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Hot Shot (Armada)

2010-05-11T05:00:37Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Hot Rod''' (''Micron Densetsu''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team)
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Tűzgolyó''' ("Fireball", ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron''), '''Nagyágyú''' ("The Ultimate Battle")
:''Polish name:'' '''Piorunus''' (Thunderboltus) (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Much later, Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top.

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons.

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon (mini-comic)}}
 

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in [[Dull surprise|horror]] as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

 The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas]], drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{--}}
====''Energon''====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during the [[Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppleganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
 

====''Energon''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hotshotenergoncartoon.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon Point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[Energon Grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared— the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus: Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron''====
{{charstubfiction}}

:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero}}

At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosed by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Aferward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} Enroute to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taked out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot beliving he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Aubotos in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] insterted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denziens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}}

After Galvatron was finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to a new world, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comics===
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main Autobot Command HQ on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe''===
Hot Shot (in his ''Energon''-era body) was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' video game continuity===
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (Melbourne House)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee." His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age." The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a drivers license. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt.
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2010-05-11T05:00:06Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Hot Rod''' (''Micron Densetsu''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team)
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Tűzgolyó''' ("Fireball", ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron''), '''Nagyágyú''' ("The Ultimate Battle")
:''Polish name:'' '''Piorunus''' (Thunderboltus) (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Much later, Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top.

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons.

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon (mini-comic)}}
 

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in [[Dull_Surprise|horror]] as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

 The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas]], drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{--}}
====''Energon''====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during the [[Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppleganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
 

====''Energon''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hotshotenergoncartoon.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon Point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[Energon Grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared— the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus: Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron''====
{{charstubfiction}}

:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero}}

At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosed by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Aferward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} Enroute to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taked out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot beliving he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Aubotos in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] insterted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denziens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}}

After Galvatron was finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to a new world, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comics===
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main Autobot Command HQ on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe''===
Hot Shot (in his ''Energon''-era body) was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' video game continuity===
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (Melbourne House)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee." His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age." The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a drivers license. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt.
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2010-05-11T04:59:24Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Hot Rod''' (''Micron Densetsu''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team)
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Tűzgolyó''' ("Fireball", ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron''), '''Nagyágyú''' ("The Ultimate Battle")
:''Polish name:'' '''Piorunus''' (Thunderboltus) (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Much later, Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top.

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons.

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon (mini-comic)}}
 

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in [[Dull Surprise|horror]] as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

 The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas]], drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{--}}
====''Energon''====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during the [[Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppleganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
 

====''Energon''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hotshotenergoncartoon.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon Point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[Energon Grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared— the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus: Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron''====
{{charstubfiction}}

:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero}}

At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosed by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Aferward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} Enroute to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taked out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot beliving he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Aubotos in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] insterted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denziens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}}

After Galvatron was finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to a new world, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comics===
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main Autobot Command HQ on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe''===
Hot Shot (in his ''Energon''-era body) was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' video game continuity===
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (Melbourne House)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee." His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age." The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a drivers license. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt.
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2010-05-11T04:58:23Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Hot Rod''' (''Micron Densetsu''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team)
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Tűzgolyó''' ("Fireball", ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron''), '''Nagyágyú''' ("The Ultimate Battle")
:''Polish name:'' '''Piorunus''' (Thunderboltus) (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Much later, Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top.

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons.

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon (mini-comic)}}
 

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in [[DullSurprise|horror]] as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

 The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas]], drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{--}}
====''Energon''====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during the [[Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppleganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
 

====''Energon''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hotshotenergoncartoon.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon Point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[Energon Grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared— the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus: Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron''====
{{charstubfiction}}

:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero}}

At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosed by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Aferward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} Enroute to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taked out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot beliving he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Aubotos in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] insterted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denziens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}}

After Galvatron was finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to a new world, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comics===
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main Autobot Command HQ on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe''===
Hot Shot (in his ''Energon''-era body) was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' video game continuity===
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (Melbourne House)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee." His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age." The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a drivers license. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt.
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Hot Shot (Armada)

2010-05-11T04:57:49Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Hot Shot}}
:''Hot Shot is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Hotshotut.jpg|thumb|350px|I'm Optimus Prime's choice for successor. Scary what goes through the big guy's head, huh?]]
'''Hot Shot''' is the quintessential young hero. He's been around long enough to earn a name for himself and a place in [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime's]] entourage, but he's still too young to know when he's in over his head. In other words, he's blunt, overconfident, naïve, and more than just a little annoying, yet brave, honorable, loyal to his friends, and willing to risk his life to stop the [[Decepticon]]s and help the Autobots. With time and experience, Prime believes, he could make an excellent leader, and Prime has appointed him to his command structure accordingly. Hot Shot's got the goods, but he just needs to pay attention for more than five seconds. Until that day, Hot Shot's likely response to most anything is, "Yeah yeah, like, whatever."

Hot Shot's [[Mini-Con]] partner is [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]], though he has been known to moonlight with [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]]. Hot Shot also proclaims a love for a strange substance called [[JaAm]], but none of his Autobot peers can figure out what it is.

:''Japanese name:'' '''Hot Rod''' (''Micron Densetsu''), '''Exillion''' (''Galaxy Force''), '''Exigeyser''' (Vanguard Team)
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Tűzgolyó''' ("Fireball", ''Energon'' and ''Cybertron''), '''Nagyágyú''' ("The Ultimate Battle")
:''Polish name:'' '''Piorunus''' (Thunderboltus) (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in mini-comics===
[[Image:Hotshotarmadaminicomic.jpg|thumb|left|200px|How dumb can he be? He's fluent in three languages!]]
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] chose Hot Shot to stop a Decepticon plot to drain power from the city, but Hot Shot balked when Prime picked [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] to be his partner. After speeding off to complete the mission alone, Hot Shot found himself overwhelmed by [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and his partner [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]]. Thankfully, Jolt arrived and gave Hot Shot a hand, and Cyclonus and Crumplezone were defeated. Hot Shot had learned a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Much later, Hot Shot, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were present for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. They didn't, however, see his smile upon his capture. {{storylink|Armada (mini-comic)}}

[[Image:HotShotEnergonminicomic.jpg|thumb|200px|He's so polite.]]
After Hot Shot and [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] found a pool of [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]], they were attacked by [[Battle Ravage]]s. When the situation was bleakened further by the arrival of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]], Strongarm fashioned an [[Energon weapon]] for Hot Shot, and the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] were driven away. With the Energon secured, Hot Shot and Strongarm were relieved that they had faced a formidable foe and come out on top.

Some time after, Hot Shot was seen alongside [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] and Optimus Prime battling Scorponok and his Terrorcons.

Optimus Prime and Hot Shot (powerlinked with Inferno) found themselves alone and outmatched in a battle with Megatron, [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]]. As the Decepticons closed in on Optimus, he warned Powerlinx Hot Shot to stay away, for he was too damaged. But at the last minute, [[Wing Saber]] arrived, combined with Prime, and drove the Decepticons away! {{storylink|Energon (mini-comic)}}
 

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====''Armada''====
[[Image:Hotshotraizeyes.jpg|thumb|left|Hot Shot watches in [[DullSurprise horror]] as [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] buys the last can of [[jaAm]].]]
One million years ago, Hot Shot was a member of the Autobots, the guardians of [[Cyber City]]. Soon, news of a warlike faction called [[Decepticon]]s, led by the power-hungry [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], reached Cyber City via a dying [[Mini-Con]] Hot Shot found. The Mini-Con handed him a video disc, and with his dying breath, demanded Hot Shot take it to Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime played the disc, a distress signal from [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], head of [[Mini-Con Sector|Mini-Con village D10]], who begged the Autobots for help.

 The Decepticons themselves soon arrived in Cyber City, armed with Mini-Cons they had captured and reconfigured to bestow incredible power when [[Powerlinx]]ed. Outclassed and near total defeat, Optimus Prime called his troops into retreat, and after the majority of Mini-Cons escaped [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to parts unknown, the Autobots lost much of the planet to the Mini-Con-powered Decepticons.

[[Image:Hotshotfreecomicbookday.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot, stop stealing Jolt's gun!]]
In the present day, both the Autobots and Decepticons received a signal of the Mini-Cons' activation on the planet [[Earth]]. Hot Shot and his colleagues [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] were led by Optimus Prime to the planet, where they met the Decepticons in battle. But this time, with the help of the estranged Mini-Cons, the Autobots regained the edge they'd lost against the Decepticons one million years prior. An uneasy alliance was formed, and Hot Shot was partnered with the Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 1: First Contact|First Contact}}

When their human friends [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], and [[Alexis]] befriended a Mini-Con named [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], they soon attracted the attention of the Decepticons, and Hot Rod and the other Autobots weren't far behind. With the arrival of Megatron, however, the Autobots were quickly defeated and restrained, and the children were shocked to learn that Swindle had been working with the Decepticons all this time! Swindle found himself conflicted, as he genuinely liked the human children, and so he eventually had a small change of heart. Grabbing Hot Shot's gun, he was able to disable the Autobots' restraints, and the Decepticons retreated... though with Swindle. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[Image:Hotshotdwissue6.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Wait, Jolt attaches ''where?'']]
After their initial battles on Earth, Megatron was quick to capture the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] and forge them into the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and Red Alert against the Decepticons again, despite being at a strategic disadvantage while the Mini-Cons were missing, a point Hot Shot belabored. Thankfully, the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons arrived just in time to Powerlinx with Hot Shot and the other Autobots, fend off Megatron, and rescue the Air Defense Mini-Cons from the Decepticon leader's clutches.

