long time.

Eons passed in relative peace. Autobot society formed its own traditions, institutions, city-states and politics. From a human perspective this society resembled that of ancient Rome. [[Senate|Senators]] and [[Emirates]] governed wisely or corruptly, priests worshipped Primus and passed his holy Matrix to the chosen bearer (the lineage: [[Prima]] to [[Prime Nova]], Prime Nova to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]), gladiatorial games were held for sport and entertainment, and above it all the [[Overlord (rank)|Overlords]] ruled.

It was only with the advent of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] at the end of the [[Golden Age]], coinciding with the death of the last hereditary Overlord, and the subsequent rise of the Decepticons, that the words "Autobot" and "Transformer" ceased being necessary synonyms and the population was divided by war.

[[Image:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Optimus Prime appears to turn the tide.]]
In the early days of the war the Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticon war machine. They fell back again and again and for a while it looked like the war would be quickly lost... and then a young warrior rose from their ranks and rallied the troops to fight back. He made his reputation by denying Megatron access to the [[Underbase]], soon rose to command the Autobots' elite air corps, and then, at last, was granted full command of all Autobot armies. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] had turned the tide, and under his leadership the Autobots fought back until Megatron's war machine was stalled out and stalemated.

The war ground on until Autobot scientists detected that their planet's path was going to pass through a deadly asteroid belt. Putting the planet-wide conflict aside for the moment they turned their attention to planetary salvation and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] was built.

[[Image:Autobotline.gif|left|400px|thumb|And now, shadow puppet theatre.]]
Optimus and a crew of his best soldiers took the Ark into space and cleared a path for the planet through the asteroid field. Unfortunately with their power depleted from that Herculean task they were then ambushed by Megatron and his Decepticons. The crews of both ships were lost to history.

Without Megatron or Prime the pace of the war slowed considerably. Still, fighting continued and both sides dug in for a long bitter struggle. In Prime’s absence [[Emirate Xaaron]] led the Autobot forces in their struggle to retake their homeworld.

[[Image:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ]]

The next four million years passed quickly (as it is wont to do) and without any major alteration (only a general degradation) of the situation. Finally news came to Cybertron: Optimus Prime and his forces lived! Yet this news came at a steep price, as it meant a new front had opened in the war. Optimus Prime and his forces fought the Decepticons on the distant world of Earth, while Xaaron, his [[Wrecker]]s, and others carried on the war for Cybertron.

Despite Prime's dedication to protecting Earth, Autobot/Human relations were not good. Humanity viewed all Transformers as threats and attacked any they discovered regardless of faction. Industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock]] tried to inform the public that there were two factions, with the Autobots being the benign faction, but the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]], the government agency tasked with countering the Transformers, was either unable or unwilling to distinguish between factions.

Not long after his survival was discovered, tragedy struck and Optimus Prime was killed on Earth. The Dinobot commander [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] took on the leadership of Prime's soldiers, though he favored the abandonment of Earth and a renewed focus on Cybertron.

At roughly the same time, the great Autobot warrior [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] reached an important decision. He was tired of the war and if he could not end it he would leave it behind. Gathering a large following of likeminded warriors he left Cybertron for the world of Nebulos in hopes of a new and peaceful life. This was not to be. Decepticons followed Maximus and opened a third front to the war. In the end both factions abandoned Nebulos and Maximus led them to Earth to unite with the forces under Optimus Prime.

[[Image:LastAutobot.jpg|left|150px|thumb|From Prima to Last Autobot, we come full circle. You may close your notebooks.]]
However, when they arrived they discovered Prime dead and Grimlock less than welcoming. Grimlock and Maximus attempted to establish a single Autobot leader with trial by combat, but were interrupted by a devastating Decepticon attack. The upside of it all was that they ended up putting their differences aside and Optimus Prime was soon reborn to take up leadership of the Earth-based forces once again.

Not long after, a dimensional transporter accident led to the rediscovery and accidental disturbance of Primus deep in the center of Cybertron. The Autobots learned that their ancient myths about Primus were the truth, and Unicron was now coming for them. Since the Creation Matrix had been lost and corrupted, Optimus Prime offered the Autobots' unconditional surrender to the Decepticons in the hopes that this would lead the two factions to stand together against the coming threat. It did, and the Matrix was retrieved and purified in time to stop Unicron. Both Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron were killed in the battle, and Grimlock ascended to Autobot leadership again, this time over all Autobots.

The alliance with the Decepticons would be short lived. Cybertron appeared to be destroying itself and the Decepticons betrayed the Autobots, leaving them to die with their world. Grimlock’s leadership led to the Autobots escaping that trap, and walking right into a different one. Oops. Thankfully, the awakening of the Last Autobot saved Cybertron and led to the rebirth of Optimus Prime, who reclaimed Autobot leadership and beat the Decepticons once and for all.

''(From this point both the Marvel Generation 2 and the Fun Publication's Classics comics continue the story in separate and mutually exclusive directions.)''

====Generation 2 comic====
The war finally over, most of the Autobots retired to the revived and prosperous Cybertron. It wasn't to last. Grimlock led a crew of Autobots not ready to take a vacation and put their feet up to try and track down any remaining Decepticon trouble. They found more than they could imagine as they discovered a vast and militant Empire constructed across the stars by Decepticons who left Cybertron long ago.

At the same time, Megatron reared his head again on Earth and soon the surviving Decepticons from the end of the war joined him, intent on restarting the war on Earth. It was not long before Decepticons and Autobots were teamed up against the forces of the Cybertronian Empire. Though this new conflict never touched the revived Cybertron, Earth was devastated by it. The Bot/Con alliance won, but how long this new alliance would last and what [[Liege Maximo|new threats]] awaited remained a question.

====Classics====
{{note|''Classics'' takes place in a [[splinter timeline]] of the Marvel continuity, ignoring ''Generation Two'' and Marvel UK "future" stories}}

{{stub}}

===Generation 1 cartoon===
[[Image:Aubotot gladiator.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A Quint slave robot who would later become Autobot leader and bearer of the Matrix: [[U-Haul Robot]] lived in the era before cool names were invented.]]
The Autobots originated as non-living machines, specifically the [[Quintesson]]s' domestic slave robot line. The Autobot symbol was in fact the original Quintesson slave brand. They generally have blue glowing optics. ''(Though the series did not always abide by it, there was some attempt to establish the fact that Autobots could not fly unaided in robot mode while the Decepticons generally could).''

Having achieved sentience and emotion against their creator's expectations, they rebelled and together with the Quintessons' military hardware (the future Decepticons) achieved freedom and kicked their masters to the curb. ''(Of note: no Decepticons are seen in the bits of the rebellion we are witness to, but it is presumed they took part nonetheless.)''

