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Transformers Comic issue 4.11

2013-06-14T04:46:29Z

Razorblade Magnus:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|''Transformers: Prime'']] #11
|prev=Transformers Comic issue 4.10
|next=Transformers Comic issue 4.12
|image=Tf mag 15 2012.jpg
|caption=The fight seems to have knocked the cover crooked.
|publisher=[[Titan Books|Titan Magazines]]
|date=[[July 19|19 July]] [[2012]]
|editors=[[Rona Simpson]] & [[Mark McKenzie-Ray]]
|senior editor=[[Steve White]]
|designer=[[Dan Bura]]
|publishing manager=[[Darryl Tothill]]
|price=£3.99
}}
'''BRB'''

==The Battle for Bulkhead==
* '''Script:''' [[Robin Etherington]]
* '''Art:''' [[Dario Brizuela]]
* '''Lettering:''' [[Comicraft]]
* '''Continuity:''' ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''
A huge creature stumbles through the forests of [[Alaska]]. Is it the legendary [[Sasquatch]]? Naw, it's just [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. Having just destroyed a [[Decepticon]] [[energon]] store, albeit at the cost of injuring his arm, he muses on his victory. Unfortunately for him, he's been followed through the woods, and a bevy of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] pounce on him. [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] himself is there to order Bulkhead taken onto the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]''. The next thing Bulkhead knows, he's on the Decepticon warship, and Megatron's waking him with a punch. Megatron informs him that he's being held in the [[Ultra Prison]], an energon field which will slowly wipe his memories.

Back at Autobot HQ, the other Autobots are getting concerned that Bulkhead is missing, but [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] supplies the answer—[[Miko's phone|her phone]] has an emergency two-way link to Bulkhead's comms, and she's just overheard everything that's been happening to Bulkhead.

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] leads a team through the [[GroundBridge]] onto the ''Nemesis'', taking with him [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], and the three kids, on the basis the kids will be able to sneak around undetected. After the Autobots head off to search, Miko attempts to find Bulkhead by yelling his name very loudly. This somehow works and they hear his groans coming from a nearby room, though [[Jack Darby|Jack]] still thinks it was a bad idea. Raf figures that the source of the energy field trapping Bulkhead is the hoodicky in the ceiling, so he climbs on Jack's shoulders and they balance on a stack of boxes while Raf attempts to reverse the flow of energon. They're interrupted by an explosion as two Vehicons find them, but before the Decepticons can do anything, they're clobbered by Optimus. With Raf's plan a success and Bulkhead free, the energon starts spreading out of control, so Optimus calls for a GroundBridge and blows a hole in the floor.

Back at base, Bulkhead thanks everyone for saving him, and Miko suggests he can thank her with some monster truck rally racing.

===Featured characters===
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (3)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
*[[Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)

}}

===Quotes===
"What the scrap was that for?" 
"What? You don't like my alarm call? Too bad... because that's the ''best'' your morning is going to get."
:—'''Bulkhead''' doesn't appreciate being punched by '''Megatron''' first thing in the morning.

"Okay, now it's time I rolled out my super secret Autobot detection plan." 
"What is it? Some sort of [[spark]] detector? Or maybe you've isolated the resonant frequencies of Autobot speech patterns. Am I close? Am I?" 
"Not exactly. Allow me to demonstrate. <big>'''''BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLKHEAD!!'''''</big>"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Raf'''

"My prisoner... my only working cage... A huge chunk of the ''Nemesis''... I believe the human fleshings would describe this as a baaaad day at the office!!"
:—'''Megatron'''

===Notes===
*This isn't the first time Bulkhead's been in danger of having his memory wiped, having almost had it overwritten with data in "[[T.M.I.]]".