[[Image:Hotshotguido.jpg|thumb|"Well, let's go!"]]
Soon, a Mini-Con beacon tower was erected in [[Tranquility, Kansas]], drawing all Earth-bound Mini-Cons to it. Hot Shot and the rest of the Autobots again met the Decepticons in battle at the location when the tower's effect was discovered. However, they were too busy fighting to notice the beacon tower blasting off toward the Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and Red Alert secreted Optimus Prime into the Decepticon base for the use of their space bridge, so that the Autobot leader could ask for reinforcements from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 2: Fortress|Fortress}}

After the Mini-Cons were evacuated from the Moon, five did not return home safely and sent a distress signal from northern Alaska. When the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]] failed to retrieve them, Hot Shot and the other Autobots arrived in full force, though they were kept in check by Cyclonus, who was suffering from a Mini-Con overdose. Though they were successful, Optimus Prime disappeared before their eyes, and when Hot Shot returned to Autobase, he found [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|another Optimus Prime]], dying, sent from a different timeline to warn of [[Unicron]]'s coming. Learning of the "real" Optimus Prime's disappearance, Megatron and his Decepticons stormed Autobase, nearly killing Smokescreen and heavily injuring Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Scavenger.

Optimus Prime was returned to them and insisted on teaming up with the Decepticons to battle the arriving Unicron. Hot Shot excused himself from this alliance, as Smokescreen's critical condition due to the Decepticons' recent attack still weighed heavily in his mind. So when Megatron stole away during the battle with Unicron to strike a deal with the Dark God, Hot Shot, Scavenger, and Red Alert ambushed him, leaving him to die as Unicron was seemingly destroyed by the [[Mini-Con Matrix]]. {{storylink|Armada (Dreamwave comic)#Volume 3: Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

{{--}}
====''Energon''====
[[Image:Hotshotironhidedw.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Sorry, Hot Shot, you've been replaced.]]
Ten years later, at the beginning of the Energon Era, Hot Shot accompanied Optimus Prime, who was skeptical and restless about the new peacetime, on his visit with the High Council in Cyber City. Prime's demands for vigilance were denied, so Hot Shot later followed him to a special [[uplink platform]] that [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] had directed them to. This trip was a first outing for the rookie Autobot [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]], who fawned over Hot Shot. Hot Shot met this with difficulty. Learning of the continued existence of [[Unicron]], {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}} Prime once again returned to the High Council, again accompanied by Hot Shot. But this time, Cyber City was attacked by [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]], [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], who were presumed dead during the [[Unicron Battles]], but in fact were transformed into [[Unicron's Four Horsemen]]. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}} The Four Horsemen overwhelmed Hot Shot and the other Autobots, and they were saved from destruction only by the timely arrival of the [[Omnicon]]s. Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, and the others were granted the [[Spark of Combination]] by [[Sig-Omega]], and thanks partly to the combined powerlinked form of Hot Shot and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], the Horsemen were deterred. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Two}}

Hot Shot, along with Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], followed Prime to Earth after the Autobots received a distress signal. They regrettably arrived four hours later than the signal was sent, and Hot Shot boggled at how much damage could have been done in that time. Indeed, [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] had caused massive devastation while chasing after a young boy named [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] who could detect [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]. The Terrorcons outclassed the Autobots upon arrival, however, and left only when their Energon-mining gear was destroyed...but not without taking Kicker. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Three}} After the Autobots reunited with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]], [[Rad White|Rad]], and [[Alexis]], Hot Shot and the Omnicon [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] were able to pursue the Terrorcons and deliver a special suit to Kicker that his father, [[Dr. Brian Jones]], had made for him. With Kicker's help, the Terrorcons were defeated and returned to Unicron. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath, Part Four}}

Hot Shot, along with Optimus Prime and Inferno, attended a public meeting with the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]] after the ratification of the [[Cybercord Treaty]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

[[Image:Hotshotomni-potent.jpg|thumb|300px|Wait, ''Hot Shot'' has wisdom?]]
After the Terrorcons attacked an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] in [[Chicago]], Hot Shot was put in charge of the unruly Omnicons and sent to [[Base Site One]] in [[Yukon Territory]]. Immediately upon arrival, Strongarm crashed into the base site's intrathermal uplink assembly and subsurface transference grid, frustrating Ironhide. This was the final straw for Hot Shot. After telling them to get lost, he was darkly amused that this was the first order he'd given that they actually followed to the letter. An hour later, Hot Shot had a change of heart, and he and Kicker left to track them down. Their search abruptly ended when [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] was dropped in their laps, defeated during the Omnicons' solo adventure. Eight days later, Hot Shot had returned to Optimus, who tasked him with protecting the Autobots' growing Energon-gathering installations on Earth. However, Prime soon disappeared into a portal, his whereabouts completely unknown. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}}

When Terrorcons orchestrated an attack on four major Earth cities, Hot Shot (leading a team consisting of [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]]) was sent to repel [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] drones in [[Toronto]]. Badly outnumbered and confined, Rodimus suggested the group split up. Hot Shot agreed, sending him and Red Alert elsewhere. Hot Shot contacted Jetfire in [[Los Angeles]], telling him it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the battle was lost, but he interrupted his transmission to witness a spectacle above. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] had arrived in a new body, and he was dramatically tearing through the Divebomb drones. After Megatron cleared away enough of the Terrorcons in Toronto to give Hot Shot's team a fighting chance, he moved on to the concurrent battle in [[Tokyo]]. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Okano]] (Japanese), [[Alexandre Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Martin Halm]] (German), [[Ola Norman]] (Swedish)

[[Image:Past Part 1 Hot Shot flashback.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I'll be back to save you, Wheeljack, right after 4:20.]]
An indeterminate number of years ago on Cybertron, Hot Shot was appointed the supervisor of a young Autobot named [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]]. Wheeljack strongly looked up to Hot Shot as a potential mentor and as a friend, but after a blazing battle, Wheeljack was incapacitated under some debris. Hot Shot left him behind as the flames closed in, promising to get help. However, when Hot Shot reached the other Autobots, his [[Arrogant Autobot officer|commander]] would not let him endanger his own life by returning to help his friend. Hot Shot ignored this order, running back into the battle to find Wheeljack, but he was overwhelmed by the heat and passed out. Instead, Wheeljack was rescued by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Thinking he had been abandoned by Hot Shot, Wheeljack swore vengeance against him and the Autobots. {{storylink|Past}} {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Metamorphosis Hot Shot Red Alert arrive.jpg|thumb|200px|Wave 1 all accounted for, sir!]]
When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] received a distress signal from the long-lost [[Mini-Con]]s, Hot Shot was one of two soldiers he brought with him to Earth to investigate. When they arrived, Hot Shot was quick to block [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from attacking some human children who had stumbled upon the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], and before long, the Decepticons warped away. Hot Shot suggested that the Decepticons' base must be within sight if they were able to use short-warp teleportation; [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] correctly assumed this base was on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Hot Shot and the other two Autobots returned when the humans and the Mini-Cons once again found themselves under attack from the Decepticons. {{storylink|Metamorphosis}} Hot Shot and Red Alert used their bodies to shield the human kids from the Decepticons' firepower. During the battle, Hot Shot and Red Alert recovered two [[Mini-Con storage panel]]s, and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] was one of two Mini-Cons who materialized when the panels were activated. Hot Shot partnered with this Mini-Con, and together with Red Alert and Mini-Con [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], their combined firepower was able to drive the Decepticons away. The Autobots then returned to their Earth base with the human children and the Mini-Cons, and the nature of their war over the Mini-Cons was explained. Hot Shot and the other Autobots also learned the Earth custom of fist-bumping to signify friendship. {{storylink|Base}}

[[Image:Soldier Hot Shot axelzooka.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is exactly why his shoulders hurt.]]
Immediately thereafter, the Autobots' computer systems warned them of a detected Mini-Con, and so Hot Shot and the others made plans to travel to [[Grand Canyon|Big Canyon]] to find it. In their rush, [[Rad White]] was left behind, but [[Alexis]] and Hot Shot returned soon enough to pick him up. Alexis apologized, for Hot Shot's sleek power excited her so much that she'd forgotten about Rad. As they left for the Big Canyon once again, Hot Shot's driving was extremely rough, yet despite the children's complaints, he increased his speed—so much so that upon arrival, Hot Shot nearly drove into the canyon itself. After Hot Shot followed [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] into the canyon, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] warped into the area and attacked him. Ultimately, the Autobots won, and everyone returned to base after having retrieved the Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. {{storylink|Comrade}}

The hotheaded Hot Shot often found himself at odds with Red Alert, including one incident when he was playing tag with the three children instead of doing work. He resented being chastised by the Autobot medic, who didn't even have a personality, as far as he was concerned. Soon after this, the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and the human children ventured to [[Antarctica]] to uncover another Mini-Con, and Hot Shot was paired with [[Carlos Lopez]]. When the two came across the Decepticons, Hot Shot continued to battle them despite having Carlos inside him. Finally, he ejected Carlos over a gorge, leaving Jolt to catch him. Hot Shot soon found himself outnumbered, and it took Red Alert's skills to rescue him from the grip of the Decepticons. Hot Shot learned some respect for Red Alert that day, even if he claimed to save Hot Shot not out of friendship, but merely because it was his job. {{storylink|Soldier}}

[[Image:Hotshotarmada.jpg|thumb|200px|He grins because he's too stupid to be sad.]]
Hot Shot also accompanied the others on a Mini-Con rescue mission in a jungle, where they learned to respect the Earth's environment. {{storylink|Jungle}} Later, as the children wondered why the Mini-Con panel they'd uncovered in Antarctica hadn't opened yet, Hot Shot asked them to pass him a spanner too heavy for them to lift because he thought it would be funny. A bored Carlos and Rad then ran off with some Mini-Cons to a local carnival, where they got into trouble. Alexis, Hot Shot, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] followed Laserbeak to the carnival, and after some mischief, Hot Shot was able to avert disaster. {{storylink|Carnival}} When the Autobots followed the Decepticons into the desert in pursuit of more Mini-Cons, Hot Shot was frustrated with his tires' incompatibility with the terrain. Unfortunately, he was unable to prevent [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] from acquiring the Mini-Con [[Bonecrusher (Armada)|Bonecrusher]] from within an ancient desert temple. {{storylink|Palace}}