For a time peace reigned. But the military hardware grew restless and eventually declared war on their peace-loving brothers and sisters. During this dark time many ships of Autobot refugees left Cybertron to try to form peaceful colonies elsewhere in the universe.

Eventually the millitary robots were defeated when the Autobots invented the art of [[transforming]]. A new peace settled over Cybertron and what became known as the [[Golden Age]] began. This age was characterized by peace, prosperity, and an abundance of energy such that the metal of the whole planet literally glowed golden with its power. [[Guardian robot]]s patrolled the planet and helped keep the peace.

But eventually the Decepticons acquired the art of transforming as well. Megatron was born and under his leadership they rose up against the Autobots once more. U-Haul Robot was killed by Megatron and passed the Matrix of Leadership to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] who held it safe until a young robot named Orion Pax was injured in one of Megatron's raids and rebuilt by Trion into the first of a new breed of Autobots specifically designed to combat the Decepticons. Thus Optimus Prime was born and under his leadership the Decepticons were stalemated.

The war raged on and eventually drained the entire planet of its once-rich sources of energy, leaving it a damaged, burnt-out gray husk of its former self. With no other choice the Autobots constructed the Ark, designed to fly Optimus Prime and his comrades to other planets in the search for new sources of energy.

The Ark launch bay was attacked just prior to lift-off and the [[Female Autobots]] under the command of [[Elita One]] vanished in the explosions. They were presumed destroyed by both sides, but actually survived to continue underground operations against Shockwave's regime on Cybertron.

[[Image:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"Incompetent fools! There's only like seven Decepticons and fifty of us!"]]
Ambushed by the Decepticons, the Ark crashed into a nearby planet, named [[Earth]]. Crashing into a volcano, the impact rendered all the passengers, including members of both factions, into [[stasis lock]]. They were brought back online when the volcano erupted, and immediately resumed combat, this time on Earth.

The Autobots dedicated themselves to protecting Earth and its inhabitants from Megatron's forces. Their relationship with Earth's human governments and population were generally positive and mutually beneficial.

By 2005, the Decepticons had driven the Autobots from Cybertron, and they were now forced to operate out of two bases on Cybertron's moons with a reserve force at [[Autobot City]] on Earth. The Decepticons hijacked a supply shuttle, [[Battle of Autobot City|laying siege to Autobot City]]. The battle saw the deaths of many Autobots, including Optimus Prime, who in turn passed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. However, [[Unicron]] arrived and devoured the two moons. Megatron, who had been reformatted into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], stole the Matrix from Magnus, intending to use it against Unicron. Galvatron could not open the Matrix, and Unicron proceeded to attack Cybertron, decimating the Decepticon forces on the planet. However, the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] managed to take the Matrix from Galvatron, causing him to become Rodimus Prime. He opened the Matrix, causing Unicron's body to self destruct. Leaderless, the Decepticons fled the planet, and the Autobots reclaimed Cybertron.

The Autobots remained in control of Cybertron for the next few years, slowly working to revitalize their homeworld. They fairly easily fought off feints by the Quintessons and the remaining Decepticon forces. Eventually Optimus Prime was revived and resumed Autobot leadership. It wasn't until Galvatron launched an all out attack on Cybertron's [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] that the balance again threatened to tip the Decepticons' way. Thankfully it turned out all had been arranged by [[Vector Sigma]] to set in motion the repowering of Cybertron. The Decepticons were defeated, and Cybertron glowed golden with energy reborn at last.

''('''Note:''' in Japan, during [[Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]], the Cybertrons who transformed into automobiles were referred to as a subgroup of the faction called "Autobots".)''

===Beast Wars cartoon===
{{main|Maximal}}

The Autobots won the Great War, and their descendants the [[Maximal]]s succeeded them. It's unclear what happened to the Autobots, though followup series provided more clues.

===Beast Machines cartoon===
[[Image:ProwlMaybe BM.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Where's your Pax Cybertronia now?]]
When [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] subdued Cybertron's population with his [[Transformation lock virus|virus]], he extracted their sparks and used their bodies as raw materials for building [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. [[Optimus Primal]] and his team discovered a junkyard/factory with acres of these corpses, one of which very clearly bore the Autobot symbol (and an uncanny resemblance to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]). {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Also, among the [[Vehicon general]]s were the revived Great War veterans [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who may have been Autobots themselves. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

===3H comics===
Many of the great Autobot and Decepticon heroes (such as Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Soundwave, and Megatron) retired to a strange quasi-reality called [[J'nwan]]. Almost all who tried to reach J'nwan and seek their aid succumbed to madness, and the ancient heroes did not appreciate being disturbed by any survivors. However, the great figures did eventually decide to fight once more at [[Omega Point]], an event which erased much of the timeline they had come from. It's unclear whether or not J'nwan or the events regarding it remained intact.

===IDW Beast Wars comics===
The three components of the combiner [[Magnaboss]] are the Autobots [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They vanished after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, but it is said they will return in a time of great need. {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

===DW Generation 1 comic===
[[Image:AutoLitho.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Come on you bots! Do you want to live forever?!?]]
The Autobots arose as the group who sided with Sentinel Prime and the [[Council of Ancients]] and opposed Megatron's desire for the conquest of Cybertron, but their inexperience with warfare led to a serious tactical disadvantage. Sentinel Prime led the war effort for half a million years, until Megatron killed him in combat, hoping to secure the Matrix from him. Sentinel's successor, Optimus Prime, originally decided to evacuate Cybertron, fearing that, even if the Autobots won, Cybertron would be a wasteland. However, a subsequent encounter between Optimus Prime and Megatron, where he learned of the planetary engines the Decepticon leader hoped to power with the Matrix, convinced Prime to remain on Cybertron. {{storylink|The War Within}}

Later, Optimus Prime and Megatron disappeared in a space bridge explosion. Without strong leadership, both sides degenerated into factions. The [[Wrecker]]s and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] broke off from the main Autobot army, which was led by Prowl {{storylink|The War Within: The Dark Ages}}. After [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took control of the Autobots, he reunified the factions, and manage to negotiate a cease-fire with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] Decepticons and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s. However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] made a last ditch assault, and Megatron suddenly returned leading the [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones created by the Quintessons. Megatron managed to conquer Cybertron, forcing most of the Autobots into slavery and the escapees into hiding. The period of Autobot enslavement ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were destroyed. ''We don't know how.'' {{storylink|War Within: The Age of Wrath|The War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Four million years before humans arose, Cybertron was threatened by a massive asteroid. The Autobots developed the ''Ark'' to destroy the asteroid. They were successful, but Megatron attacked with the ''Nemesis''. Both ships crashed on Earth, with both crews aboard the ''Ark''. On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] worked to keep the Autobots from splitting up again. With energon growing scarce, Magnus agreed to work with Shockwave to create the [[Micromaster]]s, downsized Transformers intended for better fuel efficiency. Magnus also launched [[Operation: Containment]], a twofold program intended to prevent the Decepticons from threatening other planets and locating the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Micromasters}} However, with the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was the first to be reactivated, and made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an Autobot High Council as a legislature.

