MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Space bridge

2007-06-18T18:17:48Z

74.96.16.133: vandalism

The '''space bridge''' appears in several Transformer continuities. The exact properties of the space bridge are erotic, but typically they serve as a more convienient means moving Transformers from one planet to another than the traditional means of space travel.

[[Image:SpaceBridgeCartoon1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Flower of doom!]]

Space bridges are nonetheless distinct from Transwarp in that their primary function is movement through space, not time, though the time taken to traverse a space bridge seems to depend on the technology used.

==Generation 1 Cartoon==
The space bridge was apparently first conceived by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in 1984, as a means of transport back to Cybertron for the Decepticons stranded on Earth, and to allow them to ferry [[energon cube]]s to revitalize the planet. Capable of virtually instantaneous transport to other galaxies, the mechanics of the space bridge are not particularly clear, but appear to either involve some form of interdimensional displacement, or matter-energy transformation.

The Cybertronic end of the space bridge is a fixture in Shockwave's command centre, where it takes the form of a cylindrical tube resembling an Earthen elevator, the top of which projects outside of the centre's dome; it is through this open end that transportees enter or depart. The Earth-based end of the space bridge is decidedly more flexible - the Decepticons frequently constructed new space bridges in various locations, normally in the form of a large metal rings. Early Earth-built space bridge access points proved somewhat unstable, and required the use of a small vehicle to safely transport any cargo, which rolled into the ring on a train-track-like structure and then had to be piloted along a "beam of light" with particular concentration. Some Decepticons displayed pronounced horror at being chosen for this unenviable task, and in the very first practice run of the mechanism, the villains opted to use the captive [[Spike Witwicky]], rather than risk any of their number. Megatron, however, soon proved able to traverse the bridge without a craft. In these early uses of the space bridge, the dimensional portal could only remain open and stable for a maximum of 11 minutes.

The space bridge technology was taken to its ultimate extent when the Decepticons constructed three colossal pylons that would generate a "space pyramid," the apex of which extended to Cybertron's location in another galaxy. Using this, Cybertron was transported into Earth's orbit for a brief period, but was later blasted off into space to save the planet. Notably, after this event, space bridge travel seemed much safer, with transportees and energon cubes only having to be placed within the ring to be transported, with no vehicle needed - as Cybertron was now within the Milky Way, perhaps the reduced distance between it and Earth could account for the increased safety of transit. The process could, however, still go wrong, as it did when the Decepticons attempted to convert a baseball field into a new space bridge site, and a malfunction blasted a small group of Transformers to an alien world of giants. The space bridge was also used for planetary transportation once more when the [[Combaticon]] [[Onslaught]] wired his missile guidance systems into it and used its powers to redirect the orbit of Earth, intending to send it spiralling into the sun, only to be stopped by an Autobot-Decepticon team-up.

The space bridge fell into disuse when the Autobots reclaimed Cybertron in 2005, and throughout 2006, both they and the Decepticons were shown to rely on more mundane means of space travel (shuttles, self-propelled flight) in addition to space bridge-like devices called "[[warp gate]]s" located throughout space.

===Headmasters===

By the year 2011, the Autobots had studied and duplicated the space bridge technology for their own use. They developed their own space bridge network, allowing transport between Cybertron, Earth and the planet [[Athenia]], with fixed space bridge receptors in each base (the transport beam was, of course, now the traditional Autobot orange, as opposed to the Decepticons' iconic purple). They did not, however, destroy the original Decepticon space bridge, as the Decepticons were unable to use it to travel to the planet due to Vector Sigma maintaining an Autobot balance of power. This proved to be a mistake, however, when the [[Matrix]]'s energy was released in 2010 to cure the [[Hate Plague]]; this caused Vector Sigma to become destabilised, and the Decepticons were able to exploit this to use the space bridge to invade Cybertron.

When [[Mars]] was destroyed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], the gravimetric balance of the solar system was disrupted, making space bridge travel to Earth unstable. This soon ceased to be an issue, however, when the Decepticons headed off on an interplanetary energy raid; in order to slow the Autobots down, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] destroyed the Earth-based space bridge, causing a chain reaction that detonated the entire network.

''('''Note:''' The destruction of the space bridge left the only means to travel to Earth as the [[Trainbot]]s and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]]. After the ''Headmasters'' series, this reduced ability to travel to Earth is one of the reasons for the heavy human involvement in the following series, ''[[Masterforce]]'', since Transformers are mostly unable to join the battle on Earth themselves.''

==Marvel Comics==
''(Note: Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.)''
[[Image:Spacebridgemarvelcomic.jpg|right|thumb|Get it? Space "bridge"? Ahahaha.]]
The space bridge was built by [[Straxus|Lord Straxus]]' Cybertronic Decepticons, in response to the discovery that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s lost group of Decepticons was alive and had set up operations on Earth. The bridge, which resembles a normal Earthen suspension bridge when not in use, has two halves; one which which remains stationary on Cybertron, and another which teleports to Earth. Passing through the bridge's central arch transports objects across vast distances, instantly and painlessly. Although a properly functioning space Bridge is a far more pleasant mode of transportation than the more fuel-efficient Autobot version, the [[Trans-Time Dimensional Portal]], an improperly calibrated space bridge will annihilate any object or being who attempts to pass through its arch. Lord Straxus illustrated this fact when [[Blaster]] sent him over the edge during transit.