[[Image:Underground merchandising.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hey, [[Ruined FOREVER|they're right]]! Hot Shot's car mode DOES look like a [[Playskool]] toy!]]
When the Decepticons held the children hostage in a ghost town, Hot Shot and the other Autobots grappled with them, reluctant to hand over their Mini-Cons to get the children returned unharmed. Eventually, after some close calls, Hot Shot was able to kick Rad out of Megatron's hand, the tide was turned, and things were restored to the status quo. {{storylink|Confrontation (episode)|Confrontation}} While working in the underground ruins of half of the crashed Mini-Con ship, Hot Shot was called by Optimus to join them in another Mini-Con search. The Mini-Con was deep within the subway system of a local city, and the Autobots' presence in vehicle mode caused some stir. Here they met up with another Autobot, [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], though they lost the Mini-Con to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Underground}} Smokescreen joined Hot Shot and the others when they journeyed underwater to the lost city of [[Atlantis]], where, despite their efforts, they lost yet another Mini-Con to the Decepticons. Worse still, this one could combine with two others to form the mighty [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber sword]]. {{storylink|Ruin}} As compensation, Hot Shot and the Autobots found another of the three Star Saber Mini-Cons within a volcano. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Megatron and his Decepticons soon attacked the Autobot base, hoping to steal the two Mini-Cons they needed to complete the Star Saber sword. While Optimus Prime hid the Mini-Con panels, Hot Shot confronted Megatron directly. Hot Shot was defeated by Megatron's prehensile antlers, which tossed him to the ground like a doll. During another skirmish with Megatron, the Mini-Con panels activated, and Megatron was able to grasp the powerful Star Saber sword! His victory was short-lived, as Optimus was able to knock it out of his hands and into Hot Shot's. With the Star Saber sword, Hot Shot was able to ward off the Decepticons and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[Image:Hotshotstarsaber.jpg|thumb|200px|He loves his Star Saber sword. It's so bad.]]
Optimus assigned the three Star Saber Mini-Cons to Hot Shot. The Autobot was young, inexperienced, and hotheaded, so the great advantage the Star Saber granted him went straight to his ego. With the sword, he was nearly unbeatable on the battlefield, which enraged the Decepticons. Then an enigmatic Decepticon named [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] appeared at a battle, mocking Hot Shot's skill. Hot Shot was angered when Scavenger told him that he was nothing without the sword, so he rushed the Decepticon, but was knocked aside. Hot Shot learned the hard way that power without skill is useless against an experienced opponent. {{storylink|Overmatch}} Scavenger confronted Hot Shot again on an unfinished stretch of a highway overpass, while a mysterious motorcycle observed. After exchanging a few blows, Scavenger left Hot Shot again, promising to prove his incompetence another day. The motorcycle introduced himself as the Autobot [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], and Red Alert and Hot Shot wondered if they could truly trust this stranger. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Overmatch Scavenger-HotShotbeatdown.jpg|thumb|left|300px|And later, he gets [[:Image:Credulous Hot Shot beatdown.jpg|curb-stomped]].]]
During another battle with the Decepticons for a Mini-Con, Sideways and Hot Shot were accidentally warped away with Megatron to their base on Earth's Moon. With Sideways's guidance, Hot Shot was able to fight his way through an army of holographic Autobots, only to have Megatron capture Sideways and demand the Star Saber sword in return. Hot Shot reluctantly relinquished it, but once Megatron released Sideways, Hot Shot called for its Mini-Con components to return to him. At this moment, Sideways betrayed Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber sword away from him and towards Starscream. Helpless without his powerful weapon, Hot Shot was brutally beaten by the humiliated Decepticons and dropped back at the Autobots' base. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Conspiracy faces.jpg|thumb|150px|Like all future Autobot leaders, Hot Shot is amused easily.]]
Hot Shot was understandably in a dour mood following this fall from grace, so the kids made faces at him to cheer him up. Because this was Hot Shot, it worked. During the next battle, Hot Shot targeted the traitor, Sideways, and was once again bested by Scavenger. Hot Shot was surprised to discover later that Scavenger was actually an Autobot working undercover as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Conspiracy}} With Scavenger now with the Autobots again, he began personally training Hot Shot. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}} Hot Shot and the others were later caught by local television news journalists while they were rescuing some young children who were lost near a dam, but footage of them was destroyed. {{storylink|Vacation}} When a new recruit, [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], joined the team, Hot Shot at first had trouble getting along with him. However, after working together to retrieve a Mini-Con, they were able to make peace. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

With both the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the Star Saber sword in his possession, Megatron issued a challenge to Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. When the two factions met on a stretch of rocky desert, Hot Shot was disappointed to discover that none of his firepower could penetrate Megatron's shield. His weapons useless against the Decepticon leader, Hot Shot joined Blurr in running interference during the battle between Megatron and Optimus. The tide was turned when the Skyboom shield fell into Autobot hands. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}} For a while, Hot Shot and the other Autobots wouldn't allow their human friends to enter the base. {{storylink|Vow}} While Hot Shot and the others were away, the kids traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}} Optimus Prime led Hot Shot and the others into battle in a gully, but it was actually a trap conceived by the Decepticons' new tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]. To the Decepticons' surprise, the Autobots had an incoming addition of their own, and Prime's second-in-command, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], arrived and saved the Autobots. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. Hot Shot didn't like this, as he thought Jetfire was nothing more than a braggart. Jetfire led Hot Shot and the Autobots to another battle for a Mini-Con on a distant island, and Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[Image:Desperate Tidal Wave blocked.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yes, punch my tiny shield!]]
After Hot Shot and the other Autobots sparred with one another at their base, their morale boosted by Jetfire's arrival, Hot Shot wondered openly about the nature of Sideways, and whether he was really in either faction at all. They left for yet another battle, but this time, the Decepticons had a secret weapon: The gigantic warrior known as [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] had arrived. {{storylink|Detection}} The Autobots barely held up against Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Awakening}} Hot Shot attempted to block Tidal Wave's mighty blows with the Skyboom shield, and with help, the Autobots were finally able to topple the titan. The battle ended with the awakening of the three Mini-Cons which formed the [[Requiem Blaster]]. {{storylink|Desperate}}

When the kids ran off with the Mini-Cons, fearful that they would be used as objects by either faction, Hot Shot and the others had to hunt them down. To reassure the kids, Hot Shot decided that the Autobots would only work with the Mini-Cons as a team! {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[Image:Past Part 2 Wheeljack Hot Shot fight.jpg|thumb|300px|"I won't fight you, I won't! Well, maybe just a little."]]
Wheeljack returned to Hot Shot's life, seeking revenge for abandoning him on the battlefield all those years ago. Unfortunately, Hot Shot was training a new Autobot recruit, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], when Wheeljack returned, and the young Autobot found himself caught up in Wheeljack's vendetta as well. {{storylink|Past}} When Wheeljack explained to Hot Shot that it was Megatron who'd rescued him and saved his life, Hot Shot couldn't believe it. Hot Shot refused to fight his former friend, yet Wheeljack Shot him, leaving him on the road. Side Swipe dragged Hot Shot's body back to base, where he was placed in intensive care, but Hot Shot's memories still haunted him. Events seemed to repeat themselves when Wheeljack confronted Hot Shot once again within an abandoned human facility. When Side Swipe showed up to help Hot Shot, the area was caught in flames, and Hot Shot was forced once again to save the young Autobot under his care. Wheeljack had chained up Side Swipe within the facility, and he told his captive not to expect rescue from Hot Shot. Regardless, Hot Shot threw himself through the fire and saved Side Swipe, despite the latter's pleas to keep away lest the place blow up with both of them inside. Wheeljack was deterred, but promised he'd be around later to revisit his ill will. {{storylink|Past II}}

[[Image:Rescue Megatron vs Hot Shot.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Gunbarrel (Armada)|Gunbarrel]] wants to know why mommy and daddy are fighting!]]

When the Autobots were informed by a mysterious source to meet the Decepticons in battle within a forest, Hot Shot wondered why they didn't bring the Requiem Blaster with them. He was told to shut up, and soon the Decepticons arrived to fight them, as promised. Megatron noticed the absence of the Requiem Blaster and realized it was back at the Autobots' base, where Smokescreen was guarding it, alone. Hot Shot and the Autobots returned to their base too late to assist Smokescreen, who nearly died valiantly trying to protect the Mini-Cons. Despite his sacrifice, Megatron took the Requiem Blaster and retreated. {{storylink|Sacrifice}} Hot Shot was among the Autobots who watched Red Alert begin to repair Smokescreen. Hot Shot then took Side Swipe with him to investigate the appearance of Starscream on Earth, who had left the Decepticons with the Star Saber sword after an argument with Megatron. After a fight with Tidal Wave, Starscream returned with the Autobots to their base, despite Hot Shot's objections. He didn't trust Starscream and believed this was a trick, citing the treachery of Sideways. And worse, Starscream was partly to blame for Smokescreen's condition! Outside, Hot Shot picked a fight with Starscream as their Mini-Cons watched. Their battle, which lasted until dusk, was interrupted by a strange Transformer, whom Hot Shot yelled at for interrupting the avenging of his friend. The fight was stopped when Hot Shot realized this Transformer was Smokescreen, rebuilt in a new body. {{storylink|Regeneration}}

Using coordinates given by Starscream, the Autobots were able to warp themselves directly into the Decepticons' base. Hot Shot confronted Wheeljack again, telling the "creep" to get out of his way. With Starscream's help, the Autobots were able to locate where the Decepticons were keeping their captured Mini-Cons, and Hot Shot fought Megatron, giving the Mini-Cons a chance to escape. Starscream interfered, saving Hot Shot's life, and after the two teamed up against the Decepticon leader, they returned to the Autobot base with the rescued Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Rescue}} Hot Shot stayed home while Jetfire and Starscream journeyed to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] to retrieve another Mini-Con. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Hot Shot was frustrated with Starscream's apathy, and his original suspicions were confirmed when Starscream had a change of heart in the midst of a battle, bringing the Skyboom shield and the Star Saber sword to Megatron, giving him control of all three weapons. {{storylink|Crack}}