On Earth, the Autobots on the ''Ark'' awoke in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, and seeing that a sentient species had evolved around them, the Autobots resolved to defend Earth from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots were largely successful at preventing a Decepticon conquest, while also befriending the [[Witwicky]] family. Eventually, the Autobots allied with the humans and defeated the Decepticons, capturing them. However, rogue elements of the United States Military, apparently being manipulated by Shockwave, sabotaged the ''[[Ark II]]'', capturing several Autobots and most of the Decepticons, until the chief scientist, [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], went rogue and set himself up as an arms dealer. [[Robert Hallo]], the original mastermind of the conspiracy, used [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to reactivate Optimus Prime, who revived the Autobots and stopped a reactivated Megatron. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} A year later, Shockwave came to tie up loose ends and acquire the Matrix from Prime. A rebel Autobot cell managed to rescue Prime, who united the other resistance groups, and Shockwave was overthrown, bringing Cybertron under Autobot control. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===IDW Generation 1 comic===
{{ongoing}}
In somewhat of a twist from other continuities, the early Autobots in [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] universe were less noble than their counterparts from the others. Millions of years ago, the Autobots were a police force appointed by the [[senate]]. The senate grew corrupt and their Autobot enforcers were seen as little more than thugs. During the closure of an [[Energon (fuel)|energon]]-mining facility, an outspoken miner was beaten to death by an Autobot guard. This sparked a riot, causing the Autobot unit to take even more lives. Some of the surviving miners escaped the captors and went underground and joined the [[gladiatorial combat]] games. Megatron rose as the leader of the games and gathered followers to oppose the hated Autobots, who were led by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. Megatron's [[Decepticon]]s eventually defeated Prime and took over the city of [[Kaon]] and started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

Sentinel was succeeded by an unknown Autobot named Zeta Prime, who was protected from a Deception assassination attempt with Blurr's help, but was eventually killed by Megatron. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} The Autobots were then led by Optimus Prime and formed into small units to counter the Decepticon units infiltrating various planets. The two sides joined forces to combat [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and the ensuing battle rendered Cybertron uninhabitable. {{storylink|Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer}}

==Robots in Disguise==
Here, the Autobots are the main race on Cybertron, and their enemies are the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]]. The Autobots fought in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]], presumably against the Predacons. [[Vector Sigma]], the [[Allspark]], chooses which Autobot is to be granted the Matrix and thus the position of commander-in-chief.

The Autobots were already on [[Earth]] when the Predacons arrived, having taken the form of Earth vehicles to work as camouflage and established a [[Space Bridge|Global Space Bridge network]] and a central base monitoring the entire planet.

In their disguises, the Autobots integrated themselves into human society; [[Team Bullet Train]] worked as actual trains, [[X-Brawn]] was owned as a car by [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]], and Optimus Prime was working for a fire department. This continued after they went public; both [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]], for example, were shown enforcing human laws in an apparently official capacity, suggesting the Autobots had official ties to human authorities.

It's known Optimus fought the Predacons on other worlds, presumably using the same tactics as on Earth.

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Comic continuity===
====Armada====
Originally, the Autobots were not a faction, but the name of a peacekeeping organization; under the command of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], they defended [[Cyber City]]. Their headquarters was adorned with the motto "Truth - Justice - Freedom". They were unable to stop the [[Mini-Con]]-powered Decepticons from taking Cyber City, and for a million years they were reduced to a rebel organization desperately trying & failing to protect Cybertron. The reactivation of the Mini-Cons on Earth gave the Autobots an opportunity to gain Mini-Con power of their own, but eventually the Decepticons were beaten not by them, but due to the attack of [[Unicron]].

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada====
Throughout the Unicron Trilogy, the Autobots switched motives after each major conflict. At first, they were attempting to liberate smaller robots, called [[Mini-Con]]s, from the tyrannical control of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], who saw them as tools to be used and disposed of when no longer needed. The Autobots followed the Mini-Cons' ship to Earth, where they crashed and eventually continued their battle against the Decepticons (some two million years later. Geez, Megs can hold a grudge).

These two sides would unite to fight the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]], when he threatened to devour Cybertron. With Megatron sacrificing himself to save the rest of the Universe, Unicron shut down and was destroyed. The remaining Transformers united as the Autobots, following Megatron's order to assist them in rebuilding Cybertron.

====Energon====
Megatron's final orders to his troops still stood: work with the Autobots. The Decepticons maintained a degree of autonomy, still wearing the faction sigil and often taking military/defensive positions in the growing number of energon-mining colonies, but they were ultimately answerable to Optimus Prime and the Autobots. There were, of course, dissenters, most of whom were captured and imprisoned. For a decade, Autobot and Decepticon worked side-by-side in a somewhat stable truce.

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of Terrorcon drones, sent by Alpha Quintesson to steal energon ore with which to revive the now-shattered husk of Unicron. What the alien did not count on was that Megatron's spark had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader had revived himself in a new form, driven off Alpha Quintesson, and, along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, begun his new plans for conquest.

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. But having been joined to Unicron for so long apparently had given Megatron a taste of godhood; he had no more interest in amassing a galaxy-spanning army of troops. Countless Decepticons died in the resulting battles, with Megatron more than willing to sacrifice them without a thought to attain ultimate power for himself. As the "Powerlinx Battles" - as they came to be called - came to their climax, Megatron found that his actions and thoughts were being influenced and controlled by the dark spark of Unicron. Unwilling to let Unicron stand in his way, Megatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly-formed energon sun created by Primus.

====Cybertron====
Another ten years after Energon, the energon sun created by Primus was gone, collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], a giant black hole threatening to devour all of existence. In death, Unicron's power to destroy his only opposition - Primus - was greater than ever. The Autobots searched for a method of destroying the Black Hole and found a single answer; the Omega Lock, a powerful artifact linked to the Spark of Primus. With it, the Universe could be saved... or destroyed. Seeing an opportunity to rebuild existence in his own image, Megatron sought out the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys.