==Contents==
===Articles and features===
*Use Raf's codebreaker to crack the Cybertronian codes in this comic!
*Transformers Roll Call! — The [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] truck prop on a tour of the UK.
*Episode guide: Volume 1. #11 - "[[Speed Metal]]"
*Rescue Bulkhead — a maze
*Competition: win ''Transformers'' and ''Battleships'' [[Kre-O]]!
*Ratchet's joke page
*Bumblebee and Megatron posters
*Mega-Mouth: [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] and Arcee answer letters and critique art.
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s Stumpers
*Competition: win Nerf Super Soakers!
*Bumblebee's Summertime Wordsearch
*Decepticon Dare Dice — cut out and glue a dice so you can challenge your friends to do silly Transformers related things!

===Free Gift!===
*Cyber-blaster!

===Mega-Mouth===
"This ain't no tea party, puke bags: this is a battle of pencils and pens! Get drawing or get lost!"
:—'''Megatron''' welcomes us to the letters page.

"Oh, Cliffy, my fallen friend. You were too good for this world. That snake Starscream will pay for what he did. You mark my words!" 
"Your tears and empty threats sicken me." 
"You are one cold-sparked machine, Megatron. Maybe someday, you'll learn to love as well." 
"Unlikely"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Megatron''' check out a reader's drawing of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]].

===Ratchet's Joke Page===
'''Patient:''' Doctor, doctor, I think need glasses. 
'''Dr. Ratchet:''' You certainly do, Madam. I am a giant alien robot!

==Notes==
===Errors===

===Trivia===
*After this issue, the series moved from a schedule of an issue every four weeks to an issue every ''twelve'' weeks.

===Advertisements===
*Subscribe today and get two free ''Transformers'' [[Bot Shots]]!
*[[Batman]]: The Brave and the Bold comic
*[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]: the Clone Wars comic
*[[Transformers Comic issue 4.12]] — promising an underwater Bumblebee versus Piranacon fight! Which failed to be in the next issue.
*Spongebob Squarepants comic

[[Category:Prime Magazine issues]]

Smokescreen (Prime)

2013-06-14T04:35:58Z

Razorblade Magnus:

{{factions|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Smokescreen}}
:''Smokescreen is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:PrimeSmokescreenTVAichiPromoRender.jpg|thumb|300px|Finally, after forty-four episodes, a kid appeal character!]]

'''Smokescreen''' is an eager young Autobot recruit, all too ready to fight in the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]]. While he may talk a mile a minute(Pun intended) and be greener than [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s paintjob, Smokescreen at least has the sense to use his wits when charging into a situation, rather than heading in firing blind. He also idolizes [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and will do anything to impress him.

{{bigquote|Now that was a plan!|Smokescreen|''[[New Recruit]]''}}

==Fiction==
===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Nolan North]] (English)|[[Kazuyuki Okitsu]] (Japanese), [[Bernhard Völger]] (German)}}

[[Image:New-recruit-smokescreen-flashback-tfp.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Maybe if I punch the screen hard enough, I'll be able to escape.]]
Back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the latter part of the war, Smokescreen was keen to be a soldier and underwent training with the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], although it was more of a boot camp at the time. To his disappointment, he ended up on security detail at the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] [[Hall of Records]] guarding [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]]. He was also put in guard of the Iacon relics. Though he learned much, he still yearned for combat. He thought his chance had come when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked Iacon directly, but instead he was immediately knocked into stasis by a Decepticon bomb. Or so he thought. {{storylink|New Recruit}} Without knowing, Smokescreen was actually knocked out by Alpha Trion himself who opened him up and stored one of the Omega Key Iacon relics in his body. {{storylink|Inside Job}} Somehow Smokescreen ended up on a Decepticon transport and awakened on it. Giving the guard the slip, Smokescreen stole an escape pod which took him to [[Earth]].