[[Image:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|thumb|300px|Awww, ''hell'' naw.]]
When Megatron harnessed the power of the three weapons to power the [[Hydra Cannon]], a starship powerful enough to destroy Earth in one blast, Hot Shot and the others worked to build a starship of their own. {{storylink|Threaten}} Hot Shot blamed everything on Starscream's betrayal and angrily accused Optimus Prime for letting Starscream join their team and beginning this series of events. This had some effect on the Autobot leader, as Optimus Prime later offered the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix of the Commander]] to Hot Shot. Hot Shot refused, saying he couldn't take such an important thing from Optimus. Optimus Prime put the Matrix back in his chest, warped into space, and blocked the Hydra Cannon's Earth-shattering shot with his own body. The Autobot leader disintegrated before their eyes. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Remorse democracy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Scavenger, you're fired.]]
The death of Optimus hit Hot Shot hard. After starting fights with everyone, he left the Autobots and ran out on his own, only to face Scavenger. Scavenger assaulted Hot Shot, revealing that the former Decepticon had left their team for the Autobots because of him. As the two beat on each other, Side Swipe arrived with a small group of Mini-Cons, and they all pleaded for Hot Shot to stop fighting with everyone. Hot Shot realized he was being selfish, that he needed his teammates just as much as they needed him, and he promised to stop treating his friends as if they were enemies. The rest of the Autobots arrived, and they were pleased with Hot Shot's discovery. Jetfire nominated Hot Shot to lead the Autobots because it was what Optimus would have wanted. Scavenger went to hit Hot Shot one more time, but Hot Shot didn't move. Proving he was without fear, Hot Shot became leader of the Autobots. As a stipulation, Hot Shot stated that he would only be leader until they return to Cybertron, and that they should put the Matrix of the Commander someplace safe, as he didn't feel he should carry it. {{storylink|Remorse}}

Hot Shot oversaw the completion of their starship, the [[Axalon (Armada)|''Axalon'']], and asked the Mini-Cons if they wanted to come or not. They unanimously decided to accompany the Autobots to Cybertron. He initially forbade the kids from coming, but the Mini-Cons convinced him to change his mind. {{storylink|Depart}} As the ''Axalon'' left Earth, Hot Shot said some final words in memory of Optimus Prime. Their starship caught up with the Decepticons', and soon there was a huge battle between the two factions. Hot Shot battled Megatron in space, but it was a one-sided battle. Hot Shot placed himself between Megatron's Requiem Blaster and the ''Axalon'', hoping to spare his friends, but then a miracle occurred. The Mini-Con Sparkplug was able to resurrect Optimus Prime from within the Matrix, and the formerly-deceased Autobot Leader reappeared in a blinding flash of green light. Optimus turned the tide, {{storylink|Miracle}} and he reintroduced himself to a very grateful Hot Shot and the rest of the crew. But before anything else could happen, Hot Shot and Red Alert were pulled through a strange hole to an alien landscape. Here they met a [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|strange dark version of Optimus Prime]] who battled them. It was discovered that Megatron, Starscream, and Demolishor were on this strange planet, too, and despite their combined numbers, the Prime doppleganger overwhelms them. Arriving Mini-Cons bathe the planet in a strange light, and when the larger Transformers woke up, they were completely repaired, yet in strange new colors. Ultimately, their battle caused the planet itself to disintegrate, and both factions were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Dash Hot Shot crouch.jpg|thumb|250px|Twenty episodes ago, he cooed like a baby if you made faces at him.]]
By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hot Shot and Blurr fought through Decepticons on the planet's surface, while a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Uprising}} [[Unicron]], the Chaos Bringer, was looming over their planet, but [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (previously Megatron) would not listen to Optimus Prime's pleas to unite their two factions against him. Hot Shot decided to take matters into his own hands and fought his way through the Decepticon base and countless Decepticon warriors to reach Galvatron and reason with him. If not for Wheeljack's intervention, he might not have survived. Wheeljack's hatred for Hot Shot seemed to have softened, and Hot Shot's former friend joined him in pleading to Galvatron to stop the war so that the two factions could unite against Unicron. Galvatron was unconvinced, but Thrust, a secret pawn of Unicron, panicked and ran away with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom shield. Hot Shot and Wheeljack took off after him. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}}

Hot Shot continued to hunt Thrust down, while the true nature of the Mini-Cons was revealed; they were created by Unicron long ago. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} Hot Shot and Wheeljack aided Starscream against Sideways within the surprisingly organic-looking caverns of Cybertron. But when Unicron formed out of Cybertron's moon, the battle dissipated as each side readied for the final battle. {{storylink|Portent}} Despite Hot Shot's intentions to convince Galvatron himself, the Decepticon leader did not change his mind until Starscream sacrificed himself to Unicron. {{storylink|Cramp}} After a formal alliance between Autobots and Decepticons was formed, Hot Shot was part of a unified team sent to Unicron's surface. However, once the team arrived, the Decepticons abandoned Hot Shot and the other Autobots. Later, Demolishor made up for this by begrudgingly catching Side Swipe before could fall to his doom. In return, Hot Shot had found Demolishor's Mini-Con partner, [[Blackout (Armada)|Blackout]]. They agreed to work together from then on. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Optimus Prime and Megatron traveled together to the core of Unicron, leaving both armies under the command of Hot Shot. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage Hot Shot's teams inflicted on Unicron, Unicron could repair himself. Their massive opponent was fed by the negative energies of the battle. Ordering a cease fire, Unicron stood motionless, seemingly defeated. {{storylink|Origin}}

[[Image:Mortal Combat Hot Shot Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|When we come back, we'll be terrible cel-shaded CGI!]]
Hot Shot told both armies to begin rebuilding Cybertron while he went to Unicron to find Optimus, but Jetfire demanded he go instead. Inside, after a fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Megatron sacrificed himself to Unicron so that their negative energies would not revive him. But Optimus Prime felt he had failed as Autobot Leader, and with the end of the conflict between the two factions, he exiled himself to parts unknown. Hot Shot and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] were left in charge of the Transformers. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
 

====''Energon''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Brent Miller]] (English), [[Kōsuke Toriumi]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hotshotenergoncartoon.jpg|thumb|300px|Hot Shot always forgets he's not supposed to shoot at the humans.]]
10 years after the events of [[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]], Hot Shot was stationed on Earth as the commander of [[Ocean City]] while Optimus Prime trained new soldiers on Cybertron. He faced administrative challenges such as [[Demolishor (Armada)|surly former adversaries]] and teenaged angst from the resident teenaged angster, [[Kicker Jones]]. Hot Shot had proved himself up to the task of being "city commander," and was seen with fanboy-like adoration by younger Autobots such as [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]. Ironhide in particular wished he could advance further in rank just so he could combine with Hot Shot.

Kicker seemed to have a certain clairvoyance when it came to trouble (and [[Energon (Energon)|Energon]]!), though Hot Shot would often dismiss Kicker's warnings. But one day, like most days, Kicker was right. Mysterious bestial Transformers, the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], suddenly attacked Ocean City, forcing Hot Shot, Kicker, Ironhide, and the others to go on the defensive. When Optimus Prime arrived, Hot Shot and Inferno were granted the [[Spark of Combination]], which allowed the two to combine into a single super robot. With everyone working together, the last of that batch of Terrorcons were defeated. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

When [[Mars City]] on Mars was destroyed by more Terrorcons, Hot Shot was among those assembled to hear the news. The Terrorcons' next target was Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], so after Ocean City was raised, Hot Shot and the others, including the [[Omnicon|Omnicons]], used the [[space bridge]] to warp there. But despite their efforts, the Terrorcons were able to flee with much stolen Energon. {{storylink|Energon Stars}} Later, Hot Shot headed up a strikeforce to [[Desert City]] to fortify it against possible Terrorcon assault. While there he flirted with jailbait super-scientist [[Misha Miramond]] and filled her ear with what a dork her not-my-boyfriend (Kicker) was back at Ocean City. When Terrorcons invaded the city, Hot Shot and his troops performed a holding action at the entrance to the Energon Mine, but their position was overrun, and Hot Shot was the only survivor. Though battered, Hot Shot commended [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s decision to leave him behind and rescue the humans, resulting in the other Autobot being awarded his own Combination Spark. Finally, Ironhide could combine with Hot Shot, just as he'd always wanted! {{storylink|Scorpinok}}

As part of [[Prime Squad]], Hot Shot prepared to travel to Mars before the mission was canceled, and took part in the defense of [[Plains City]], again tasked with securing the Energon supply. He was the first to feel the wrath of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]'s [[Energon Sword|Megatron Sword]], and later battled [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] while attempting to shore up [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s flagging confidence in the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Megatron's Sword}} Hot Shot also led a recon team searching for a [[Energon Point]] in the mountains, the future location of [[Blizzard City]]. He ordered Ironhide and Demolishor to team up for their mutual benefit. While trying to rescue Kicker, Hot Shot was buried in an avalanche by Cyclonus. He evacuated his team before they could be crushed by the emergency deployment of a new [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]] via [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The New Cybertron City}}

[[Image:E07 hotshotarm.gif|thumb|left|Ironhide kept it as a souvenir for his [[User:ItsWalky|Hot Shot shrine]].]]

