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Blaster (G1)

2014-12-31T02:43:52Z

SuzyP: /* Transformers/G.I. Joe */

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{{disambig3|Blaster}}
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:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]
'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, Soundwave, Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in 2005. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, you. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|225px|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his alternate mode, gathering the information they need to launch an attack. Blaster personally battled Straxus on the bridge, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival, and were captured and disassembled, their heads mounted on the wall of RAAT headquarters. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|225px|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] him back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his Batman, Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s, but Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got Nerf guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned, but with the aid of four [[Spacehikers|human children]], he was freed and took [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] down by collapsing a pylon on him. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free, and Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark, but the humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. [[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|left|275px|thumb]] Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a capsule in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}} [[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]] Soon after, the approaching object was revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], the power of which was stolen by Starscream. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically-powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|left|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld, but thanks to Grimlock planning ahead, the Autobots managed to follow them to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] during the fight, but was one of the few who managed to survive the attack, and there was still more than enough fight left in him to join Grimlock and the other survivors in charging the Decepticon position. He was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, had arrived and were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was putting all the combatants under hypnosis. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air where Blaster would then broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming the combatants. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them, and helped drive the evil possessing presence out of their leader. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

====="Another Time & Place"=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
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====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Blaster and his minions [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]] and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons#Recordicons #12|Recordicons #12}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]] and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

As the Decepticon invasion / uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s flagship during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender.{{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinant [[Wrecker]]s staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron, and an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The Anti-Matrix consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into shadow-demons. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the Space Bridge network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in the void, bringing an end to its machinations. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

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===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autbot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{note|Dreamwave's subsequent backruptcy ended ''The Age of Wrath'' half-way through. Unreleased issues would have seen Blaster and his team use an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment.}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Heart of Steel #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' 
''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
Blaster was [[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (G1)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the outbreak of the war, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.|upright=0.85]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of Soundwave. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|I dunno...sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by Kup. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wrecker]]s, suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from Hot Rod, so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by Perceptor, although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. [[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[Transwarp|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

===Bee in the City 2: Electric Boogaloo===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Boogaloo}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{ongoing}}
{{charstubfiction}}
 

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Blaster''' (Autobot, 1985/1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''38'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Electro-scrambler|Electro-scrambler gun]]
[[File:G1 Blaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Still think you're so superior, Soundwave?"]]
: Rather huge by the typical standards of Generation 1 Transformers, Blaster transforms into a miniature [[Non-vehicle non-beast alternate modes|"ghetto blaster" boombox]]. He features spring-loaded buttons: when pressed, his "start" button stays in the depressed position until his "stop" button is pressed, while pressing the "eject" button pops open his tape door, which can store a single [[Mini-Cassette]] Transformer. Due to what was presumably a common internal misassembly issue, many original Blasters had doors which would not open when the eject button is pressed, nor would the other buttons work. Blaster has rather limited useful articulation, located in his neck and shoulders.

:Blaster was reissued by Takara in 2006 as part of ''[[#TFC|The Transformers Collection]]'' and then by Hasbro in 2010 during ''[[#Hasbroreissue|Universe]]'' (see below)
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:G1toy twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (Autobot, 1987)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], Electro-Scrambler Gun

:For this Japanese-exclusive release, the first Blaster toy was [[redeco]]ed into a rather cacophonous new blue, yellow and red color scheme. Like his contemporary redeco Soundblaster, his chest door was [[retool]]ed in order to accommodate two cassettes at once, and changed from colorless clear plastic to translucent red as part of a gimmick with his pack-in partner, Steeljaw. This version of Steeljaw sports a new decal depicting [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], which reveals the Decepticon's weak spot when placed behind Twincast's red door, working in the same manner as a [[Tech Spec]]s decoder.