The original space bridge was built from the vast body of [[Spanner (G1)|Spanner]], a neutral scientist who had been captured by Straxus's forces and forced to design the Bridge. ''After the space bridge was almost completely destroyed, a new Bridge was built to replace it.''

==Robots in Disguise==
In the [[Robots in Disguise]] cartoon, the Autobots used a complex network of hidden tunnels, bridges, and most notably, [[transwarp]] portals to travel to any location on Earth in a matter of minutes. This was called the '''Global Space Bridge''' in the English dub, and the '''Cybertron Network''' in Japan.

It was based off the [[Autobot Road]] from the original ''Fight! Super Robot Life Transformer'' manga.

==Dreamwave Generation 1 Comics==

==Unicron Trilogy==
Space bridges are the main mode of traveling in the Unicron Trilogy. Unlike their Generation 1 counterparts, they do not appear to need use of a fixed device at both ends.

They appear to change in variation from series to series, although this is likely simply due to art direction. In [[Armada]], the Transformers are 'stretched' into warp gates, while in [[Energon]] and [[Cybertron]], space bridges tend to appear as large holes in the sky that may or may not have a clear ramp leading into it.

{{stub}}

[[Category: Technology]]
[[Category: Generation 1]]
[[Category: Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category: Energon]]
[[Category: Cybertron]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Dark Glass

2007-01-13T00:41:20Z

74.96.16.133: spelling

'''Dark Glass''' was an unproduced episode planned for [[Beast Wars (television series)|''Beast Wars'']]' third season, written by [[Christy Marx]].

==Episode outline==
On [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/17d53fa556c3ac7c?dmode=source&hl=en February 17, 1999], [[Larry DiTillio]] gave the following plot summary:

:''"[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] salvages a computer bank from the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]] and in its circuits he and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] find the core consciousness of the old [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]. (You will recall Dinobot downloaded this in a previous episode.) Rattrap gets obsessed with the idea that he can restore the old Dinobot by getting it into the [[Dinobot II (BW)|new Dinobot]]'s systems. Rhinox tells him this will probably not work, as core consciousness without a spark is only an illusion of the person to whom it belonged. And if it didn't work, it just might give the new Dinobot all the old Dinobot's datatrax on the Maximals which could give the Preds an advantage. [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus]] thus forbids the attempt. But Rattrap defies this order, sneaks out and at much risk to himself, does manage to get the core consciousness in place. For a moment the old Dinobot does seem to emerge but, as Rhinox warned, he is only a shadow of his former self and must do everything he can to keep the new Dinobot from regaining control of his body, a weird mental struggle which would have been fun to animate. The old Dinobot knows he is doomed to lose this struggle and tries to 'sacrifice' himself again by infilitrating the Preds and taking out [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] before he can complete his master plan to destroy the [[Autobot]]s. It doesn't work and the New Dinobot regains control of his body only to be blasted by Megatron. Rattrap comes to accept that his old pal is truly dead and realizes he cannot bring him back. However he honors his friend's memory."''

==Details of rejection==
Claster, the series distributor, rejected the episode reportedly (through Jon Hartman) because the story did not have enough action [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/4d506e88c7db00b1?dmode=source]). It has been widely rumored that the episode was rejected for being "too dark". While this may be true, it is also entirely unsubstantiated. The episode got at least a complete first draft script [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/262d0cde3eb0838e?dmode=source], but was rejected long before any animation or voice recordings would have been done.

==Story significance==
Fans have extrapolated that this episode would have explained Dinobot's re-emerged personality in the show's final episode, "[[Nemesis, Part 2]]."

In that episode, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], whose [[spark]] powered the TransMetal II clone of Dinobot, was killed, and his spark extinguished. At the same time, Dinobot II seemed to suddenly remember the last moments of the original Dinobot, and his behavior changed drastically -- speaking of honor, he defied [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and essentially switched sides. (Before dying again.)

These events are difficult to explain, perhaps especially so without "Dark Glass". The Dinobot II body was a clone of the original Dinobot, but did not (as far as we know) possess his core conciousness, memories, engrams, etc.. Rather, Dinobot II seems to have been a shell program written by Megatron running on top of a fragment of Rampage's spark. In this case, it is unclear why, in the absence of Rampage's spark, Dinobot II would suddenly act more like Dinobot I. However, if the events of "Dark Glass" are taken to have occured off-camera, it becomes easier to understand -- two shell programs and a spark all fighting for dominance over a single body. With the spark gone, the Dinobot I shell may have had an opportunity to take over.

On the other hand, even with "Dark Glass" the picture is incomplete. Dinobot saw visions of the original Dinobot's last moments, his battle with the Predacons in the rift valley at the end of "[[Code of Hero]]". These memories could not have been part of the download Dinobot made into the Axalon's computer earlier in the season. For them to surface within him, they must have either been added to the [[datatrax]] he was programmed with (by either Megatron or Rattrap), or they must have come from Dinobot's own spark, if that spark somehow left the [[Allspark (dimension)|Allspark]] and inhabited the cloned body when Rampage's spark departed. All three of these possibilities have their share of implausibility, so it is up to each fan to pick an interpretation that they like to include in their [[personal canon]].

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