Hot Shot and his crew were still at Plains City when the newly-resurrected [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked. He was defeated in battle by Megatron and 'dis-armed' as an object lesson to Optimus. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} Optimus retreated to Ocean City with the injured Hot Shot and left the Plains City Energon supply to the Decepticons. Hot Shot's injury awakened a protective streak in Optimus Prime, who briefly forbade Kicker from accompanying the Autobots on missions. At Ocean City Hot Shot underwent medical treatment, submerged in liquefied Energon while his damaged exostructure re-grew. When the base was breached, Hot Shot broke out of his medical unit to defend Inferno from Terrorcons and, armed with a clone of the Megatron Sword, he helped kick the visiting Decepticons back out. {{storylink|Megatron Raid}}

[[Image:Energon Tower groupshot.jpg|thumb|300px|Why even take multiple screencaps? He always looks the same.]]
Hot Shot organized a covert surveillance of Optimus Prime while he was targeted by a [[Starscream (Armada)|Mysterious Mercenary]]. Unfortunately, his large shoulder armor made it impossible to hide behind objects and Optimus discovered him. When Optimus fought Starscream on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], Hot Shot placed Inferno in temporary command of Ocean City so he could bring a supply of Energon Stars to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}} When the Autobots encountered the [[Mobile Fortress]] near [[Asteroid City]], Hot Shot panicked, momentarily believing it was Unicron himself, and [[Brainstorm#Marvel Comics continuity|fired blindly and ineffectually into it]] using a hand weapon. {{storylink|Battle of the Asteroid Belt}} During the construction of an [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] that would help protect their cities from attack, the Terrorcons chose the moment to strike. After Inferno combined with Hot Shot to form Powerlinx Inferno, the tower was finally activated and the Terrorcons fled. {{storylink|Energon Tower (episode)|Energon Tower}}

Hot Shot wandered over when he heard Ironhide telling Kicker to 'lose the attitude', but was unable to wholly endorse Ironhide's statement that Kicker should automatically look up to [[Brian Jones (Energon)|his father]]. Instead he gently suggested that Kicker might want to seek a ''different'' hero to look up to, and told Ironhide that he'd looked up to [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] since he was a young Autobot. {{storylink|The Legend of Rodimus}} Hot Shot later supervised the project to construct the second [[Energon Tower (building)|Energon Tower]] at [[Jungle City]]. Ironhide was placed in co-command when the larger Autobot contingent arrived for the final stage, and when the city was attacked and put to siege they split duties, with Hot Shot taking Aerial defense. As the siege wore on, Hot Shot had to be the one to confront Optimus Prime and force him to admit that this battle was unwinnable. They destroyed Jungle City rather than letting it fall to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Crisis in Jungle City}}

Hot Shot accompanied the rescue mission to [[Lunar City]]. {{storylink|Kicker Beware!}} When Earth was threatened by artificial cometary impacts, he was part of the orbital team sent to intercept them as they approached Earth's atmosphere. Forced to wait as other teams tried to slow the comets, Hot Shot occupied himself by aggravating [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who eventually just told him to be quiet. He, Jetfire and Optimus Prime supercharged themselves with Energon to push against the comets, delaying their approach long enough for the [[Energon Grid]] to come online. {{storylink|Energon Grid}}

On Earth, Hot Shot was shocked when [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]], a transformer he idolized in his youth, broke in on a communication with [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and demanded a secret meeting. He traveled to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where he discovered Scorponok had reactivated the destroyed Energon mines. Rodimus appeared to head off a fight between the two of them. He attempted to recruit Hot Shot as a double agent for the secret agenda that he, Scorponok and [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] shared— the revival of Unicron! Hot Shot refused to betray Optimus Prime, and pulled a gun on Rodimus... but he was unable to fire on his one-time idol. Rodimus had no such compunctions, and he shot Hot Shot, but Kicker and Ironhide intervened to save him. {{storylink|Rodimus: Friend or Foe?}}

Hot Shot attended the launch of the ''[[Miranda II]]'' Autobot-human spacecraft. He joined the crew and was part of a space battle in the [[Asteroid belt]] to defend the [[Energon Ring]] before their journey could begin. {{storylink|Go for Unicron!}}

After Rodimus saved Hot Shot's life, he regretted his quick judgment. The relationship between Hot Shot and Rodimus was eventually restored and they become Powerlink partners.

Hot Shot continued to serve under Optimus Prime, surviving many battles on Cybertron and other worlds. Along with several other Autobots, Hot Shot was injured when the reborn Unicron destroyed a fledgling planet in the reformed Q-system. Hot Shot was reformatted into a slick silver body along with his Autobot comrades.

Hot Shot warned Sally not to go spy on the Decepticons, but she got away from him by wiggling disturbingly through a human-size passageway. He was suitably impressed when she captured the control room the Decepticons had been using all by herself. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} He watched in horror as Galvatron grew to enormous size using Super Energon, and led Cliffjumper and Downshift onto the battlefield. He powerlinxed with Downshift to try and rescue Optimus from Galvatron, but they were engaged by Starscream instead. {{storylink|Destructive Power}} He eventually merged his [[spark]] with that of [[Optimus Supreme]] and his partners in the final battle with [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Sun}}

====''Cybertron''====
{{charstubfiction}}

:''Voice actor:'' [[Kirby Morrow]] (English), [[Daisuke Hirakawa]] (Japanese)
[[Image:Hotshotcybertron.jpg|thumb|250px|He knows kung-fu.]]
Hot Shot thought that the new [[Earth]]-based [[alternate mode]] provided to him by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was "so him," but couldn't believe they were abandoning [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When the Decepticons attacked, he battled [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He was unable to stop the Decepticons from stealing the map, and accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] to Earth. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}} Once there, he assisted in helping build the new Autobot base. When the Decepticons attacked, Hot Shot battled Starscream to stop them from detecting the base. {{storylink|Haven}} When [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] attempted to close the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], Hot Shot viewed from Earth. He then arrived as backup when Optimus Prime battled [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Hidden}} Hot Shot was racing on a speedway. Optimus Prime arrived and gave him a lecture about their need to stay hidden on Earth. So when they decided to split up to search for the [[Omega Lock]], Hot Shot went with Red Alert to the [[Velocitron|Speed Planet]]. When they arrived he marveled at the open roads and took to enjoying himself. He was then surprised at something faster than him. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}}

Hot Shot thought the Speed Planet was his type of place, but was adamant he wouldn't disobey Optimus Prime's orders. From a distance he watched [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] utilize his [[Cyber Key]], then saw [[Ransack (Cybertron)|two]] [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|bullies]] terrorizing [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|some]] [[Clocker (Cybertron)|locals]]. He argued with Red Alert about interfering. At first he said he wasn't going to interfere but eventually when things looked bad he saved them. {{storylink|Space}} Hot Shot was then attacked by Ransack and Crumplezone. He transformed and drove off. When driving between them he caused them to blast each other. Red Alert then berated him for breaking cover against Prime's orders, but Hot Shot was still excited over every little part of Speed Planet. Upon seeing a race between [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and Megatron he joined in. He would have won the race if Crumplezone's missiles hadn't upset him. {{storylink|Rush}} Afterward Hot Shot trained to get into peak performance for his next race against Override. He removed his entire self analysis system to lighten his weight. During the race he felt a need for more speed and was able to summer Cyber Key Power. With this burst of speed, though, he broke and was thrown off the track. {{storylink|Speed}}

Hot Shot readied himself for another race while Red Alert accused him of no longer caring for his mission. Hot Shot was ready to hit Red Alert when Brakedown stepped in. Later while testing out his racing skills he went too fast and almost crashed into a wall, but was saved by Clocker. Reflecting on this, he decided that he was too lightweight. {{storylink|Time (episode)|Time}} Hot Shot still felt he needed to win his race despite being injured. Ransack tricked him into racing [[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] by telling him the winner would race Override again 1-on-1. He was damaged by Dirt Boss's [[Cyber Key]] attack, but kept racing. Later he was shot at by Ransack but fired back and caused a landslide, burying himself. After being unburied by Landmine, he apologized to a newly arrived [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] for disobeying his orders and possibly failing his mission. He then collapsed. While in an unconscious state Red Alert repaired the damage he had been putting on himself. Landmine berated him to snap him out of the rut his mind was in. He took it hard and for a bit felt like he wasn't part of the team until Clocker convinced him otherwise. Optimus Prime later decided to use Hot Shot's original plan. Then he raced along with the other Autobots for interference. {{storylink|Hero}}

At the start of the race, Hot Shot took the lead, but was again passed by Override and Dirt Boss. Crumplezone and Ransack spun him in circles, but he quickly recovered and continued to purse Override. The duo later cut away the bridge, but Hot Shot jumped the gap by leapfrogging off of Optimus Prime. He was not able to win the race, but placed second place. {{storylink|Race}} Hot Shot then raced in the next race. Seeing the twisting course up ahead, he attempted to take the lead early in the race and passed Override. He went the wrong direction when Ransack switched over the course. When hearing the fact that he was on the wrong course he shared the information with Override to beat her fair and square. Later after an avalanche he helped out a buried Override rather than continue to race. Once again he came in second place due to Dirt Boss passing him while he was busy helping Override. {{storylink|Detour (episode)|Detour}} Hot Shot continued to train with the rest of the Autobots to be ready for the next race while Optimus Prime and [[Vector Prime]] went to find another planet key. He then listened to Red Alert's lecture about the Cyber Keys and then lined up for the next race. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

After qualifying for the next race, Hot Shot initially took the lead through the desert. He then realized he couldn't get much in the way of traction in the sands, causing him to fall way behind Dirt Boss. To complicate matters, he also fell into a quicksand vortex. Brakedown began to pulling him out of the vortex but they targeted by Dirt Boss. They were saved when [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] jumped in the way and reflected the shots. After continuing the race, Hot Shot stopped as Brakedown broke down, but after listening to the old bot, finished the race. After the race he requested that [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] remain on [[Velocitron]] to help him through the final race. {{storylink|Sand}} Hot Shot was chosed by the Planet Cup for the final race. At the Autobot base he found out that his damage would cause him to be unfamiliar with his vehicle mode. The Autobots decided that Coby would sit in Hot Shot's cockpit to have the continous ability to modify his circuits. The race began and he started out with an early lead. When Ransack and Crumplezone attempted to steal the Planet Cup, he warded them off with the help of Override. Then they continued the race. As Hot Shot's system links kept breaking down, Coby was able to rewire him in order for him to keep pace with Override. It wasn't enough, as his circuits were still having trouble holding, so he used Cyber Key Power to help finish up a loop. After a photo finish with Override, he was declared the winner of the race and was going to take the Planet Cup, but Megatron showed up out of nowhere to take it. In vehicle mode Hot Shot knocked over Megatron, giving Optimus Prime and Leobreaker an opportunity to take Megatron down. Aferward Hot Shot attended the victory celebration in his own honor. Returning to Earth, he was also present when Override added the Cyber Planet Key to the [[Omega Lock]]. {{storylink|Champion}}