As the two sides battled for the Keys, the Autobots would eventually find all four and use them to revive Primus, but in doing so caused a massive earthquake that began shattering the planet around them.

Or so they thought.

Primus was emerging from Cybertron, awakened from the body he sculpted into a world for his creation. When informed of Unicron's destruction, he was infuriated to find that the universe was out of balance because of a severe lack of evil. Starscream attacked Primus' weakened form, due to the smaller robot stealing a piece of his spark and becoming an even equally huge monster, but was quickly dispatched by his creator. Defeated, Starscream flew off, leaving the Autobots to seal the Black Hole. Once this was accomplished, Galvatron attempted an escape from his fire dimension, but by combining Vector Prime's sword with the Omega Lock, the portal was sealed, and the Autobots returned home in peace.

The remaining Decepticons joined the Autobots, save for four who left Earth to start the New Decepticon Army. Their ship made it to Mars before crashing.

==Live-action film series==
[[Image:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
The Autobots (autonomous robotic organisms) are the second Cybertronian civilization, being the descendants of the early workers who served the [[Dynasty of Primes]]. Following the outbreak of the war, the Autobots became the Transformers who rallied around [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes, to prevent [[Megatron (Movie)|Protector Megatron]] from claiming the [[AllSpark (Movie)|All Spark]]. They were formed mostly from the [[Science Division]], the [[Security Force]], and what few members of the [[Defense Force]] rejected Megatron's violent ambitions. Although they fought valiantly, the Decepticons were more warlike, and they began to gain ground. In a move to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the All Spark, Prime sent it hurtling into deep space. Megatron followed, and disappeared. The Autobots then scattered among the universe, searching for the All Spark. {{storylink|Defiance}} {{storylink|Movie Prequel (2007)|Prime Directives}}

Following some twelve thousand years of searching, the Autobots encountered a stranded human vessel in space. Known as [[Ghost One]], the creatures aboard, named humans, revealed that they had developed the ship based on studies from Megatron. Recognizing that Megatron would destroy their world if he came back online, Optimus tried to send them back to Earth, but they sacrificed their lives to save Optimus from [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Already suspecting that the All Spark was on their homeworld, the Autobots made efforts to find [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

Eventually, the Autobots made their way to Earth, discovering a link to the All Spark with [[Sam Witwicky]]. The Autobot [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] came into Sam's possession, and contacted Optimus Prime. Prime came to Earth with [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to retrieve the All Spark and eliminate Megatron, fearing the Decepticon would use the Cube to raise an army from human technology. However, Starscream's retrieval team was also on Earth, having come for the All Spark. The Autobots were further hampered by [[Sector Seven]], the human agency tasked with dealing with Transformers. Eventually forming a brief truce with Sector Seven and a group of Army Rangers who had encountered [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], the Autobots fought off the Decepticons in [[Mission City]], which saw the deaths of Megatron, Blackout, [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], but Jazz was killed and the All Spark destroyed when Sam Witwicky extinguished Megatron's spark. Without a means to restore Cybertron, the Autobots decided to remain on Earth, and Optimus Prime sent a message into space for Autobots to come and protect their new home and newfound allies in humanity. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}

Over the next two years, more Autobots began making their way to Earth, such as [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Jolt (Movie)|Jolt]], [[Salvage (Movie)|Salvage]], and others, joining a human military force known as [[NEST]]. Under the classified Autobot Alien cooperation act, the Autobots entrusted the remaining All Spark shard to humanity and gave them intelligence about the Decepticons they were facing. However, the Autobots refused to share weapons technology with humanity, knowing their history internecine warfare. {{storylink|Alliance}} {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

In 2009, NEST had five encounters with the Decepticons on different continents, indicating that the Decepticons were searching for something. During a sweep of [[Shanghai]], NEST encountered [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], who caused substantial damage to the city during their attempts to escape. Although they were neutralized, Demolishor relayed a warning to Optimus Prime: "[[The Fallen]] will rise again". Following this, NEST returned to their base of operations at [[Diego Garcia]], where they relayed the warning to [[Morshower|General Morshower]] and [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]]. Having been appointed liaison by the President, Galloway concluded that the Decepticons only interest in Earth was to hunt down the Autobots. Unfortunately, Galloway also revealed both Megatron's resting place and the presence of the shard on Diego Garica. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was listening to the briefing, and directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s to raise Megatron. Meeting with his master, The Fallen, Megatron was commanded to retrieve Sam Witwicky, who had absorbed the knowledge of the AllSpark, and kill Optimus Prime, the only one who could defeat The Fallen. Optimus died helping Sam escape, and the Decepticons launched multiple attacks to have the humans turn Sam over to them. Galloway used the attacks as an excuse to have himself placed in charge of NEST and place the Autobots under guard.

Meanwhile, Sam, his girlfriend [[Mikaela Banes]], and his roommate [[Leo Spitz]] were being hidden by Bumblebee and the Twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], and with help from [[Seymour Simmons]] of Sector Seven, discovered Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who told them that the Fallen, one of the founders of the Dynasty of Primes, was looking for the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate the solar harvester, which would destroy Earth's sun and make energon. Sam was able to find the Matrix and use it to revive Optimus Prime, who, armed with the knowledge of his family and parts from the dead Jetfire, managed to destroy the harvester and kill the Fallen, saving Earth. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|In the movie it is Ratchet who provides the name "Autobot", claiming it is an abbreviation after Optimus' line, "We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron". Seeing as how Decepticons also fit this description, this may imply that "Autobot" is the species name for the Transformers. In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Autobots" for this franchise, rather than "Cybertrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/autobots.html Movie Autobots toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

==Animated==
The Autobots in the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated continuity]] won the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] with the Decepticons because of three things: the Autobot-exclusive [[space bridge]] technology, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Project Omega]], and by sending the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] into space to keep the Decepticons from getting it. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} Since then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has known peace under the rule of the [[Autobot High Council]], headed by a [[Magnus]], in this case [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]. Magnus heads the military portion of the planet's defense force, the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], which is based at [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]] ([[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] is in charge of the civilian guards, which may include the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]]). [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] is a subordinate rank answerable to the Magnus, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]], [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus]] and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm]] have been promoted to this rank. A lower officer is known as a [[Minor (rank)|Minor]]. The High Council, [[Cybertron Intelligence]] and the [[Ministry of Science]] are based at the [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]].