:Twincast was reissued as an [[e-HOBBY]] [[exclusive]] in 2006 (see below)
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Twincast/twincast.htm More information on Twincast at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:ActionMasterBlaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Which gun is better?]]
*'''Blaster w/ Flight Pack''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' "Flight Pack" backpack, "tractor beam electron gun"

:A non-transforming action figure, [[Action Master]] Blaster (not to be confused with the "Action Master Blasters" price-point) is compatible with any other Action Master vehicle or accessory. His design is based largely on his cartoon model, with elements from the toy added (like his visor). He came with the "[[Flight Pack]]" accessory, which converts from a winged jetpack to a massive "electro-scrambler" cannon.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Action Master Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech Asterisk===
[[File:Bta broadblast.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|They see me rollin', they hatin'.]]
*'''Broadblast meets Lumina''' (Binaltech, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BTA03'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/gun, Lumina Hoshi with stand, driving arms and driving legs

:A redeco of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Broadblast transforms into a 1:24 scale [[wikipedia:Scion xB|Toyota bB, aka the Scion xB]]. He has working doors, hood, and trunk, plus his engine becomes a non-firing weapon. He also comes with an extra decal sheet, which includes signs for "TBN" which ''possibly'' stands for "Transformers Broadcast Network" or some such; there is Japanese text on the labels as well, but it's really tiny and hard to make out.

:He came with a PVC-plastic figurine of the [[human]] newsgirl [[Lumina Hoshi (BA)|Lumina Hoshi]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Broadblast/broadblast.htm More information on Binaltech Asterisk Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===The Transformers Collection===
[[File:G1toy TFC blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (reissue, 2006)
**''ID number:'' '''21'''
**''Accessories:'' Steeljaw, Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Blaster's first reissue was the final instalment in Takara's ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' line of re-released Generation 1 toys. He features no notable changes from his original release, save for the fact that he comes packaged with Steeljaw, where his original release had gone without any pack-in partners.
{{-}}

===Collector's Edition===
[[File:G1toy twincast reissue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2006)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]], Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Twincast's first reissue was available exclusively through online retailer e-HOBBY, designed, as most e-HOBBY exclusives were at the time, to accompany the mass-release of the standard reissue of the original Blaster. Though Twincast was unusual in that he was a pre-existing character, where the previous few years' worth of e-HOBBY exclusive redecos had been new characters, he did come packaged with a new partner: a redeco of the Eject/Rewind mold named [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]]. The notable difference from the original Twincast was the absence of an Autobot sigil on his left upper arm. At the time, rather than feature unique packaging, all e-HOBBY exclusives came in a generic box in Autobot red or Decepticon purple; oddly, Twincast came in a Decepticon box, but since Flip Sides was characterized as a Decepticon sleeper agent, it just about made sense.
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[File:Blasteruniversetoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Preparations for the military strike, dubbed Operation Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Storm, are already underway.]]
*'''Autobot Blaster with Blockrock Mini-Con!''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Series:'' Classics Series
**''Accessories:'' Tri-barrel "particle feedback blaster"/bomb, double-barrel "harmonic wave cannon"/bomb, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key

:Blaster is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], transforming into a Cybertronic stealth bomber vaguely like an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|F-117A Nighthawk prototype]], the [[Wikipedia:Have Blue|Have Blue]]. He comes with three hexagonal prism "bombs"; one converts into his partner [[Blockrock]], the other two unfold into non-firing blaster weapons. Any one of these "bombs" can be stored in his robot-mode chest, which opens by plugging a [[Cyber Key]] into him; Blaster comes with a translucent black, gunmetal-bordered [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style Autobot key, in contrast to the [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] key that came with Soundwave. The other two bombs store in indents on the underside of his wings.

:His packaging art shows him with only half of his chest-door as clear-blue, emulating the original toy design's tape-window, but the final product (and stock photography) show the blue all the way across. However, his visor ''does'' have red paint to simulate the "goggle visor" look of the [[#Generation 1|original toy]] and Marvel comics model.

:This mold was also used to make ''Galaxy Force'' [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Classics Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Hasbroreissue}}
[[File:Universe2008 SDCC G1Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (2010)
**''Series:'' G1 Series
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun
:This [[San Diego Comic-Con]] [[exclusive]] reissue of Blaster comes with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]]. Released as part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' (2008) toyline]], the packaging also has a special foil-detailed outer slip case. Blaster is technically a slight [[redeco]], having metal-flake beige legs instead of metallic-swirl silver.

:This set was also made available at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Fair 2010, and was later released on the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] and then also sold at FanExpo Canada 2010.
{{-}}

===Device Label===
[[File:Device Label Broadcast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|What, not a real notebook?! You are the REAL ''Decept''icon!!]]
*'''Broad Blast''' ([[July 24|7/24]]/2010)
**''Accessories:'' USB cable

:''[[Transformers Device Label|Device Label]]'' Broad Blast transforms into a working USB hub (designed to look like the Toshiba Qosmio laptop computer). The USB functionality works in both robot and laptop modes. Generation 1 Mini-Cassettes can fit into the false tape-deck in his chest in robot mode, but cannot be stored while Broad Blast is in laptop mode due to his head being inside his chest in this form. The Generation 1 Blaster toy's Electro-Scrambler Gun can also fit into Broad Blast's [[5mm post|compatible fist holes]].