[[Image:NewRecruit-prettygoodplan.jpg|thumb|I'm here to be an Optimus fanboy and make people suspicious, and I'm all out of being an Opti- wait, no, I'm not...]]
Upon landing, he joined members of [[Team Prime]] in fighting off some Decepticons who had converged on the pod. His wild, reckless fighting ignited the pod's spilled energon, which sent the Deceptions packing, but did little to impress Team Prime. Though the others were suspicious, Optimus accepted him upon his recounting of tales only Alpha Trion and Optimus would have known. They took him to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Outpost Omega One]] and the [[human]] [[Jack Darby]] gave him a tour during which he recognized some of the relics from the Hall of Records. Due to Smokescreen's inexperience, Optimus refused to let him go on a mission to recover [[Red Energon]], and instead he and Jack went to find him a new [[alternate mode]]. When Prime's team got into trouble, Smokescreen had the idea of using the [[phase shifter]] to help and convinced [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] to let him try. On the battlefield, he succeeded in using it to separate [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] from the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], ultimately resulting a victory (more or less) for the Autobots. With that success, Optimus welcomed him to Team Prime. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] rebuffed Smokescreen's suggestion of using the Apex Armor while mending. When the Decepticons got hold of a [[Project Damocles]] satellite, Optimus led a team including Smokescreen to a military base in [[Colorado]] to protect the satellite's control codes. They ended up tangling with Decepticons, and Smokescreen was almost hit by the laser from the orbiting satellite. Smokescreen tried a solo attempt to get to [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]'s location but was almost hit again before being called to join Bulkhead in fighting [[Silas|Cylas]] and they succeeded in driving the [[MECH]] commander off. Smokescreen told the Wrecker that he studied all of his unit's battles which gave Bulkhead more confidence in him. {{storylink|The Human Factor}}

[[Image:Legacy-Smokescreencar.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Just a LeMans racing car driving down the wrong side of the road in the middle of Nevada. Don't mind me.]]
After Smokescreen threatened a human driver and had his picture taken, he was assigned Jack to teach him the ropes. He managed to talk Jack into pulling pranks on several humans, and when Ratchet detected an Iacon homing beacon, Smokescreen volunteered to investigate and took Jack along too. When it turned out the relic in question was the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]], Smokescreen charged in and was promptly captured by the Decepticons. After the rest of the Autobots saved the day, they gave Smokescreen a stern talking to. {{storylink|Legacy}}

When Optimus decoded the location of the first [[Omega Key]], Smokescreen volunteered to go fetch it, and secretly took the phase shifter with him. After he and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] found the key, they were ambushed by Megatron, who struck Smokescreen with a wave of energy from the [[Dark Star Saber]]. Though the other Autobots thought Smokescreen dead, he had instead survived thanks to the phase shifter and found his way out of the ruins in time to help Optimus retrieve the Omega Key from Megatron. Ratchet later said Smokescreen could keep the phase shifter, though his joy was tempered by the loss of the Star Saber. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}

Smokescreen remained exuberant after his victory, getting on the other Autobot's nerves, and was disappointed when he was left at base while Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] went to get the next key. He got his chance when he and Bulkhead were sent to get Key number 3, but after an encounter with [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], Smokescreen was knocked out in the process of retrieving the key. He was upset at the loss, and after Arcee lectured him, went out for a drive, unaware that both sides were about to discover that he himself was the final relic. Unfortunately the Decepticons found him first, and he was captured by Soundwave. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}

Smokescreen awakened at the Decepticon lab table where he discovered that the final Omega Key was inside him. The Decepticons extracted the final Omega Key from him using his own Phase shifter and also used a [[cortical psychic patch]] to learn what he knew about the relics. However when Knock Out attempted to find out the Autobot base location, Smokescreen was able to regain his phase shifter from [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and used it to steal the two keys the Decepticons possessed. After free-falling off the ship and saving himself with the shifter, Smokescreen bridged back to base with the two keys, but a short time later, Starscream managed to steal all three of the Autobots' keys. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

As the Autobots equipped themselves to go to Cybertron, Smokescreen took the [[spark extractor]] from storage. On Cybertron, he used his phase shifter to get the drop on the Decepticons and generally cause mayhem in their ranks, and dropped the extractor in their midst before phasing away. Having reclaimed the Omega Keys, the Autobots found the [[Omega Lock]], only for the Decepticons to unveil their trump card in the form of the three kids as hostages. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}} Smokescreen was forced to surrender the Phase Shifter and hand over his key in exchange for Jack. After Optimus destroyed the Omega Lock to prevent Megatron destroying Earth, Smokescreen returned with the others to base, only to find that the Decepticons were attacking it. The Autobots were forced to abandon base, and Smokescreen bridged to a point somewhere in the US. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