==Shattered Glass==
[[Image:Autobot Shattered Glass.png|right|177px|thumb|... the evil forces of the Autobots.]]
{{quote|'Til all are gone.|[[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]|[[Shattered Glass]]}}

In this universe, the Autobots are the evildoers, bent on conquering and destroying everything in their path, starting with Earth. On Cybertron, they are the dominant faction, ruled by the Prime, specifically [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Ranks are in constant flux due to their backstabbing nature. [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp rule one day. {{storylink|Shattered Glass}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[Image:Movie Autobot Screencleaner.jpg|right|106px|thumb|Just what you've always wanted.]]
*'''Autobot''' (2008)
:Released by [[TakaraTomy|Tomy Yujin]] in January 2008<ref>[http://www.gachausa.com/products/transformers.asp Tomy Yujin ''Transformers'' page]</ref>, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Autobot insignia printed on the other side.
{{-}}

====Kinnerton====
[[Image:Kinnerton Transformers Tin.jpg|right|200px|thumb|For holding all your Autobot-symbol-shaped cookies.]]
*'''Transformers Tin''' (2008)
: Confectionery and... stationary company [[Kinnerton]] produced ''Movie''-style Autobot sigil-shaped tins. It is currently unknown what these tins were used for. These tins and other Kinnerton products were available in [[Australia]].
{{-}}

====PTI Group====
*'''Transformers Treat Containers''' (2008)
:Produced as an exclusive for [[Target]] stores, these blue plastic containers were molded in the shape of the Autobot symbol. They were sold in packs of three. While not dishwasher safe, they were perfect for containing any number of small treats.
{{-}}

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]

Longarm (Movie)

2009-10-29T01:26:13Z

74.245.67.123: /* Trivia */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon|NEST}}
{{disambig3|Longarm}}
:''Longarm is an [[Autobot]] and a mass-produced drone-unit from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Longarm-gamedrone.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Stop draggin' my, stop draggin' my, stop draggin' my car arouuuund!]]
'''Longarm''' is a chummy, nice, all around guy. "It never hurts to help" is his creed, and he enjoys working on protecting, repairing, and saving. After all, that's why he's an Autobot. He's almost too nice... he just can't figure out [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] at all. To be that [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|angry]], [[Dreadwing (Movie)|mean]], [[Starscream (Movie)|treacherous]], [[Megatron (Movie)|destructive]], or [[Dropkick|emo]], it all just seems like a huge waste of energy and time. But so long as he can protect his friends, and make them smile, then he can smile right back.

There's also units of drones that convert into tow-trucks of the same name. Both the Autobot and Decepticon armies make use of these drones, which are solid, dependable fighters, and can be particularly dangerous.

==Fiction==
===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{note|The following events occur in an alternate timeline/continuity where Megatron won the battle of Mission City.}}
In an alternate reality where the Decepticons conquered Earth, Longarm was part of the Autobot reinforcements. He understandably thought they were a wee bit doomed, unsure of how they were expected to defeat the vast Decepticon legions. {{storylink|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1}} Nevertheless, he joined the others in landing on Earth, but in the battle at Savannah, Georgia, he was gunned down by the [[Swindle (Movie)|drone hordes]]. {{storylink|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4}} His unmoving body had to be removed from the Decepticon facility by Ironhide. {{storylink|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

Once repaired, he joined the other Autobots in constant defensive actions against the Decepticons, including protecting San Diego alongside Ironhide. {{storylink|Dark Spark|Dark Spark}}

When the Autobots were fully mobilized to Cybertron to secure [[Nucleon]], Longarm showed he'd developed heavy pessimism after his series of ordeals, grimly stating that it was likely the Nucleon was used up by the Decepticons and Earth was doomed. He was made pilot of [[Straxus (Movie)|the Straxus]], and found out Earth ''was'' doomed when [[Unicron]] teleported into the solar system and shot the Straxus down... {{storylink|Return to Cybertron: Part 3|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}}

After Earth was not-doomed, Longarm was briefly seen entering the Autobot ship as they were ordered off Earth. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part 1}}

===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Following the destruction of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and the [[All Spark]] in [[Mission City]], [[Sector Seven]] took custody of the inactive Longarm and [[Salvage (Movie)|Salvage]] during cleanup operations. {{Storylink|Alliance issue 1}} They were taken to a secret base in the [[Nevada]] desert. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}}

===''The Veiled Threat'' prequel novel===
{{Note|The events of ''The Veiled Threat'' take place during [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Alliance (comic)|Alliance]]'' comic.}}

{{cleanup|October 2009|Needs more detail and depth.}}

Longarm was a grizzled old veteran from Cybertron who joined the [[Earth]]-bound Autobots. He seemed to genuinely enjoy being on Earth and liked his new home, to the point of using his headlights to play with feral cats while in tow truck mode. He and [[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knock Out]] faced off against several Decepticons in South America. {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

Longarm's whereabouts during the events of [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]] are unknown.

===Toy bios===
{{notemoviebio}}
Longarm was brought to life by the [[All Spark|Allspark]] during the battle of [[Mission City]]. Just minutes old, Longarm, driven by [[Mikaela Banes]], came to the aid of [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] who was injured and lost the use of his legs. He drove Bumblebee down the streets of Mission City while Bumblebee continued the battle against the Decepticons. {{storylink|#FinalStand|Final Stand toy bio}}

==Games==
===''Battle for the Allspark'' online game===
[[Image:Longarm head.jpg|left|125px|thumb|Longarm units can be either Autobot (top) or Decepticon (bottom)]]
Longarm units have good Attack & Defense capabilities, but little on speed. The two sides' drones are differentiated by little more than the make of their noggins; Autobot versions use a facemask-with-optics model, while Decepticons have a lens-head version. {{Storylink|Battle for the Allspark}}

===''Transformers: The Game''===
Longarms are particularly dangerous foes that appear many times against both Autobot and Decepticon. They are capable of swinging the tow-arms on their backs in a wide circle, extending their wrecker-hooks, which results in a devastating slam attack that can send even the larger Transformers sprawling. Since they are also shielded against ''most'' artillery in robot mode, this attack can only be interrupted by hurling something at them.

Aside from the previously mentioned facial differences, Autobot Longarms are white with blue detailing while Decepticon versions are white with yellow detailing. {{Storylink|Transformers The Game (console)}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
[[Image:Movie_Deluxe_Longarm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Destined to be done in green and orange.]]
*'''Longarm''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''MA-15'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile

: Longarm transforms into a Ford F-350 tow truck, capable of towing another toy thanks to his hook-arm. This arm becomes a hand-held "quagma cannon" spring-loaded missile launcher in robot mode that is affixed to his right hand via a screw. The missile launcher can also be used in vehicle mode, as a notch is cut out of the front bumper, presumably for making surprise attacks (since [[Swindle (Movie)|other]] drone characters have similar weapons). There is a single, nigh-insignificant [[automorph]] feature; the emergency lights on top of the gun/tow rig are geared to fold simultaneously. This makes [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout's]] knees almost look interesting.