:Originally scheduled for release in late [[2009]], Broad Blast was delayed until July 2010. According to a report from getnews.jp at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, the delay was due to the discovery of a connection cut-off problem after the toy/USB hub is transformed into robot mode. TakaraTomy redesigned the entire lower body to fix this problem.<ref>[http://getnews.jp/archives/68064 Get News.jp report on Device Label Broadblast]</ref>
{{-}}

===Encore===
[[File:Encoretoy-Twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2012)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Nightstalker]], [[Stripes]], [[electro-scrambler]], two mini-cassette cases

:Twincast was available again as part of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' series of reissues. For this release of Twincast, the techno detailing of his door is smoothed over for cartoon accuracy. Also to add to cartoon accuracy, his face is colored in a metallic yellow with metallic light blue eyes instead of silver with gold eyes. All of the original Twincast's stickers have been replaced with tampographed detailing for this release, including a large Autobot symbol on his chest (where the techno detail was present on previous releases). Twincast also features a darker blue from the previous releases as well as a different shade of yellow for his tape deck door.

:Twincast came with Nightstalker and Stripes.

:This toy was redecoed into [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]] [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]].{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[File:TFgum blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (model kit, 1986)
**''Accessories:'' Electro-scrambler gun

:A snap-together model kit of Blaster was released by [[Kabaya]] as part of their ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of candy toys. Released in the third wave of the line and sculpted from red, grey and black plastic with a few stickers for detail, Blaster is broadly identical to his larger figure, right down to the moulded-in left-over details from his ''MicroChange'' release like his power switch and dials . There is one major difference: his chest does not open, so he can't store any of the tapes from Kabaya's smaller ''[[Transformers Choco]]'' line the way the ''Transformers Gum'' Soundwave can.

::*''[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/g1-kabaya-cybertrons-441/broadcast-gum-3398/ More information on Transformers Gum Broadcast at TFW2005.com]''
{{-}}

===Decoy===
[[File:Decoy blaster.jpg|thumb]]{{anchor|TakaraDecoy}}
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)
:Blaster was among the many characters rendered by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as part of their series of 1.5" ''keshigomu'' figurines. Like all the Autobots in the series, Blaster was molded in soft red rubber, and featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his [[Tech Spec]]s, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines.
:Blaster was available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, in a variety of colours through "gachapon" capsule machines, and later, in a peach coloration randomly packed as part of various other box sets distributed by [[Seven]].

{{anchor|HasbroDecoy}}
*'''Blaster''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': '''29'''
:The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Decoy Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[File:Blaster-atx.jpg|thumb|Have some NON-EXISTENCE, courtesy of FLAGGING SALES!]]
*'''Blaster''' (Booster, <s>2007</s>)

:Blaster was likely to have been one of several ''Transformers [[Attacktix]]'' Booster pieces, using a powerful spring-loaded "blaster" missile launcher attack. Though displayed as part of the ''Attacktix'' display at the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' "Celebration IV" convention, he —and all the other pieces revealed at the show— were ultimately never released.

{{canceledattacktix}}
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[File:Robotheroesblasterthrust.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Waiting futilely for Robot Heroes Scrounge.]]
*'''Blaster and Thrust''' (2008)

:Part of the third wave of ''Universe'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', "Generation 1 Series" Blaster comes packaged with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation. His headsculpt is more toy-based than cartoon-based, featuring his "goggles" (even though his eyes kind of pop out from them).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/RHBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Robot Heroes Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Despite the fact that Blaster's finalized [[character model]]—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives him a set of individual eyes, the Marvel issues drawn by [[Don Perlin]] and [[José Delbo]] base Blaster's head design on his toy, with a goggled visor. When the UK artists jumped to the American book late in its run, they continued to draw Blaster from his finalized model. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in robot mode, but four in alternate mode. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster.{{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner Flight Pack did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty D.C. hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Twincast)
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("All-fire")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'', Blaster), '''Digital''' (Twincast)
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Platon''' (Twincast)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Blaster Blaster's Universe profile at NFTA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]