Unwilling to abandon everything, Smokescreen used the phase shifter to sneak back. Following the base's destruction, he was able to pull Optimus from the wreckage and take his barely-functioning leader to an underground cavern. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} He searched fruitlessly through the ruins of the base for medical supplies. Optimus asked after the Forge of Solus Prime, giving Smokescreen the idea to look for it in the [[Darkmount (Earth)|Decepticon fortress]]. {{storylink|Scattered}} Using the phase shifter, Smokescreen boarded the Decepticon warship and found both Airachnid and the Forge. On his return to the cavern, Prime refused to use the Forge on himself, believing its power should be conserved to repair the Omega Lock, and that Smokescreen would succeed him as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} Smokescreen refused to let Optimus die and used the Forge to revive his leader. The pair headed for Darkmount, but Smokescreen was left behind by Optimus's new flight-capable form, and by the time he arrived, the battle was already over. The Autobots reassembled at a human military base, where Ratchet reassured Smokescreen he'd done the right thing. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}}

[[Image:Smokescreennewpaintjob.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Does this paintjob make me look fat?]]
Smokescreen got a new paint job, but when he returned to base was vilified by Ultra Magnus, who then ordered him to stack empty energon cubes. As he did this, Smokescreen quietly complained about how he had nearly been a Prime. He, Optimus and Bumblebee headed to [[Texas]] to stop the Decepticons from retrieving Predacon remains located there, only to find themselves fighting the formidable team of Shockwave and Soundwave. Despite their best efforts, Soundwave still managed to send the piece of the Predacon remains to the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' via an expertly timed GroundBridge. {{storylink|Project Predacon}}
{{-}}

===''Tales of the Beast Hunters''===
With a number of the other Autobots injured in battle with [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacons]], Smokescreen infiltrated a Decepticon laboratory and discovered [[Hyperevolution Chamber]]s full of developing Predacons. Believing he had found the origin of the Predacons, Smokescreen was about to return to base when he found himself confronted by [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 10}} Though the battle damaged him to the point where he was almost unable to return to base, he managed to escape with a number of [[data disc]]s. {{storylink|Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 13}}

==Toys==
===Prime===
[[Image:Primetoy AMsmokescreen.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Are you gonna be a good boy and give up nicely?]]
*'''Smokescreen''' (Deluxe, [[November 24|11-24]]-2012)
**''ID number'': '''AM-26'''
**''Accessories'': "S.2" Arms Micron

: Part of the eighth wave of [[TakaraTomy]] ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toys, Smokescreen is a [[redeco]] and [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Robots in Disguise (2012)|Prime: Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Knock Out (Prime)#Prime|Knock Out]], with a new head and heels/vehicle rear. He transforms into a low-riding sports car, and is largely devoid of [[paint operation]]s, using numerous foil [[sticker]]s for details and deco.

: He features many [[5mm post|5mm posts and port]]s on his person, with his 5mm-compatible hands, two ports on his robot back, two ports on his robot legs/vehicle sides, as well as two ports and posts on his robot heels/vehicle rear. As part of the [[Arms Micron]] gimmick, he comes with an Arms Micron partner named [[S.2]], a robotic humanoid who transforms into a crossbow. S.2 has two 5mm posts and a single peg-hole.

: According to the [[instructions]], Smokescreen is transformed slightly differently from Knock Out, with his hood-chest panel not being folded down.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/AMSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More information on Arms Micron Smokescreen at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Cyberverse===
[[Image:Prime-toy SmokescreenCyberverse.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Guns don't kill people, ''I'' kill people!]]
*'''Smokescreen''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2013)
**''Series / Number:'' '''3 / 001'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EG04'''
**''Accessories'': Chain Bolter

: Part of the first wave of ''Prime: [[Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse]] Legion Class toys, Smokescreen is an all-new, smaller-scale mold, transforming into a sports car loosely based on a McLaren MP4-12C, and coming with a "Chain Bolter" blaster with a chainsaw bayonet. His weapon features four [[C joint|3mm post]]s and two ports, and can mount onto ports on Smokescreen's hands, robot back/vehicle roof, and onto the sides of his vehicle rear/robot feet.