Following coordinates provided by the Omega Lock, Hot Shot was part of a team of Autobots that headed to the north pole. He was able to respond to a Mini-Con distress signal to save a frozen [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. {{storylink|Ice}} After sustaining damage, he was fixed up by Red Alert and Coby {{storylink|Honor}} and then followed the Autobots to Jungle Planet {{storylink|Primal}}. After the Autobots received Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, Hot Shot heard the incoming Decepticons attempting to win it back. He was able to take cover as they strafed. After leaving the temple with a diversionary box that may have contained the key, he was knocked over by Crumplezone when he turned to fight Ransack. Later he saw a space bridge and headed toward it, joining the Autobots in surrounding Megatron. {{storylink|Trust (Cybertron)|Trust}}

Hot Shot readied equipment with Scattorshot back on Earth. He chose to follow Red Alert to the north pole to back up Optimus Prime's team. {{storylink|Trap}} Surprisingly, he was the voice of caution and told Jetfire not to blast ice debris that trapped Optimus Prime. It would cause a collapse. After Jetfire freeing Optimus Prime using his engines, the Autobots were attacked by Decepticons and human drone planes. He was going to attack the drone planes, but was stopped by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Invasion}}

[[Image:Retreat-HotShotholomatteravatar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|JaAm executive.]]
When the Autobots realized the kids and Mini-Cons were missing, Hot Shot was sent out to investigate. While on his route he ran into [[Tim Hansen]] and assured him that his younger brothers would be okay. After finding the kids who escaped from [[Colonel Franklin]], Hot Shot began retreating to [[Velocitron]] via the space bridge. Starscream attacked to steal away the [[Omega Lock]] and Hot Shot was one of the first to fall in battle. {{storylink|Retreat}}

[[Image:CDHotShot fists.jpg|250px|thumb|Now we know why his shoulders hurt]]

Later, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot faced Megatron alone when the Decepticon leader returned to Earth thirsting for revenge against the treacherous Starscream. Humiliating the Decepticon in combat, they enraged Megatron, who used his new Omega Lock-powered Death Machine Gun on the three Autobots, crippling them beyond repair. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} Fortunately, the powers of Primus acting through the Omega Lock bathed the trio in the creator's holy light, repairing and reformatting the young Autobot into Cybertron Defense Hot Shot. Along with his newly
reformatted friends, the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] arrived on the battlefield and easily defeated the Decepticons Scourge and Megatron. {{storylink|Critical}}

{{note|The "power of Primus/Omega Lock" explanation was added for the English-language dub of the show. In the original ''Galaxy Force'' version, the upgrade was simply a result of [[burning justice]].}}

Hot Shot continued to battle Megatron and his forces. After Megatron retreated, Hot Shot followed to aid Optimus Prime at the volcanic island. He helped fight off Scourge with the rest of the Cybertron Defense Team. Later, when questioning [[Wing Saber]]'s "orders," he was shot and and forced to dance to avoid being blasted. After the altercation Optimus Prime sent him and the rest of Cybertron Defense Team to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in an attempt to slow down the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. {{storylink|Assault}} Enroute to the planet, however, his team encountered a meteor shower. He began blasting his way through, but in doing so got goop all over his windshield, obscuring his vision. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] then took over his movements via [[synchro-control]]. Later he countered [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s claim in who had the most points by blowing up the most asteroids, saying he had shot at least 2 to every one of Scattorshot's. Upon arrival at Cybertron and finding it swarming with [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]], he led the assault to cleanse the planet. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} They fought their way through legions of the robotic pests. {{storylink|United}}

Hot Shot continued fighting off Scrapmetals until all in the vicinity were destroyed. Upon Megatron's arrival, Hot Shot immediately attacked. After Megatron's apparent defeat, Hot Shot helped give a tour of Cybertron to the kids and other offworlders. He was then present when Optimus Prime presented the Omega Lock which caused Cybertron to apparently break apart. He then drove via the space bridge to Cybertron's moon to witness the full transformation of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Hot Shot was first awed by Primus, then confused when he found out that [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] was originally from [[Gigantion]]. He attacked Starscream after the Decepticon's arrival and continued fighting Decepticons until [[Megatron (Armada)|something]] appeared in the sky. {{storylink|Balance}}

Hot Shot was attacked by the newly powered up Crumplezone once he was raised from mortal wounds by Megatron. He wasn't much tougher than before and Hot Shot was able to defeat his rival. {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}} He later chased after the Decepticons attempting to steal the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Memory}}

When the Autobots reached [[Gigantion]], he split off into a group to explore the planet. Later, in an altercation with the Decepticons, he fired at [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. Hot Shot unloaded the ship for the Autobots to be able to use the Omega Lock. He and the rest of the Cybertron Defense team were taked out by a newly powered up [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Fury}}

Hot Shot watched as Optimus battled [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], then joined the rest of the Cybertron Defense Force as team three when the Autobots split up. {{storylink|City}} He later ran into Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] while searching for the Cyber Planet Key. He listened to Soundwave's story of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]. He was then surrounded by [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]]'s smoke and accidentally hit Scattorshot beliving he was Sideways. When Scattorshot cleared the smoke Hot Shot powered up his Cyber Key and helped the rest of his squad blast a pillar upon Soundwave and Sideways. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Hot Shot and his team looked for a downward passage when they ran into Galvatron and [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]]. After a brief skirmish, they utilized the [[triangle formation|triangle attack]] to take Menasor down. Then they battled Galvatron at full strength, but were once again beaten down. {{storylink|Scourge (episode)|Scourge}} He slowly got to his feet, recovered, and made his way down to the inner part of Gigantion to join the rest of the Aubotos in shooting Galvatron. {{storylink|Optimus (episode)|Optimus}}

Hot Shot watched as [[Vector Prime]] insterted the final Cyber Planet Key into the [[Omega Lock]]. when Galvatron arrived, Hot Shot was defeated with the rest of the Autobots. While Optimus Prime and the other flying Autobots were intercepted by Soundwave and Sideways, Hot Shot opened fire from the ground. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} When the new space bridge opened and the denziens from Planet X were coming through, Hot Shot began firing. Afterward, with the help of Vector Prime, he was able to leave Gigantion with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|Guardian (episode)|Guardian}} After returning to [[Primus]], the Decepticons attacked. Hot Shot quickly counterattacked. {{storylink|Homecoming (episode)|Homecoming}}

After Galvatron was finally defeated, Override resigned from leadership of Velocitron in order to travel to a new world, and Hot Shot won the race to determine who would be her successor, despite his bulky new body. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comics===
As the Autobot-Decepticon war was in its early stages, Hot Shot was stationed at the main Autobot Command HQ on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Upon detecting four Decepticon battalions heading towards them, he reported this to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and raced into battle. He and the other Autobots were eventually forced to abandon their base when it turned out to be rigged with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}} After the Mini-Cons left Cybertron, he was seen dispensing firepower and sarcasm during another clash with the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|First Encounter!}}

Hot Shot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] were later summoned to [[Earth]] when the Mini-Cons were found to have awakened there. The Mini-Con [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] grudgingly power-linked with Hot Shot, allowing him to fly through the air and ram [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 2|Friends and Foes!}} Following the battle, he stood guard outside a small cave while the Mini-Cons and their [[human]] friends made their way inside. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 3|Deep Trouble!}} When the Autobots decided to keep the Mini-Cons safe by sending them back to Cybertron, Hot Shot stood watch, and soon reported that the Decepticons were going on the offensive again. In the ensuing battle, the Mini-Cons decided to stay on Earth, and Jolt power-linked with Hot Shot and helped him drive the Decepticons away. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 4|No Way Back!}}

Alongside Optimus Prime and Red Alert, Hot Shot later saved the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Team]] from getting captured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 5|Devices and Desires!}} After the Air Defense Team revealed that the [[Land Military Mini-Con Team|Land Military Team]] had been captured by humans, Hot Shot piloted an Autobot shuttle to the [[Nevada]] desert and helped liberate them. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 7|Sale of the Century!}} Next, the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke them from the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and their [[space bridge]] was too busted up for them to do anything about it. Hot Shot was tasked with repairing the device and use it to warp the incoming warheads elsewhere, and he succeeded at the last second. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Hot Shot was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]], and seconded Optimus's warning that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in. Megatron ignored their advice. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe''===
Hot Shot (in his ''Energon''-era body) was one of several Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] suggested by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for [[Optimus Primal]] to recruit into his [[Children of Primus]]. Optimus Primal decided to pluck [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] back from death instead. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===The Energon Within===
As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Though they eventually succeed, the cost is high and the mine remains in Autobot hands.{{storylink|The Energon Within}}

As Optimus and Hot Shot prepare to escort a truckload of energon away from a mine, the Decepticons launch a full scale assault. Their objective is to steal 100 energon cubes. Before they can succeed, Hot Shot inadvertently blows up the mine. {{storylink|The Energon Within}}

===''Transformers'' video game continuity===
[[Image:BalanceOfPower-Autobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Hot Shot has particular skills?]]
Shortly after Hot Shot was brought online, he and Red Alert were sent deep into Decepticon territory to uncover an [[Data-Con|ancient relic]] that would tell them how to find the long-lost race of [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. The two were discovered by passing [[Dropship|Dropships]] and the [[Spider Tank|Spider Tanks]] they carried, and so they quickly dodged for cover. But there was nowhere to run; the Decepticons had created a massive army of [[Decepticlone|Decepticlones]]. After sending out an auto-distress signal, Optimus Prime arrived to bolster their firepower. This caught the attention of Megatron, and the two leaders grappled while Hot Shot and Red Alert continued to evade the Decepticlones. Meanwhile, Starscream had managed to find the relic, and a portal was opened in front of them. Hot Shot, Red Alert, and Optimus Prime followed the Decepticons through the portal to [[Earth]]. The search for the Mini-Cons began! {{storylink|The Balance of Power}}

[[Image:PS2game-HotShotDecepticlones.jpg|thumb|200px|He's the best there is at what he does! (We don't like to say what he does...)]]