Blaster (G1)

2014-12-31T02:40:42Z

SuzyP: /* Generation 1 */

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{{disambig3|Blaster}}
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:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]
'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, Soundwave, Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in 2005. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, you. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|225px|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his alternate mode, gathering the information they need to launch an attack. Blaster personally battled Straxus on the bridge, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival, and were captured and disassembled, their heads mounted on the wall of RAAT headquarters. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|225px|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] him back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his Batman, Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s, but Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got Nerf guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned, but with the aid of four [[Spacehikers|human children]], he was freed and took [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] down by collapsing a pylon on him. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free, and Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark, but the humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. [[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|left|275px|thumb]] Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a capsule in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}} [[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]] Soon after, the approaching object was revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], the power of which was stolen by Starscream. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically-powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|left|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld, but thanks to Grimlock planning ahead, the Autobots managed to follow them to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] during the fight, but was one of the few who managed to survive the attack, and there was still more than enough fight left in him to join Grimlock and the other survivors in charging the Decepticon position. He was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, had arrived and were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was putting all the combatants under hypnosis. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air where Blaster would then broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming the combatants. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them, and helped drive the evil possessing presence out of their leader. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

====="Another Time & Place"=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Blaster and his minions [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]] and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons#Recordicons #12|Recordicons #12}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]] and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

As the Decepticon invasion / uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s flagship during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender.{{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinant [[Wrecker]]s staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron, and an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The Anti-Matrix consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into shadow-demons. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the Space Bridge network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in the void, bringing an end to its machinations. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

{{-}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====Attack of the Insecticons====
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autbot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{note|Dreamwave's subsequent backruptcy ended ''The Age of Wrath'' half-way through. Unreleased issues would have seen Blaster and his team use an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment.}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with this flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Heart of Steel #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' 
''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
Blaster was [[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (G1)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the outbreak of the war, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.|upright=0.85]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of Soundwave. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|I dunno...sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by Kup. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wrecker]]s, suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from Hot Rod, so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by Perceptor, although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. [[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[Transwarp|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

===Bee in the City 2: Electric Boogaloo===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Boogaloo}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{ongoing}}
{{charstubfiction}}
 

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Blaster''' (Autobot, 1985/1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''38'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Electro-scrambler|Electro-scrambler gun]]
[[File:G1 Blaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Still think you're so superior, Soundwave?"]]
: Rather huge by the typical standards of Generation 1 Transformers, Blaster transforms into a miniature [[Non-vehicle non-beast alternate modes|"ghetto blaster" boombox]]. He features spring-loaded buttons: when pressed, his "start" button stays in the depressed position until his "stop" button is pressed, while pressing the "eject" button pops open his tape door, which can store a single [[Mini-Cassette]] Transformer. Due to what was presumably a common internal misassembly issue, many original Blasters had doors which would not open when the eject button is pressed, nor would the other buttons work. Blaster has rather limited useful articulation, located in his neck and shoulders.

:Blaster was reissued by Takara in 2006 as part of ''[[#TFC|The Transformers Collection]]'' and then by Hasbro in 2010 during ''[[#Hasbroreissue|Universe]]'' (see below)
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:G1toy twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (Autobot, 1987)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], Electro-Scrambler Gun

:For this Japanese-exclusive release, the first Blaster toy was [[redeco]]ed into a rather cacophonous new blue, yellow and red color scheme. Like his contemporary redeco Soundblaster, his chest door was [[retool]]ed in order to accommodate two cassettes at once, and changed from colorless clear plastic to translucent red as part of a gimmick with his pack-in partner, Steeljaw. This version of Steeljaw sports a new decal depicting [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], which reveals the Decepticon's weak spot when placed behind Twincast's red door, working in the same manner as a [[Tech Spec]]s decoder.