: This mold was redecoed and retooled into [[Prowl (Prime)|Prowl]].

{{-}}{{anchor|SkyClaw}}
*'''Sky Claw with Smokescreen''' (Cyberverse Vehicle, 2013)

: Included with the [[Sky Claw]] vehicle, Smokescreen is a redeco of the Legion Class toy in blue and yellow. With the color scheme and the number 7 on the doors, the deco is evocative of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Binaltech]]'' [[Smokescreen (G1)#Alternators/Binaltech|Smokescreen]], specifically the #7 variant that was never released in the ''Alternators'' line.

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[Image:PrimeBeastHunterstoy-Smokescreen.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Surprise! He's not Autobot Knock Out anymore!]]
*'''Smokescreen''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''2 / 008'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile, & Electronet (combine to form Electronet Launcher), Shadow Quill Armor

: Part of the second wave of ''Prime: Beast Hunters'' Deluxe Class toys, Smokescreen is an all new mold. He transforms into a McLaren MP4-12C sports car, and features 5mm peg-holes on his hands, roof, and on either side of his spoiler.

:For accessories, he comes with a three-piece "[[Electronet Launcher]]", a spring-loaded missile launcher that can mount via its 5mm handle, and fires a missile with a soft, removable Electronet. According to the weapon's description in the instructions, the Electronet Launcher can apparently be used as an axe as well, with the Electronet presumably being used as the blade. Additionally, the Electronet has a tab on one side and a slot on the other, meaning the net can be rolled up with some effort, while Smokescreen has a hexagonal peg on his robot back that can be used to store the net. Also, the launcher component features a trio of grooves all over its body for some currently unknown purpose.

:He also comes with the "Shadow Quill Armor", a rubbery piece of plastic which can attach to his vehicle to form a heavily-armored front-end, or can be worn in robot mode as a spiky harness of sorts. The sides of the armor each feature clips, presumably for storing the missile.

:His [[packaging]] [[stock photography]] depicts his Electronet and armor as being cast in a mixture of blue and red plastic, but the final product has these cast only in metallic blue.

:His instructions include the [[Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 10|tenth chapter]] of the ''[[Tales of the Beast Hunters]]'' series.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/Smokescreen/smokescreen.htm More information on ''Beast Hunters'' Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Go!===
*'''Hunter Smokescreen''' ([[July 27|06–27]]–13)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''G06'''
:Hunter Smokescreen is a [[redeco]] of the ''Beast Hunters'' Deluxe Smokescreen toy, released in [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Combination Cubed: Transformers Go! (toyline)|Transformers Go!]]'' toyline.
{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
*According to the ''Transformers: Prime Season 1'' DVD/Blu-Ray featurettes, Smokescreen was in the original line-up for Season 1, and would've died in the Season finale. However, the character was replaced by [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] and his death was moved to the first episode.
*Smokescreen is the only main Autobot character to have made no [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|ga]][[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|me]] or [[Transformers: Exodus|bo]][[Transformers: Exiles|ok]] appearances.
*This isn't the first time Nolan North portrayed a guy whose main colors were red and white. But unlike [http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Desmond_Miles him], Smokescreen wanted to be great from day one.
[[Category:Cyberverse]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:Prime Autobots]]

Chain of Command (Prime)

2013-06-14T04:30:50Z

Razorblade Magnus:

{{disambig2|the ''Prime'' episode|the ''Beast Wars'' episode|Chain of Command (BW)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 58
|prev=Project Predacon
|next=Plus One
|image=ChainOfCommand Miko clobbering time.jpg
|caption=And now every Decepticon in range soils himself with fear.
|title="Chain of Command"
|airdate=[[May 24]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Tension builds between Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack as their team faces the return of the Predacon.'''