Hot Shot found himself in the sweeping jungles that surrounded abandoned Aztec ruins. After failing to find Mini-Cons under a rock, he managed to pair up with the Mini-Con Jolt, and when he reached the top of the ruins, he faced Cyclonus. The following battles took him many places, such as a frozen wasteland, the interior of a battleship (which eventually revealed itself as the gigantic Tidal Wave), and ultimately Hot Shot battled Unicron himself.

Hot Shot, having collected all the Mini-Cons on Earth, was able to wield the legendary [[Matrix Cannon]], which he used to fire a deadly Shot into the core of the Planet Eater. {{storylink|Transformers (Melbourne House)|Transformers}}

{{note|The events of the game listed above are exactly the same for when players choose to take Red Alert or Optimus Prime into battle instead of Hot Shot... except for the rock thing. That's all Hot Shot, baby.}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys }}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HotShotisBumblebee.jpg|right|thumb|300px|YELLOW KID APPEAL SINGULARITY]]
* In an early ''Armada'' series bible, Hot Shot was originally called "Bumblebee." His character description says that he is the youngest of the Autobots at "about 16 years of age." The Autobots' teen-aged human allies would have teased him for not being old enough to have a drivers license. The rest of his personality was as you would expect, being young and brash yet showing leadership potential, and his Mini-Con was still called Jolt.
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Hot Shot's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:
:*Mass: 3,109 lbs
:*Robot height: 16' 5"
:*Robot top speed: 50 mph
:*Vehicle height: 5' 11"
:*Vehicle top speed: 186 mph
:*Vehicle power: 400 hp @ 8000 rpm

[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Built to Rule]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Velocitron]]

Starscream (Animated)

2009-04-01T21:25:42Z

76.196.246.118:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Starscream}}
:''Starscream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Starscreamanimated.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Specialist skills: <s>barefist fighting</s> backstabbing, aggressive negotiation, dramatic oratory, self-resurrection, clone production, [[chin]]-stroking.]]
'''Starscream''' is easily as accomplished, powerful and deserving of leadership as [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. At least, that's what he thinks. Power-hungry and driven by jealousy, Starscream operates through three ideals: lying, manipulation and deception. And when all else fails, a bit of sabotage never goes astray. Wise bots are careful about turning their backs on Starscream, just in case it's the day he finally decides to shove in the knife.

Though not as powerful as Megatron (despite what he thinks of himself), Starscream is by no means a wimp. His weapons can demolish large buildings, and he can fly around so fast that he can break free of [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet's]] magnetic powers. Unfortunately, all these abilities are offset by an enormous ego and the tendency to make long, overbearing speeches when he should just get on with it and fight. More than once, his leanings towards bombast have caused him to miss a golden opportunity. Sadly, he doesn't seem to be learning from these mistakes.

{{bigquote|Don't worry. I'll tell them all you went offline valiantly... just after you named ''me'' as your successor!|Starscream to a bound Megatron|[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]]}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{ongoing}}
{{note|Events from [[IDW Publishing]] comics are in italics.}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Tom Kenny]] (English), [[Stefan Staudinger]] (German)

Starscream was aboard the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' when it came across an [[Teletran-1|Autobot repair ship]] that appeared to be emitting the energy signature of the fabled [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]]. Starscream's doubt of the AllSpark's very existence and his dismissal of Megatron's millennia-long search did not sit well with [[Lugnut]], and an argument broke out on the bridge until Megatron himself arrived and all fell silent. Starscream was forced to eat his words when [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] confirmed that the energy coming off the ship was indeed that of the AllSpark, but quickly volunteered to secure it for his leader. Seeing through his lieutenant's greed, Megatron put a dent in Starscream's wing and rose to obtain it for himself. As he was leaving, however, Starscream arrived at the airlock to wish Megatron luck and patted him on the back—planting an overload device on him in the process. As Megatron attacked the Autobot ship, the device overloaded his circuits and caused an explosion that led Starscream to believe that Megatron was no more. In the aftermath of the blast, Starscream got so caught up in his own greatness that he didn't notice that his comrades had left him on the ship, hurtling towards an exploding space bridge.

[[Image:MegsRisingPt1-StarTeeth.jpg|left|150px|thumb|He gained strength and speed and shiny teeth and as the Huntsman was reboo-oorn!]]
Surviving the explosion, Starscream spent the next fifty [[Units of time|solar cycles]] searching for the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] on his own, using the damaged ship as a base (and probably getting a few screws loose in his [[central processor]] in the meantime). Detecting the faint signal of the AllSpark on [[Earth]], Starscream tapped into television broadcasts from the planet and discovered that the Autobot ship had landed there. ''While heading for the planet, Starscream was approached by Blackarachnia, who was also seeking the AllSpark for her own purposes and proposed an alliance. Starscream was unsurprisingly unwilling to share power, and he booted Blackarachnia out into space just before the ship warped away. Starscream was so occupied by the task, howevever, that he failed to notice Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] appearing in the ship's path.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 1}}

One crash-landing later, Starscream abandoned the ruined hulk of the ship and headed down to Earth, immediately drawing the attention of military jets. After a brief dogfight, Starscream scanned one of the jets as an alternate mode in order to continuing searching incognito. The search did not go on long, as Starscream found the Autobots watching a [[Crimson Angels]] air show, and he quickly joined in the proceedings. Upon revealing himself to the Autobots, he quickly thrashed each of them individually. Starscream mocked them, apparently assuming that the Autobots thought ''they'' had really defeated Megatron (whom he referred to as "the great Megatron" without sarcasm, so he seems to have at least a loathing respect for his leader's power). All too boastful of his cunning, Starscream boldly admitted that Megatron was already defeated by the bomb which Starscream himself had put on him. Despite being more powerful than the Autobots, Starscream failed to take the AllSpark, partially because he [[Megatron (BW)|spent too much time gloating]]. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] grabbed Starscream in midair, and they opened the AllSpark, releasing a massive wave of energy. Optimus was killed by the energy surge and subsequent fall (he got better), while Starscream disappeared. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

''Starscream was hurled into the wilderness by the AllSpark energy surge, where he lay, unconscious and undisturbed, for an unspecified period of time. Eventually, Starscream came back online, only to discover that his body had succumbed to [[stasis lock]], leaving him immobile. As "luck" would have it, it was at this moment that he was happened upon by the villainous [[Professor Princess]], whom Starscream attempted to sweet-talk into triggering his manual reset. She was insistent upon "fixing up" Starscream first, plastering him with makeup and a wig, but when the horrified Starscream screamed at her, she just decided to blast him. Her rainbow-blast jumpstarted Starscream's systems, and he seized the Professor, but before he could reduce her to a pink stain, she threatened to broadcast an image of the prettified Starscream all over the world and perhaps the galaxy. Preferring ''not'' to be hideously embarrassed, Starscream let her live and quickly departed, unaware that she'd worked her fashion magic on his wings, too.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 2}}

[[Image:Megatron rising 1 Starscream freakout.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Do you have any idea how long I spent preparing that speech!?"]]
Starscream laid low on Earth, until he revealed himself to a badly damaged [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and Lugnut, offering them help in exchange for their loyalty. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} After repairing the duo, Starscream continually had to reassert his authority over the two walking malfunctions, who were quick to point out that their service was by threat, not choice. As Lugnut went prostrate with praise, Starscream was initially quite flattered by the hulking Decepticon's obsequity, but quickly learned that the big guy was being manipulated by an outside source. Tracking the transmission, he came to [[Sumdac Tower]] and was quite surprised to find the disembodied head of his former leader. Megatron, aware of Starscream's betrayal after seeing a news report on his earlier battle with the Autobots {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} but not wanting to tip his hand, greeted Starscream as a "devoted and faithful subject", while Starscream adopted a subservient attitude himself. Beginning the smug monologue to end all smug monologues, he was interrupted by the senseless heroics of the Autobot [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. Focusing his attentions on the yellow little squirt, he mistakenly assumed that Megatron was helpless, an oversight that allowed the galactic despot to control the lab's machinery and defenestrate the traitor. Even so Starscream remained fixated on Bumblebee, and thus was caught unaware when the repaired form of Megatron burst from the tower roof. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

[[Image:PayThePiper.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Ghost in three...two...one...]]
Starscream watched with interest, tossing Bumblebee around absentmindedly as Megatron trashed the Autobots. When Megatron called out his loyal Decepticons, Starscream gracefully landed on Lugnut's head, ready to return to his position as second-in-command. Megatron prepared to fire on the Autobots, but quickly lashed out and rammed the [[Key]] into Starscream's chest, seemingly offlining the traitor, who then crumpled to the ground. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

[[Image:Jagged.JPG|right|150px|thumb|All tied up and ready for Kiss Players.]]
Sometime later, Starscream awoke on a garbage barge, evidently thrown in by an Autobot cleaning up Detroit. He found he couldn't detect any Decepticons, not even himself. Panicking, he wondered if he was dead, but recovered when he realized he was still on Earth. Furious, he managed to track down Lugnut and Blitzwing and to follow them to the Decepticon base. There he challenged Megatron and was soundly sliced, blasted and thrown off a cliff. However, he again revived, except now he had no [[spark]]! Starscream discovered he was being kept alive by an AllSpark fragment embedded in his head. Using this newfound immortality to his advantage, he again attacked Megatron... and again and again and again, each time taking a trouncing and having his corpse thrown off a cliff by Blitzwing and Lugnut. Discovering another fragment, he set up a trap that would draw Megatron out and blow up both him and the city. He embedded the shard in a train engine, and as the overloading machine drew out Megatron, Blitzwing, the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] AND the Earth team, the plan seemed to be working. Unfortunately, the Autobots stopped the train, and Megatron knocked Starscream out of the sky, sending him crashing into the midst of the Autobots. He blasted [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] and took back his fragment, but was put into stasis lock when Optimus slipped [[Stasis cuffs|some cuffs]] on him. He was last seen bound, gagged and being taken onto the [[Elite Guard's ship|Elite Guard vessel]]. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

While in transit on said vessel, Starscream somehow blasted his way out, once again vowing revenge against Megatron. Magnus sent word to Optimus Prime, warning him that Starscream was most likely on his way back to Earth. Megatron, eavesdropping on the conversation, offered a substantial reward for bringing Starscream to him.