:Twincast was reissued as an [[e-HOBBY]] [[exclusive]] in 2006 (see below)
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Twincast/twincast.htm More information on Twincast at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:ActionMasterBlaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Which gun is better?]]
*'''Blaster w/ Flight Pack''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' "Flight Pack" backpack, "tractor beam electron gun"

:A non-transforming action figure, [[Action Master]] Blaster (not to be confused with the "Action Master Blasters" price-point) is compatible with any other Action Master vehicle or accessory. His design is based largely on his cartoon model, with elements from the toy added (like his visor). He came with the "[[Flight Pack]]" accessory, which converts from a winged jetpack to a massive "electro-scrambler" cannon.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Action Master Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech Asterisk===
[[File:Bta broadblast.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|They see me rollin', they hatin'.]]
*'''Broadblast meets Lumina''' (Binaltech, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BTA03'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/gun, Lumina Hoshi with stand, driving arms and driving legs

:A redeco of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Broadblast transforms into a 1:24 scale [[wikipedia:Scion xB|Toyota bB, aka the Scion xB]]. He has working doors, hood, and trunk, plus his engine becomes a non-firing weapon. He also comes with an extra decal sheet, which includes signs for "TBN" which ''possibly'' stands for "Transformers Broadcast Network" or some such; there is Japanese text on the labels as well, but it's really tiny and hard to make out.

:He came with a PVC-plastic figurine of the [[human]] newsgirl [[Lumina Hoshi (BA)|Lumina Hoshi]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Broadblast/broadblast.htm More information on Binaltech Asterisk Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===The Transformers Collection===
[[File:G1toy TFC blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (reissue, 2006)
**''ID number:'' '''21'''
**''Accessories:'' Steeljaw, Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Blaster's first reissue was the final instalment in Takara's ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' line of re-released Generation 1 toys. He features no notable changes from his original release, save for the fact that he comes packaged with Steeljaw, where his original release had gone without any pack-in partners.
{{-}}

===Collector's Edition===
[[File:G1toy twincast reissue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2006)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]], Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Twincast's first reissue was available exclusively through online retailer e-HOBBY, designed, as most e-HOBBY exclusives were at the time, to accompany the mass-release of the standard reissue of the original Blaster. Though Twincast was unusual in that he was a pre-existing character, where the previous few years' worth of e-HOBBY exclusive redecos had been new characters, he did come packaged with a new partner: a redeco of the Eject/Rewind mold named [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]]. The notable difference from the original Twincast was the absence of an Autobot sigil on his left upper arm. At the time, rather than feature unique packaging, all e-HOBBY exclusives came in a generic box in Autobot red or Decepticon purple; oddly, Twincast came in a Decepticon box, but since Flip Sides was characterized as a Decepticon sleeper agent, it just about made sense.
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[File:Blasteruniversetoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Preparations for the military strike, dubbed Operation Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Storm, are already underway.]]
*'''Autobot Blaster with Blockrock Mini-Con!''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Series:'' Classics Series
**''Accessories:'' Tri-barrel "particle feedback blaster"/bomb, double-barrel "harmonic wave cannon"/bomb, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key

:Blaster is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], transforming into a Cybertronic stealth bomber vaguely like an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|F-117A Nighthawk prototype]], the [[Wikipedia:Have Blue|Have Blue]]. He comes with three hexagonal prism "bombs"; one converts into his partner [[Blockrock]], the other two unfold into non-firing blaster weapons. Any one of these "bombs" can be stored in his robot-mode chest, which opens by plugging a [[Cyber Key]] into him; Blaster comes with a translucent black, gunmetal-bordered [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style Autobot key, in contrast to the [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] key that came with Soundwave. The other two bombs store in indents on the underside of his wings.

:His packaging art shows him with only half of his chest-door as clear-blue, emulating the original toy design's tape-window, but the final product (and stock photography) show the blue all the way across. However, his visor ''does'' have red paint to simulate the "goggle visor" look of the [[#Generation 1|original toy]] and Marvel comics model.

:This mold was also used to make ''Galaxy Force'' [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Classics Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Hasbroreissue}}
[[File:Universe2008 SDCC G1Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (2010)
**''Series:'' G1 Series
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun
:This [[San Diego Comic-Con]] [[exclusive]] reissue of Blaster comes with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]]. Released as part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' (2008) toyline]], the packaging also has a special foil-detailed outer slip case. Blaster is technically a slight [[redeco]], having metal-flake beige legs instead of metallic-swirl silver.