==Synopsis==
Somewhere in the Arctic, the [[Predaking (Prime)|Predacon]] remains frozen solid in ice as the sun rises. Power cells in its body activate, causing the ice to start melting and then crack, until the beast is able to break free completely. The creature roars and flies away.

[[File:ChainOfCommand Predacon come home.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Shockwave, remind me to thank the humans for global warming."]]
Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] questions the wisdom of allowing [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] to create his cloned [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] army in such confined quarters. Shockwave reveals that an off-site laboratory has been constructed for this purpose. The warship is rocked by a sudden impact, which turns out to be the Predacon landing on the upper hull. Shockwave notes that Predacons have precise homing instincts, but [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] is more impressed by the beast's resilience. He orders Starscream to assume command of it, leaving his terrified first officer alone out on the hull with the Predacon.

In [[Scotland]], [[Ultra Magnus's ship]] lands on a bluff atop a suspected [[Decepticon]] excavation site. The [[Wrecker]]s emerge, and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] immediately bolts forward and starts climbing down the cliff to investigate, much to [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Magnus]]'s chagrin. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] tries to advise caution, but Wheeljack pays no heed. They spot a lone [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] emerging from a cave below, who Wheeljack dispatches with little difficulty. He looks back up to give Ultra Magnus a mocking salute, when an entire squad of Vehicons emerge from the cave and attack. The three [[Autobot]]s make short work of the Decepticons. After the battle, Wheeljack hears a knocking sound coming from inside his chest. Suddenly remembering he has a passenger, he lets [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] out, and she begins gasping for air.

[[File:ChainOfCommand stowaway.jpg|thumb|right|250px|You wouldn't believe it, there's, like, three other passed-out kids in here!]]
Back at the ''Nemesis'', Starscream tries unsuccessfully to get the Predacon into a cage. He prompts the beast with an [[Energon prod]], and the Predacon responds with a blast of flame from its mouth that singes Starscream's crest.

Ultra Magnus demands to know why a human was brought on the mission. Wheeljack cites Miko's accomplishments and states that she's an official Wrecker as far as he's concerned. Bulkhead tries to defuse the situation by turning Magnus's attention to the now-unguarded cave entrance.

Now having donned the indestructible [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], Starscream tries again to make the Predacon heed his commands. The dragon grasps Starscream's arm in its jaws and shakes him around like a rag doll for a bit before flinging him the length of the room. The "training" is interrupted by Megatron, who orders Starscream to take the Predacon and see why one of the excavation teams has failed to report in.

While the Wreckers explore the cave, Bulkhead tries to keep everyone's spirits up, but Wheeljack, chafing under Ultra Magnus's leadership, is having none of it. He tells Bulkhead he was smart to leave the Wreckers when he did, "before the rust set in". Confused, Miko says she thought Wheeljack was the one who left the Wreckers. Bulkhead says he left first, to join up with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], and thinks a part of Wheeljack resents him for it. Miko says that you never want to be the one who breaks up the band.

The rock walls suddenly starts to shake as the Predacon bursts in, prompting the Autobots to transform and drive deeper into the cave. The Predacon pursues, firing blasts of flame from his mouth, until he encounters a passage too narrow to get through. The Autobots are now trapped in a small enclosure and unable to get a comm link signal so far underground. Bulkhead notices a small opening in the rock above them and tells Miko to climb up the cave wall to freedom. She's reluctant to leave them until Ultra Magnus tasks her with the mission of reaching his ship and contacting Optimus Prime. The Autobots draw their weapons and prepare for the Predacon to inevitably break through to their location.

[[File:ChainOfCommand Magnus forges a head.jpg|thumb|left|250px|You want me to put the hammer down?!]]
Miko makes it to surface and rushes over to Magnus's ship, only to find that Starscream and a couple of Vehicons have gotten there first. Starscream brags to his soldiers about how he tamed the Predacon, which is stifled by one of the Vehicons pointing out that he's still wearing the Apex Armor protect himself from it. Buying into his own press, Starscream retracts the armor and lays the condensed relic on a rock.