To this end, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] ran off by himself to the resting place of the ''Nemesis'' on the Moon, where he ran right into Starscream. Despite getting in behind Prowl, Starscream was rather easily disabled and put in stasis cuffs. While [[Lockdown]] and Prowl battled, Starscream somehow managed to escape.

Lockdown and Prowl agreed to team up, and they tracked down an apparently very scared Starscream, who was captured easily. While Lockdown brought him to Megatron, another Starscream turned up. This Starscream tried to deal with the Autobots, suggesting they team up to deal with their common enemy, Megatron. Prowl disabled him with ease, despite making a total mess.

[[Image:Lotta starscreams.jpg|left|thumb|Megs is gonna have a field day.]]
Shortly after Lockdown delivered "Starscream" into the hands of Megatron, the Autobots showed with the other Starscream. Confusion ensued, and suddenly both Starscreams exposed internal bombs, and a recording of the real Starscream revealed that his entire plan was to allow the [[Starscream clone|clones of himself]] to be captured and take out all his enemies in one fell swoop. In his infinite wisdom, however, he apparently programmed the bombs to explode long after everyone had realized what had happened. Prowl sent the clones into the sky, where they exploded without destroying the city.

Afterwards, Megatron increased the bounty on Starscream, this time stipulating that it had to be the ''real'' one. Watching, Starscream cursed Megatron (again) and dismissed his failure, noting he had plenty more clones—an army of them. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

[[Image:Starscream with Shescream.jpg|thumb|Technically, she is my sister, and therefore unable to take me as her lover. After much soul searching, I have reluctantly decided, "What the hell", I just won't tell her.]]
His time alone allowed him to produce five clones of himself, which he empowered with small slivers of the AllSpark fragment in his head, giving them life. He quickly learned that each of the Starscreams was a different aspect of his personality: [[Coward Starscream|cowardice]], [[Egomaniac Starscream|ego]], [[Sunstorm (Animated)|sycophancy]], [[Liar Starscream|deception]], and...[[Female Starscream|something else]]. He asked the female version of him where she came from, and she said not to ask. Once introductions were done, he ordered them on their merry way to Megatron's base. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

[[Image:TFA ABTC1 Screamer Clones Emerge.jpg|left|thumb|There can be only one!]]
Upon reaching the base, the clone army attacked, leading to a free-for-all against Megatron's forces and the Autobots who'd assembled to stop the Decepticon leader's plan. During the fight, Starscream became fed up with his female clone telling him how to handle Megatron, as he'd been working on killing him long before she existed. She was unimpressed with his results to date. Eventually, his team overwhelmed Megatron, allowing two of the clones to subdue him while Starscream prepared to deal the killing blow. Starscream relished the moment, wryly assuring Megatron that he'd tell everyone that he died fighting valiantly—after naming Starscream as his successor. Abruptly, Starscream got head-jacked by [[Isaac Sumdac]] in a [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit.

Starscream's inert body fell on top of his head, which put him out of action. Panicking, he told his clones to attack, but was outraged when they all sided with Megatron instead. Starscream's head was then glued to one of the walls by [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]'s concrete. When he tried to mock Megatron's plan for the conquest of Cybertron, he had his mouth closed by more concrete. Poor Screamer.

[[Image:TFA ABTC2 Megatron Screamer End.jpg|150px|thumb|So...Megatron..how've you been]]
When Megatron's newly activated [[Space bridge]] ran out of power to maintain the portal to Cybertron, Megatron replaced the AllSpark fragment with Starscream's head, which overloaded the power systems. This caused the portal to expand and attempt to suck everything around it into itself. This included Starscream's head and Megatron, the latter of whom was disabled by Autobot stasis cuffs, which prevented him from resisting the space bridge's pull. The overload also caused the space bridge receiving coordinates to be deleted, dumping the pair into empty space. Without a body to maneuver, Starscream was forced to look at Megatron, while Megatron, still disabled by the stasis cuffs, suffered a similar problem. A long night of bickering commenced. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

[[Image:TransWarpedDigitalStarscream.jpg|thumb|left|150px|take me to ATARI!]]
 
{{stub}}

===Titan Magazines===
Megatron kept uncovering Starscream's hide-outs, and so Starscream took his clone army and seized control of the Autobots' own base, reasoning the Decepticons would never look for him ''there''. His plan was undone by the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]. {{storylink|Dino-MIGHT!}}

He later acted as the backer for the supervillain [[Crossroads]], giving him a sliver of Megatron (no, it ''wasn't'' explained how he got it) that completed the man's robot-controlling gauntlets. Starscream didn't care that Crossroads was going to hurt robots, as long as he made sure to turn the city against the Autobots. Boo, hiss! {{storylink|Crossroads!}}

{{note|He ''would'' have stolen a stealth bomber and fought Swoop, but the comic got cancelled. If you're from the UK and didn't buy the comic, this is ''your'' fault.}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[Image:TFAnimated Voyager Starscream toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|What? Decepticon sigil not upside down? HERESY! HERESYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2008)
*''Accessories:'' 2 missiles
: Starscream transforms into a futuristic, forward-swept wing fighter jet based upon the [http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/s37/ Su-47 (S-37) Berkut Experimental Fighter] and the [http://www.new-un-spacy.com/macrossplus/yf-19.htm YF-19 "Alpha One"] from the series ''[[wikipedia:Macross_Plus|Macross Plus]]''.

: His twin sonic shock blasters can slide forward, opening panels on his forearms (referred to as blasters on the packaging). Landing gear in his vehicle mode flip down from his undercarriage, and his blasters flip forward or back for a "hidden" attack. He also features two [[automorph]] gimmicks. When his nose cone is pushed in, his undercarriage folds into his hips. Folding his shoulders down also pushes up his head. Though not really an "automorph", with the arms and legs out of the way, his spring loaded wings fold down by themselves. His arms are also ''just'' poseable enough to stroke that enormous chin.

:His missiles have tiny shark faces molded into them.

:As with [[Seeker|past incarnations]], Starscream was [[Redeco|redecoed]] as [[Skywarp (Animated)|''Animated'' Skywarp]] and will be redecoed again as [[Sunstorm (Animated)|''Animated'' Sunstorm]].

[[Image:Activatorsstarscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I shall call him Screamer and he shall be mine and he shall be my Screamer. Come here, Screamer!]]
*'''Starscream''' (Activators, 2008)

: A smaller, simpler version of Starscream, the Activators Starscream toy has a spring-loaded autotransform gimmick that springs him from harrier jet mode to robot mode in one easy step, although robot to harrier jet mode is still that good old manual click-it-up yourself transformation, giving you the best of both worlds.

: Activators Starscream greatly resembles Voyager Starscream, especially when compared to several other Activators and their respective larger toys, with the only discernible difference between Activators and Voyager Starscream is that Activator Starscream's wings sit lower on his back. Most notably, this toy possesses more show-accurate weapons than its Voyager counterpart, due to the lack of a launching mechanism.

: This mold was also used to make ''Animated'' [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] and [[Dirge (Animated)|Dirge]].

*'''Starscream''' (McDonald's Happy Meal Toy, 2008)

:A simple version of Starscream with a very simple transformation sequence. A tad unique among the McDonald's ''Animated'' toys, he has given up a toy accurate vehicle mode for a toy accurate robot mode. You transform him by splitting the front of the jet to form the legs, snapping up the feet, lowering the rear wings and rotating his head. His robot mode, save for the fact the wings are pointing the wrong direction and that he is missing his guns, is decently [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]], but his vehicle mode totally sucks. Plain and simple.

*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Animated 3-pack, 2008)

: A ''Universe'' Legends-class Starscream came packaged with this version of [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], as well as a Legends [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]].

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Universe2008-toy LegendsAniStarscream.JPG|right|250px|thumb|]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends, 2008)

:Legends-class Starscream transforms surprisingly similarly to his larger counterparts. He is notable for being the only version of the character to have his weapons mounted correctly on his upper arms, rather than his lower arms (though this is largely because he completely lacks elbows). However, as with his past versions, he is again not gray, but apparently a shade of blue.

:This toy can also be found as part of the ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Rescue Ratchet]] three-pack with Legends [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], but with a more purple redeco.

{{-}}

==Trivia==
*In a podcasted audio interview, [[Marty Isenberg]] revealed that he originally wanted to play Starscream's name ironically — he wanted the character to have a quiet, whispery tone, as he '''really''' didn't like the screechy voice of [[Starscream (G1)|the original Starscream]] (though, at the same time, he pointed out that he has nothing against [[Chris Latta|his actor]]). [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] argued against this idea, and Tom Kenny's reading finally won Marty over.
* Though he never ''truly'' took out Megatron, this Starscream may be the most successful to bear the name to date.
* According to the Decepticon character descriptions sent out in the initial [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'', Starscream "can affect a sonic scream and produce powerful blasts of sound that can send enemies spinning through the atmosphere". Thus far, it is unconfirmed ''in the fiction'' {{fact}} as to just what Starscream's weapons are, although his toy packaging declares that he has "twin sonic shock blasters" rather than [[null-rays]]. Of course, a bio on the [[Hasbro]] website declares that ''Animated'' Starscream '''does''' have null-rays... while otherwise being a direct copy of the press release text, which doesn't mention them anywhere. Aieee. Starscream's "sonic scream", meanwhile, appears in the third season episode "Transwarped", apparently a modification created by the AllSpark fragment in his head.
* Starscream's toys seem to have the tendency to never actually bear his gray colors, instead having various blues and purples.
* This is not the first Starscream to [[Starscream's Ghost|persistently]] [[Possession|cheat]] death. [[Starscream (G1)|Some]] [[Starscream (Armada)|others]] beat him to the punch.
* First, Starscream was responsible for reducing Megatron into a talking head. Now Sumdac's turned him into a talking head. Karma's a funny thing.

==External link==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm Starscream at TFU.info]

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]