: Unlike all of the other "drone" toys in the line, Longarm's robot mode is totally different from the CG design developed for the game; even his head resembles neither the Autobot or Decepticon drone heads. And by "totally different," we mean "has ''[[Generation 1]]'' [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'s head." Longarm's designer, [[Alex Kubalsky]], was forced to make up his own transformation scheme and robot design since Activision's reference materials had not arrived in time. When it eventually did, he altered the chest and arms of his toy design to more closely match the game design. Obviously, he left the head alone.

:The gun is not meant to be removable, but is easily unscrewed. The loose gun won't fit on the right hand without the screw, but will peg into the left hand via the connection used to hold the gun/crane steady in vehicle mode. The figure is still capable of full transformation and the loose crane fits tightly in vehicle mode. It is however difficult to transform him while keeping the loose gun attached to his left hand.

: Longarm features a minor mis-assembly problem, in that the strut between the crane section and the hook itself is reversed. It is easily fixed by popping off the hook and turning it around, then unscrewing the crane part and flipping the strut. This allows the gun to fit together much better, as depicted on the packaging.

:This mold was redecoed into ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Hoist (Movie)|Hoist]].

[[Image:Movie TowedtoSafety toys.jpg|250px|thumb|Even if you're an Autobot, no parking means no parking.]]
*'''Towed to Safety''' (Multi-pack, UK 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Missile

: This set, available in the UK in 2007, features an unaltered Deluxe class Longarm figure and a Deluxe class 1976 Camaro [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] figure. The window box features a diorama background of the battle in [[Mission City]] that was also used in the Bumblebee Vs. [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] pack.

{{-}}
{{anchor|FinalStand}}
[[Image:Movie ScreenBattles FinalStand1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I'll shoot, you drive!]]
*'''Final Stand''' (Screen Battles, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''SB-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile

: This ''Screen Battles'' pack comes with a Longarm figure redecoed in the same paint job as the tow truck [[Mikaela Banes]] uses to tow Bumblebee to safety. The "Orson's Towing" markings have been replaced by the "Mike's Towing" markings seen on the actual truck used in the movie. Longarm's interior features a non-removable figurine of Mikaela where the driver's seat would be, plugged into one of the screw holes in the dashboard piece. The pack comes with a battle-damaged posable Bumblebee figure similar to the Robot Replicas toy.

:This set comes in a special window box featuring a diorama background of the battle in [[Mission City]].

{{-}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
*'''Autobot Strike Mission''' (Deluxe class figure multipack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Missile

:Available as a [[Sam's Club]]-[[exclusive]], Longarm was packed with ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] and a "battle damaged" version of [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]].

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
* '''Longarm''' (3D Battle Card, 2007)
**''Card number:''

: In the [[3D Battle-Card Game]], the Longarm is on the Autobot side, but features the Decepticon-style head. Pieces punched out from two different cards can be assembled to form a tow-truck or a robot, while a third double-sided card gives its stats and attacks for each mode. He uses the same piece layout as [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], just turned around in vehicle mode so the extension is in the back.

==Trivia==
[[Image:Longarm movie similar.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Do I look familiar?]]
* Longarm's vehicle mode is modeled after the tow truck [[Mikaela Banes]] uses in the movie to carry the damaged Bumblebee into battle. While the markings and paint job are similar, the truck in the film is of GMC make (specifically, an older model of Topkick, similar to Ironhide's alternate mode), while the toy is modeled on a Ford F-350.

* While the movie tow truck has "Mike's Towing" on the doors, the game model and carded release of the Deluxe-class toy have "Orson's Towing" instead, a reference to ''Transformers'' design director [[Aaron Archer]]'s old screen name "ORSON" on the [http://www.tfw2005.com TFW2005.com boards], as confirmed at a [[BotCon]] panel. The Screen Battles multi-pack version returns to "Mike's" markings, however.

*Longarm's first appearance in official fiction (or a bot matching the appearance of his toy) was actually in the second issue of the [[Interlude|Transformers Movie Prequel]] fighting in one of the flashback war scenes. Only in this brief cameo, he seemed to be a Decepticon.

*Also note that, unlike other Autobots, Longarm's eyes are orange instead of the usual blue. Does this hint at the fact that he might have changed sides from the Decepticons?

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/Longarm/longarm.htm Longarm at TFU.info]
* [http://www.wizards.com/transformers/ 3D Battle Card Game at Wizards of the Coast]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Allspark Mutations]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Drones]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Movie characters]]
[[Category:NEST]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]

Roll for It

2009-08-17T23:59:13Z

74.245.67.123: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=5
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=5
|image=FHE-RollForIt.jpg
|caption=The Pro-Matter Cube didn't prove to have much offensive use, even after you filed off the letters.
|title="Roll for It"
|production code=#700-02
|airdate=[[October 13]], 1984
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Decepticons seek a powerful antimatter formula, and the Autobots with their new human ally Chip Chase try to stop them.'''

:''Japanese title:'' メガトロンの帰還 (''Megatron no Kikan'', "The Return of Megatron")
:''German title:'' Die geheime Anti-Materie Formel (''The Secret Anti-Matter Formular'')
:''German Generation 2 title:'' Ein Held namens Chip (''A Hero called Chip'')

==Synopsis==
[[Image:RollForIt Bluestreak cannonfire.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bluestreak, we need energon stars, quick!]]

[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], still in command of the [[Decepticon]]s after [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s disappearance in the [[Space Bridge]], leads [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in attacking a hydroelectric power generator. The Autobots respond quickly, as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] arrives with an assault team. The battle is short, as a thrown piece of equipment destroys the Decepticon store of [[energon cube]]s. With little to show for their efforts, the Decepticons retreat. Optimus Prime sends [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Bluestreak]] to follow them.

[[Image:RollForIt Spacebridge recieves.jpg|right|150px|thumb|A storm approaches.]]

Meanwhile, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron resumes contact with Earth. Despite his absence, Megatron commands that their scheduled attack on an antimatter laboratory will continue as planned in five billion astroseconds. The battle-damaged [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] set out to find repair parts in the interim, to be ready for the attack, while Megatron boards the Space Bridge for transit back to Earth.

[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] drives [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]] to the isolated antimatter laboratory where Chip works. As the security guard punches the access code to let them in, his actions are carefully spied on by [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], who is perched outside in camera mode snapping shots. Inside the massive lab, Chip and Spike are greeted by [[Dr. Alcazar]], who gives Chase a 5.25-inch [[floppy disk]] that will enable Chip’s home computer to interface with the one at the lab.