The Predacon finally makes it through to the Wreckers' location and attacks. Ultra Magnus lands a few powerful hits with the depowered [[Forge of Solus Prime]], but the Predacon takes him and Bulkhead out with a wave of its tail. Wheeljack waits for the Predacon to attempt another flame blast and tosses a grenade at the beast's open mouth, but the Predacon bats it away with its tail. The explosive device hits the ground and rolls to a rest mere feet from Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus.

Topside, Starscream and the Vehicons are startled by the explosion, which rips a hole in the ground in front of them. While they investigate, Miko makes a run for Magnus's ship, but does not escape Starscream's notice.

In the cave, the Predacon bursts free from the rubble caused by the explosion, none the worse for wear. It notices a Predacon fossil lying on the ground, and seeing it brings back a memory of another time and place...

Starscream swipes at Miko, but she's able to avoid him long enough to reach the Apex Armor. Landing on the relic triggers it, and a smaller version of the armor envelops Miko. Before she can put it to use, the Predacon appears, dropping the fossil at Starscream's feet. Miko attempts to flee, but the Predacon pounces on her.

The Autobots emerge from the rubble below, and Ultra Magnus takes Wheeljack to task for deploying a grenade in an enclosed space. Bulkhead, more concerned with Miko's safety than continuing to play peacemaker, rushes out of the cave to find her.

[[File:ChainOfCommand unhappy Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wheeljack sees what you did there.]]
Starscream watches with amusement as the Predacon hammers Miko and the armor with blasts of flame. Megatron contacts Starscream, who gleefully provides a status report. Megatron orders the immediate return of the beast and the Predacon fossil and tells Starscream he can stay behind to finish the Autobots. Starscream briefly wonders how he'll get the Predacon to follow this order, but the Predacon answers the question by knocking him down, grabbing the fossil in its teeth, and flying away. Indignant, Starscream walks over to the scorched crater where Miko lies to retrieve his armor. But Miko springs to life and tosses Starscream away with ease. Miko continues pounding the Decepticons as the Autobots rush onto the scene. Ultra Magnus admits that Wheeljack may have been right about her. Seeing the odds are only getting worse, Starscream orders the Vehicons to retreat, and the three of them transform and fly away. Wheeljack commends Miko and says he wants to remember the Wreckers just as they are right now, "before the rust sets in" once again. With that, he transforms and drives away. Bulkhead sadly notes that Wheeljack just broke up the band.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] (1)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] (3)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (5)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)

}}

==Quotes==
'''Ultra Magnus''': Does Wheeljack not comprehend the chain of command? I didn't authorize him to advance without proper cover. 
'''Bulkhead''': I'm sure Jackie's just trying to prove himself now that you and he are serving together again, sir. 
'''Wheeljack''': Yee-HAH!
('''Wheeljack''' leaps gleefully off a cliff)
:—'''Bulkhead''' tries to frame '''Wheeljack's''' insubordination in the best possible light.

"Wrecker Fact #17?" 
"'Guards never look up'."
:—'''Wheeljack''' and '''Bulkhead''' mock a guard moments before he looks up.

'''Ultra Magnus''': And what could have possibly compelled you to bring the native? 
''[Wheeljack thinks back to just before they left the Autobot base]'' 
'''Miko''': Yo. Can I come with? 
'''Wheeljack''': Why not?
:—'''Wheeljack''' decides it's better to have a human and not need one than need a human and not have one.

"Are your circuits impaired, soldier?" 
"Prime told you to lead the Wreckers on this one. I assumed he meant all of them."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Wheeljack''' argue over Miko's Wrecker status.

"Come on, we're all on the same team. Hey, Beast Hunters, right?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' likes the new name. Hey, beats [[Team Prime]].

"It was a challenge, but I managed to tame the savage beast. Taught it to heed my every command." 
"You're not wearing the armor to protect yourself from it?" 
"From my beloved pet? Of course not!"
:—'''Starscream''' puffs himself up to impress a rightfully skeptical '''Vehicon'''.