:This set was also made available at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Fair 2010, and was later released on the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] and then also sold at FanExpo Canada 2010.
{{-}}

===Device Label===
[[File:Device Label Broadcast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|What, not a real notebook?! You are the REAL ''Decept''icon!!]]
*'''Broad Blast''' ([[July 24|7/24]]/2010)
**''Accessories:'' USB cable

:''[[Transformers Device Label|Device Label]]'' Broad Blast transforms into a working USB hub (designed to look like the Toshiba Qosmio laptop computer). The USB functionality works in both robot and laptop modes. Generation 1 Mini-Cassettes can fit into the false tape-deck in his chest in robot mode, but cannot be stored while Broad Blast is in laptop mode due to his head being inside his chest in this form. The Generation 1 Blaster toy's Electro-Scrambler Gun can also fit into Broad Blast's [[5mm post|compatible fist holes]].

:Originally scheduled for release in late [[2009]], Broad Blast was delayed until July 2010. According to a report from getnews.jp at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, the delay was due to the discovery of a connection cut-off problem after the toy/USB hub is transformed into robot mode. TakaraTomy redesigned the entire lower body to fix this problem.<ref>[http://getnews.jp/archives/68064 Get News.jp report on Device Label Broadblast]</ref>
{{-}}

===Encore===
[[File:Encoretoy-Twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2012)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Nightstalker]], [[Stripes]], [[electro-scrambler]], two mini-cassette cases

:Twincast was available again as part of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' series of reissues. For this release of Twincast, the techno detailing of his door is smoothed over for cartoon accuracy. Also to add to cartoon accuracy, his face is colored in a metallic yellow with metallic light blue eyes instead of silver with gold eyes. All of the original Twincast's stickers have been replaced with tampographed detailing for this release, including a large Autobot symbol on his chest (where the techno detail was present on previous releases). Twincast also features a darker blue from the previous releases as well as a different shade of yellow for his tape deck door.

:Twincast came with Nightstalker and Stripes.

:This toy was redecoed into [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]] [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]].{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[File:TFgum blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (model kit, 1986)
**''Accessories:'' Electro-scrambler gun

:A snap-together model kit of Blaster was released by [[Kabaya]] as part of their ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of candy toys. Released in the third wave of the line and sculpted from red, grey and black plastic with a few stickers for detail, Blaster is broadly identical to his larger figure, right down to the moulded-in left-over details from his ''MicroChange'' release like his power switch and dials . There is one major difference: his chest does not open, so he can't store any of the tapes from Kabaya's smaller ''[[Transformers Choco]]'' line the way the ''Transformers Gum'' Soundwave can.

::*''[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/g1-kabaya-cybertrons-441/broadcast-gum-3398/ More information on Transformers Gum Broadcast at TFW2005.com]''
{{-}}

===Decoy===
[[File:Decoy blaster.jpg|thumb]]{{anchor|TakaraDecoy}}
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)
:Blaster was among the many characters rendered by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as part of their series of 1.5" ''keshigomu'' figurines. Like all the Autobots in the series, Blaster was molded in soft red rubber, and featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his [[Tech Spec]]s, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines.
:Blaster was available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, in a variety of colours through "gachapon" capsule machines, and later, in a peach coloration randomly packed as part of various other box sets distributed by [[Seven]].

{{anchor|HasbroDecoy}}
*'''Blaster''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': '''29'''
:The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Decoy Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[File:Blaster-atx.jpg|thumb|Have some NON-EXISTENCE, courtesy of FLAGGING SALES!]]
*'''Blaster''' (Booster, <s>2007</s>)

:Blaster was likely to have been one of several ''Transformers [[Attacktix]]'' Booster pieces, using a powerful spring-loaded "blaster" missile launcher attack. Though displayed as part of the ''Attacktix'' display at the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' "Celebration IV" convention, he —and all the other pieces revealed at the show— were ultimately never released.

{{canceledattacktix}}
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[File:Robotheroesblasterthrust.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Waiting futilely for Robot Heroes Scrounge.]]
*'''Blaster and Thrust''' (2008)

:Part of the third wave of ''Universe'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', "Generation 1 Series" Blaster comes packaged with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation. His headsculpt is more toy-based than cartoon-based, featuring his "goggles" (even though his eyes kind of pop out from them).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/RHBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Robot Heroes Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Despite the fact that Blaster's finalized [[character model]]—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives him a set of individual eyes, the Marvel issues drawn by [[Don Perlin]] and [[José Delbo]] base Blaster's head design on his toy, with a goggled visor. When the UK artists jumped to the American book late in its run, they continued to draw Blaster from his finalized model. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in robot mode, but four in alternate mode. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster.{{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner Flight Pack did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty D.C. hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Twincast)
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("All-fire")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'', Blaster), '''Digital''' (Twincast)
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Platon''' (Twincast)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Blaster Blaster's Universe profile at NFTA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]

