Talk:Predatory

2011-04-17T15:26:50Z

82.33.98.221:

This episode only features three voice actors. Would this be some kind of record? [[Special:Contributions/82.15.246.28|82.15.246.28]] 21:33, 16 April 2011 (EDT)

Does anyone else think a fair bit of this episode was a homage to the Proving Grounds episode of Beast Wars? It centred heavily on Black Arachnia stalking and being stalked by Dinobot through a similar forest setting.
: I don't think Blackarachnia was in this episode. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 01:23, 17 April 2011 (EDT)
::While I don't think it's necessarily worth mentioning on the page (yet), I got a "Blackarachnia crossed with Maleficent" vibe off her design.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 01:32, 17 April 2011 (EDT)

I'm not saying Black Arachnia was in this episode... Just that this was very similar to the episode featuring her from Beast Wars. --[[Special:Contributions/82.33.98.221|82.33.98.221]] 11:26, 17 April 2011 (EDT)

Talk:Predatory

2011-04-17T05:22:40Z

82.33.98.221:

Mercenary Pursuits

2009-06-20T09:48:59Z

82.33.98.221:

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=4
|image=Mercenary Pursuits Rattrap 2heads.jpg
|title="Mercenary Pursuits"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=October 9, 1999
|written by=[[Michael Reaves]]
|directed by=[[Raul Sanchez Inglis]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''The Maximals have a second run-in with the Vehicon generals, and sense the presence of a familiar Spark.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 悲願の変身 (''Higan no Henshin'', "The Transformation of a Dear Wish")

==Synopsis==
Megatron rebukes his Vehicon generals for failing to destroy the Maximals, refusing to accept failure; he sends them forth with promises of rewards to whichever one captures the Maximals.

[[Image:Mercenary Pursuits Optimus Primal holograms.jpg|left|200px|thumb|]]
Optimus Primal contemplates the images of Rhinox and Silverbolt and vows to find them. His meditation is interrupted when he senses the presence of a Spark; the team goes out to find it. During the search, Rattrap beaks into a secure laboratory and discovers the transformation inhibitor virus which Megatron used... and a counter-virus as well, a transformation enhancer. Rattrap swipes the enhancer while Cheetor's back is turned.

[[Image:Mercenary Pursuits Tankor search.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
While Thrust and Jetstorm squabble, Tankor manages to find the Maximals, who elude him by reverting to beast mode... until Rattrap shows up, able to transform at last thanks to the enhancer. This alerts Tankor, of course, who attacks the team. Rattrap finds he's unable to control his transformations, as he continually changes between robot and beast mode, including some odd intermediate forms as well.

Tankor manages to trap the Maximals under a metal dome. Thrust and Jetstorm arrive and fight Tankor for the right to bring in the captive Maximals; the distraction allows the Maximals escape from the dome, but an explosion knocks out all the Transformers present, leaving only the durable Tankor standing.

[[Image:Mercenary Pursuits Megatron Optimus bound.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Now tell me, Maximal... how did you like my poem?]]
At the Citadel, Megatron gloats to the captured Maximals, while Tankor demands his reward: "freedom" via the removal of his spark. Rattrap's continual transformations strain his bonds to the breaking point, freeing him; he quickly releases the others. During the ensuing fight, Megatron loses control and breaks free of his control harness; Primal talks directly to Tankor's Spark, compelling him to do what is right. After a moment of confusion, Tankor blasts open the door so the Maximals can escape, and leaves with them.

[[Image:Mercenary Pursuits Tankor maximals.jpg|right|200px|thumb|One of these things is not like the other]]
Restored to his harness, Megatron interfaces directly with Tankor's CPU, deleting the last 20 cycles of his memory. Thus Tankor suddenly attacks the Maximals again as they travel underground; Megatron blocks Primal's attempts to speak to Tankor's Spark again. The Maximals trip up Tankor as he's preparing to fire; the cannon backblast sends him flying upwards through Cybertron's sublevels, only to crash back down to the surface atop a startled Thrust and Jetstorm.

Primal explains to the other Maximals that he sensed something familiar about Tankor's Spark... but then it was gone.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] (5)
*[[Rattrap]] (6)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (7)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (8)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] (1)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (2)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (3)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (4)

}}
==Quotes==
"An interesting tale. Now here are some meaningful words. I am your creator. Please me and I shall reward you. Disappoint me and you shall suffer. A difficult choice?"
:—'''Megatron''' attempts to raise his troops' morale.

'''Cheetor:''' Use me for target practice?! THAT'S IT!! I Am Trans... 
'''Optimus Primal:''' Negative. These storage bins may contain explosives. 
'''Blackarachnia:''' [''scoffs''] Aren't you being just a ''little'' overcautious? 
[''Tankor blows up a storage bin, triggering the explosion of other storage bins in the vicinity.''] 
'''Optimus Primal:''' Next question?
:—'''Optimus''', showing the other Maximals why he's the big banana.

"Transform back before Tankor locks in on you." 
"But..but...I am ''transformed!''"
:—'''Optimus''' talks sense to '''Rattrap''' who appears to be having an off-day.

"Now, if there are no further interruptions." 
"I'm afraid there will be."
:—'''Megatron''' is clued in by '''Optimus'''.

"You made the right choice." 
"Especially that part about not slagging us."
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Rattrap''' welcome Tankor to the Maximal side...for all of 15 seconds.

"Tankor! Tankor!" 
"I'm sorry, Tankor is not available at the present time. Would you like to leave a message?"
:—'''Optimus''' tries to contact Tankor's spark again and gets '''Megatron''' instead.

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
*Glitch

===Continuity errors===
*Error

===Transformers references===
* Rattrap racing across the bridge to aid Tankor when he accidentally gains wheels in beast mode as a result of the virus is a reference to his Transmetal vehicle mode in Beast Wars.

===Real-world references===
* As Rattrap finds the transformation enhancer, he exclaims "Good-bye fur coat; hello full metal jacket!" A ''full metal jacket'' is a copper bullet casing commonly used by infantrymen, as well as the title of a Stanley Kubrick film.

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

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Talk:Predatory

Talk:Predatory

Mercenary Pursuits