"What do you know, it does fetch."
:—'''Starscream''' reacts to Predaking retrieving a Predacon bone.

"''[Tsk Tsk Tsk Tsk]'' Even the strongest armor can't protect the weakest of creatures." 
''[Miko stops him from reaching further]'' 
"It protected ''you'', didn't it?"
:—'''Starscream''' gets burned by '''Miko'''

"You do know that I vanquished [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], don't you?" 
"Big whoop. I snuffed [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]]."
:—'''Starscream''' finally gets his "I killed Cliffjumper" boast shut down by '''Miko'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The two large rocks outside Ultra Magnus's ship shift position several times (or the ship does). When Ultra Magnus lands, the forward landing strut is between the two rocks. After they exit the ship, the rock which Starscream places the Apex Armor on later has moved to the opposite side of the landing strut. During a later establishing shot, both rocks have moved a considerable distance back, only to return to their previous position once Miko reaches the surface.
*As Predaking swings Starscream around while in the Apex Armor, the latter's headspike clips through the armor.
*Miko lands on the front side of the Apex Armor, which then forms a shell around her, but it's somehow managed to flip itself into the proper position during Starscream's reaction shot.
*Starscream retains his arm-mounted missile right after firing it at Miko. It disappears when he boasts about killing [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], only to appear once more as he flees. He must keep them in [[subspace]].

===Continuity errors===
*Although the Predacon fossil is seemingly an optic, everyone refers to it as a bone.

===Continuity notes===
*Predaking was GroundBridged to the Arctic by [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] in "[[Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion]]".
*Ultra Magnus was ordered to lead the Wreckers to Scotland in "[[Project Predacon]]", and picked up the Forge of Solus Prime in the same episode.
*The Apex Armor was recovered by [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] in "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
*Starscream continues to get as much mileage as he possibly can out of killing Cliffjumper in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]".
*Miko killed Hardshell and was inducted into the Wreckers by Wheeljack in "[[Hurt]]".
*Miko is thankful that she did not throw up on Wheeljack's upholstery, as she did with Bulkhead while hiding in his chest compartment in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*Ultra Magnus uses the same type of back hook for the Forge of Solus Prime as Optimus used for the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]], the latter having been made by Ratchet in "[[Alpha/Omega]]".
*The Predacon seen by Predaking during his brief memory sequence appears to be [[Skystalker (Prime)|Skystalker]] or another with his [[body-type]].
*Starscream learned Miko's name in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
*Wheeljack recites the first half of the Wrecker motto, "Wreckers don't call for back-up", which was used in "[[Loose Cannons]]". Bulkhead opts not to finish the saying, still trying to keep the peace between him and Ultra Magnus.

===Real-world references===
* Miko's rather haphazard fighting "style" takes some cues from professional wrestling, with numerous drop-kicks and flying tackles, and video games, including what looks to be a "Shoryuken" leaping uppercut from ''Street Fighter II''.

===Transformers references===
*Bulkhead left the Wreckers to join up with Optimus at the Battle of [[Thunderhead Pass]].

===Trivia===
*Since time is of the essence in retrieving Predacon bone fragments, Ultra Magnus taking his ship instead of using the GroundBridge seems like a rather significant tactical error for someone so insistent on proper protocol and preparation. Wheeljack alludes to this in the next episode.
*Wheeljack has a chest compartment like Bulkhead does, allowing him to store a human there in robot mode.
*Made official this episode, the number of [[Verity Carlo|human Wreckers]] in the Transformers franchise increases by 100%.
*Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode model has been modified to fit the Forge of Solus Prime where the trailer hitch would be, and unsurprisingly, bears a large resemblance to Optimus' initial vehicle mode.
*The Predacon fossil uncovered by Predaking is far more mechanical than the bone-like pieces found in prior episodes, appearing to be an intact [[Sensors#Optical sensors|optical sensor]].
*The Apex Armour adjusts its size to fit whoever activates it, including humans.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]