Scoop (G1)

2014-12-28T05:15:50Z

SuzyP: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{featured}}
{{disambig2|the heroic Autobot Targetmaster|his mirror-universe counterpart|Scoop (SG)}}
:''Scoop is an [[Autobot]] [[Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Scoop g1 boxart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Can he fix it? You bet your ''[[turbocharger]]'' he can.]]
If you're out of ammo and pinned by heavy enemy fire deep in the bowels of a slag swamp, '''Scoop''' is the robot you want on your side. He's possibly the best field infantry robot there is. A gung-ho fighter who uses cool-headed logic and battle-hardened tactics, he can outwit the enemy at every turn. Relentless in his resolve, he's always willing to help others out, no matter how dangerous the situation. Scoop is also strongly religious, and he believes in the buried legends regarding [[Primus]] written about him in [[Covenant of Primus|His Covenant]].

Scoop's greatest asset, his dedication-- both religious and job-related-- is also his greatest weakness. Since he pushes so hard and for so long, he's prone to overheating, especially if pushing his shovel past its limit. He's also often so engrossed in his spiritual literature that he likely won't see hints of betrayal around him unless his texts explicitly spell it out.

His [[Targetmaster]] partners are [[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] and [[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]].

{{quote|Want my advice? Don't bring a [[sword]] to a gunfight!|Scoop|"[[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:YesterdaysHeroes-ScoopQuickmix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Scoop likes to send in his crotch as an advance scout.]]
Scoop was a member of the Autobot Resistance Movement on Cybertron, working for [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]]. Along with several others, including the [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and the [[Classic Pretender]]s, he helped stage several successful raids on Decepticon fuel depots and military outposts. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

''Scoop and his fellow Autobots were searching for a rogue [[Triggerbot]] named [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]], who had gone AWOL after a disastrous mission. Meanwhile, Scoop and his fellow '''Decepticon''' [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] were tormenting Backstreet at a run-down old carnival.'' {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}

{{note|This was not the most-bestest edited story ever.}}
{{-}}

=====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''=====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}
Scoop was present when [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] led the Autobots against the joint Decepticon leaders [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], who had tried to hijack the oil reserves of [[Alaska]]. The Autobots drove off the Decepticons, but not before [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] shot a minibot because he turned off his targeting computer. Optimus then sat his troops down and explained to them the differences between Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|Attack at Dawn}}

Scoop was among the Autobots monitoring the Decepticons from a distance when Megatron made peaceful gestures to Humanity in [[New York City]]. The Autobots returned to the Ark and discovered that a statue of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] that the Decepticons had gifted to New York was actually Snaptrap in disguise. Snaptrap went on a rampage and the Decepticons used this distraction to attack various other targets. Optimus Prime led the Autobots to narrowly defeat this menace. Scoop, Quickmix and the [[Sparkabot]]s managed to bring down Piranacon. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 4#Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle|The Troy Principle}}

He helped in the rescue effort when the Decepticons attacked an oil tanker, generally standing around and asking Optimus Prime what to do. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 5|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}}

When the Decepticons stole three nuclear missiles from the United State Federation to hold the world to ransom, Optimus Prime put the entire burden of discovering their whereabouts on the shoulders of the Double Targetmasters. Scoop and his robotic guns discovered the Decepticon hideout. Scoop lured [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] away, while Tracer and Holepunch investigated further, before getting scared off by the Firecons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 8|Megatron's Ultimatum}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
[[File:Invasion-cannotwillnot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|"Oh, great. Who made me stand next to a bunch of 1984-1985 guys? I might as well be wearing a [[Invasion (issue)|red shhhhHOOOOLY SCRAP!]]"]]
Scoop and his Nebulan partners was under the command of [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] at the Autobots' base [[Ironworks]] when the evil [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] attacked. Scoop and his Nebulans were ignored by Ultra Magnus during the evil Autobot's demonstration of power. Moments later, the heroic Decepticons arrived and forced Ultra Magnus to retreat, the heroic Autobots only being able to watch, and then listened to [[Treadshot (SG)|Treadshot]]'s story of how they came to arrive. Treadshot requested that one of Metalhawk's Autobots join the heroic Decepticon [[Octopunch (SG)|Octopunch]] in tracking down the evil [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]]. Scoop and his Nebulans accompanied Octopunch underneath the Ironworks base where they met up with the evil Decepticons [[Skullgrin]] and [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]]. While the two Octopunches fought each other, Scoop fought against Skullgrin. Being a Targetmaster, Scoop's firepower easily defeated Skullgrin. The heroic Octopunch asked Scoop to shut down Wheeljack's device which Scoop delegated to his Nebulans. Tracer complained but the three partners had no luck in doing so. Even Octopunch couldn't do anything so they left. After the battle with the evil Autobots, Scoop was visibly upset as Cybertron, Nebulos and other planets exploded due to the energy backlash.
{{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
Scoop and [[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]] constructed part of a [[space bridge]] network to link Earth and [[Nebulos]] in the [[Glass Mountains]], [[Oklahoma]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 2}}