[[Image:RollForIt Bumblebeeattacked.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes and no, it's Laserbeak!]]

As Bumblebee drives away, he is attacked by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. Spike directs Bumblebee to take cover in the underground parking garage. With Bumblebee having escaped, Megatron realizes Optimus Prime might be tipped off to their laboratory attack. Rather than wait for Starscream and his team, Megatron orders an immediate strike.

Bumblebee drives Chip home, where the young scientist hopes to warn the lab of the impending attack. Bumblebee tries to call in Prowl and Bluestreak as backup, but they’re tied up attacking Starscream’s group, who are raiding the Ace Aircraft Factory for parts.

Megatron's attack group arrives at the antimatter laboratory. Reflector punches in the access code, and the Decepticons march inside. Dr. Alcazar receives Chip's online warning at the last possible moment, and succeeds in erasing the antimatter formula from his computer. Megatron detects that Alcazar has uploaded the formula to someone else. He lets Alcazar go.

[[Image:RollForIt ProwlshootsRavage.jpg|right|150px|thumb|BAD KITTY!]]

In the aircraft factory, Prowl is injured by Soundwave’s blasts, and his [[battle computer]] goes offline. Desperate, Prowl scans for another online computer to hook up to. Traversing the phone lines, his signals find Chip’s computer, which has also received Dr. Alcazar’s antimatter formula. Chip assumes control of Prowl, using his desktop terminal to guide Prowl through combat maneuvers. With Chip in command, Prowl takes control of one of the surplus jets, and fires its rockets at the Decepticons. Starscream and his cohorts flee the battle.

[[Image:RollForIt FloppyDisk destruction.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Holy crap, man.]]

Megatron determines where Alcazar sent the formula, and communicates the location to Starscream and his team. Soundwave dispatches [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to retrieve Chip. Chip memorizes the antimatter formula and destroys all evidence of it just as Ravage breaks in to his house and fetches him. The Decepticons take Chip to the antimatter laboratory, where the Autobots are just arriving. Prime sees that the Decepticons have a human hostage, and begins formulating a plan involving [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. These deceptive Autobots are able to outsmart perimeter guard Rumble with their holographic ruses, allowing them and Bumblebee to sneak past.

[[Image:RollForIt SoundwavescansChip.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The All Spark. WHERE IS IT?!]]

Inside, Soundwave uses his scanning abilities to extract the formula from Chip's brain. Megatron orders Chip disposed of, and begins creating antimatter with the equipment in his lab. Just as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] moves in to terminate Chip, the infiltrating Autobots attack. Bumblebee and Spike rescue Chip, and the Autobots race away, taking Chip to safety.

Next, Optimus strikes, driving through the lab walls and unleashing his warriors. But it may be too late, as Megatron throws an antimatter-powered energon cube at the Autobots, creating a tremendous explosion.

[[Image:RollForIt Sunstreak JetJudo.jpg|left|150px|thumb|And you thought surfing the roof of a boxcar was cool.]]

Injured Autobots emerge from the devastated laboratory. Prime orders a retreat to headquarters, so that his soldiers can tend to badly needed repairs. The Autobots limp back to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], where [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] immediately get to work. Chip laments his inability to keep the antimatter formula from falling into Megatron’s hands, but [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] tries to console him. He’s got a plan for the formula, and could use Chip and Spike's help.

[[Image:RollForIt Megatron chestycubes.jpg|right|150px|thumb|[[Breastforce]] Megatron.]]

The next day, the Decepticons, powered by antimatter energon cubes, attack Autobot headquarters. Megatron turns into pistol mode, and Starscream fires his antimatter-bolstered bolts into the Autobot ranks. Prime manages to knock the pistol from Starscream's grip, and Skywarp recovers the weapon. Just then, Chip affixes a control device onto [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]’s ankle, a transmitter that enables [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to take control of the Decepticon warrior.

Under Autobot control, Skywarp begins shooting randomly into the countryside, and Megatron's antimatter ignition temperature reaches near critical. He transforms into robot mode and expels the remaining antimatter energon from his body. It detonates, devastating the Decepticon forces. Megatron orders a retreat, but swears vengeance. Meanwhile, the Autobots congratulate Chip for his heroics.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bluestreak]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (8)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (20)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (21)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (22)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (23)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (25)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (26)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (28)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (11)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (16)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (18)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Chip Chase]] (15)
*[[Doctor Alcazar]] (17)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"Can the chat and start kickin' pig-iron!"
:—'''Brawn''', heading into battle.

"Starscream! Thundercracker! You two look like Optimus Prime ran you through a laser-powered trash compactor!"
:—'''Megatron''', observing the damaged condition of his men

"Leadership my sine function."
:—'''Starscream''' after hearing Thundercracker's remark on Megatron's leadership.

"Stealing the antimatter formula is gonna be a piece of oil cake!"
:—'''Reflector''', thinking he is (they are?) clever.

"I don't like the idea of Megatron getting the antimatter formula. He can't be trusted!" 
"Sure can't, [[manifold]]-mouth!"
:—'''Starscream''' gripes and '''Bluestreak'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s potty mouth slang

"Now ''this'' is a human after my own central processor!"
:—'''Prowl''', commenting on Chip's computer-control.

"There's no one here! I must have static in my rectifiers." 
"Now that's the smartest thing you've said all day!" 
(flattered) "R-really? ...Hey, what's going on!"
:—'''Rumble''', hoodwinked by '''Mirage''' and '''Hound'''.

"Gosh! You guys look like the guests of honor at a 50-car pile-up!"
:—'''Sparkplug Witwicky''', upon seeing the battle-damaged Autobots return to base.

"I get the feeling our [[jet judo]] needs a little more work."
:—'''Sunstreaker''' to Sideswipe after their failed bid to stop the Seekers.

"You may not be an Autobot, but when you rolled for broke back there you sure could've fooled me."
:—'''Bumblebee''' congratulating Chip.

==Notes==
[[Image:RollForIt droopyDecepticonjets.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Maybe if we're lucky, Dad won't notice why we're gone!"]]
*In several scenes in this episode, all of the Transformers are drawn using different, more stylised animation models. In particular, the Decepticon jets seen near the beginning are sleeker, more detailed and have a drooping nosecone similar to ''Cybertron'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker's]] SU-35 fighter mode.

*The scene in which the guard at the laboratory greets Spike, Chip and Bumblebee is edited out of the Japanese version of the episode for time.

===Animation or technical glitches===
*Thundercracker is repeatedly depicted with Skywarp’s colors in the opening scene, or in some cases, with Starscream’s hue.
*As Soundwave prepares energon cubes, the interior of his chest-compartment is not illustrated, instead showing a solid wall of blue.
*When Soundwave runs through what appears to be a chainlink volleyball net, the net is animated as if the background art is sliding, but the background is sitting still.
*When Prime tells Bluestreak and Prowl to follow the jets, Prowl is in vehicle mode and Bluestreak is shown in robot mode, and then in the next shot, Bluestreak is in vehicle mode and Prowl is standing where Bluestreak was.
*As Soundwave escapes, Prowl transforms and gives chase, followed by Bluestreak. However, in the next shot, when Prowl knocks Soundwave over, he is drawn as Bluestreak.
*When Prowl (who was Bluestreak a second ago) transforms and drives off after the retreating Decepticons, he runs over Optimus Prime's foot. What a dick.

[[Image:RollForIt securityguardconsole.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Please enter the square root of 685."]]

*The security guard’s access panel has digits 1-9 and a variety of mathematical commands (?!), yet lacks a zero.
*When Megatron orders the attack on the laboratory, the Decepticon insignia in his chest is not shown.
*Bumblebee is drawn all sorts of ''wrong'' when the professor talks about Chip at the laboratory. For one scene, his roof chest becomes humongous, the Autobot symbol on it becomes mutilated, and his head looks squatter than usual. In the next scene ''(where he says "...and I thought you were just another pretty face")'', his forehead, nose and eyes are drawn rather oddly.
*When entering the jets' base, Prowl's and Bluestreak's Autobot insignias are not shown. When Bluestreak delivers his 'manifold-mouth' line, Prowl's mouth is also moving.
*When the Decepticons are fleeing the jets' base, Skywarp (who hasn't been shown before, except as an error replacing Thundercracker) appears besides Thundercracker and Starscream.
* After Megatron descends upon the antimatter lab and makes his declaration of ultimate power, his laugh is heard without its usual flanging, making Megatron sound like a creepy old man.
* When the jet Prowl takes a ride on fires missiles at the Decepticons, everything (inclusive of scaffolding, barrels and other jets) behind them is utterly vaporised, despite all logic dictating that there should be at least some debris.
* When we see Chip's room through the window, he has a college pennant that reads USC, an odd choice for Chip. Later, his room has two different college pennants, one with the letters SUN and another with YAL (likely Yale, with the 'e' obscured by the SUN pennant).
*The shot of Soundwave ejecting Ravage to retrieve Chip is supposed to take place outdoors, but the background art is that of the hangar interior seen earlier
*Ravage breaks through Chip's front door, taking most of a side window with him. After he opens Chip's bedroom door and absconds with the human, he leaps through the now-repaired side window, and the front door is undamaged as well.
*Soundwave’s line of dialogue, “Excellent, Ravage” is heard without its sound processing, so that [[Frank Welker]]’s “Dr. Claw” voice is quite audible.
*When Spike is shown in Bumblebee while the Autobota are on the highway, Spikes hair is blonde instead of Brown. Did he have a five-second dye job or something?
*When Megatron throws the antimatter energon cube, it is not colored in.
*When the Autobots transform after escaping from Megatron's bomb of an energon cube damage and cracks appear during the final frames.
*During the establishing shot of [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]], it is coloured grey as opposed to the usual orange.
*When the Decepticons are loading the antimatter-powered energon cubes, two Starscreams are shown (one as a jet and one as a robot).

===Continuity errors===
* When the security guard initially greets Chip, his voice is similar to Sparkplug's. When he welcomes Chip back to the lab moments later, he has a completely different voice.
* Reflector is shown watching for the password to enter the lab. If the Decepticons have an assortment of weapons, couldn't they just blast the door open? That, or the door is immune to Decepticon weapons.
*When confronted by Starscream’s raiding party, Bluestreak quips “Maybe we should have gone to help Prime after all.” It was Bumblebee who had requested help, not Prime.
*While Chip tries desperately to contact Dr. Alcazar via his computer, he never tries with the piece of equipment right next to his computer: his telephone.
*As noted above, the college pennants in Chip's room change between scenes. But why does he have pennants from three different universities?
*The security access door code is 2-9-5 when the security guard punches it and 4-7-2 when Reflector punches it in.
*Ratchet is shown as both a member of Prime’s attack group, and also waiting for them to return at the Ark.
*When the Decepticons visit Chip's house to steal the antimatter formula, Chip memorizes the code...AND RIPS A FLOPPY DISK APART WITH HIS BARE HANDS. If that doesn't seem like a tremendous feat of strength, try doing so yourself (...if you can find one...). Chip must have absolutely tremendous upper body strength.

===Transformers references===
* The Space Bridge, which first appeared in "[[Transport to Oblivion]]", reappears in this episode.
*The para-sail like parachute used by Mirage in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]" is shown again, this time used by Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.
*The Autobots' ability to fly, seen in "More than Meets The Eye", is shown again in this episode, when Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are defending the Ark.
* Cliffjumper uses the phrase “your friendly neighborhood Decepticon wreckers,” which is both a reference to [[Spider-Man]] and also the first time the phrase [[Wrecker]]s is used.

===Trivia===
*Bumblebee can reconfigure his interior to accommodate Chip’s wheelchair and turn his door into an entry ramp.

*Signage in the city includes an ad for [[Prim Cola]].

*Megatron can detect specific computer activity by placing his hand over the machine.

* The antimatter formula includes handwritten screens with the following written on them:

AH ONNAG HOSHII

DOKOKANI ee ONN

AGA ORANKNAA

KYOUMO HAYO KA

EETE NEYO

….. El HABARA

….. MOU DOUTEI

….. SUTETAKAI

….. SONOUTHI

….. TORUKO IKO

….. UZE

This appears to be a Japanese staff joke, as in English the text roughly translates:
"Ah a girl... is there a (nice) girl somewhere? Let's call it (a day) and get home quick and let's sleep. Hey Habara (a common Japanese name, certainly a staff member) did you finally dropped your virginity? Let's go to [[wikipedia:Soapland|Turkish bath]] (kind of prostitutes' salon) sometimes."

* Chip’s phone number is 94-7244. Strangely, he doesn't answer when you call him.

* The USC pennant, possibly standing for the University of Southern California, which as an institution with a reputation as a 'party school' is an odd choice for somebody as academically accomplished as Chip; it might be the University of South Carolina, although this is unlikely, as largely only people in the Carolinas call that university "USC." However, the apparent Yale pennant that appears later seems like a good fit for somebody of Chip's talent.

* The lab's computer is weird. It loads floppy disks backwards...unless the good doctor is befuddled and inserted the disk the wrong way.

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]