===Ladybird continuity===
[[File:DecepticonUnderground-Scoop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|And now we know why he gets to be a Wrecker.]]
Scoop was part of an Autobot team that located the Decepticons and their secret underground city on [[Nebulos]]. Along with [[Quickswitch (G1)|Quickswitch]], he sealed the only exit, trapping the Decepticons. Quickmix subsequently sealed the exit with cement. {{storylink|Decepticons Underground}}

{{note|This was the last book, so presumably Quickmix and Scoop won the war all by themselves by burying the Decepticons alive.}}
{{-}}

===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
[[File:G2DoubleTargetmasters.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He may be hard to see, but we're sure he's being resolute.]]
Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, life existed. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities. Apparently among those robots were the Autobots [[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]], [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], and Scoop, who transformed from their vehicle modes and shot at some unknown attackers. {{storylink|Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|G2: MTMTE, Part 1}}

{{note|Footage from the [[commercial]] featuring the Autobot "Double Targetmaster" trio was spliced into the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of the episode by way of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. Outside of this, the only other "appearance" by the Double Targetmasters in ''The Transformers'' was reuse of this commercial animation in the season 5 [[title sequence]].}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:Stormbringer2 ScoopTwintwist.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|An old-fashioned hole-digging! By gar, it's been a while!]]
Scoop may seem too good to be true when you first meet him, but the truth is he ''really is'' too good: he's a true believer in [[Primus]] and likes doing good deeds. {{storylink|Three Monologues}} He first learned the prophecies of the [[Covenant of Primes]] while at the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]] studying under [[Shockwave (G1)|Senator Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}}

On [[Varas Centralus]] in the Kol system, the [[Wrecker]]s were called in by [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s [[Infiltration protocol|infiltration team]] to deal with the Decepticon Siege Armature. Scoop and [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]] made slow progress in making a storm tunnel to the enemy base, and wondered how in [[Primacron (G1)|Primacron]] the Decepticons could get their base up in such dense rock. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} The Wreckers were recalled to Cybertron by Operations Command to investigate the possible return of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and rescue [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire's]] missing science expedition. After the Wreckers saved [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] and [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]], Scoop and Twin Twist were again assigned to tunnelling into the enemy stronghold. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}}

When Thunderwing returned to Cybertron, Scoop, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were sent as scouts. As the memories of Thunderwing's failure to convince [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] to go along with his [[Pretender|bio-cybernetic exo-shell]] technology flooded the monster's mind, it unleashed a wave of rage that forced Broadside to carry off Scoop by the scruff of his neck as the scouts ran for cover. The three Autobots later attempted to get some heat off of Twin Twist by firing on Thunderwing, but were all blown away by a thunderous clap of the monstrosity's hands. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

[[File:ThreeMonologues-religiousnut.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|So it seems Starscream found Scoop's Rapture Ready account.]]
After the war's end, Scoop returned to Cybertron, where he renounced the Autobots in favor of the "Chosen One", [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}} He founded the [[Construction Patrol]] to fix the battle damage in Iacon, help the wounded, fix blackouts, and restore Cybertron's deep space communications. He was such a beloved, awesome dude that Starscream, who had recently become leader of the neutrals, believed the builder was running an angle to seize power himself. An old Autobot comrade of Scoop's, [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], warned Starscream that Scoop was a jealous, greedy sort and that he'd found evidence that the builder had caused the blackout he'd 'fixed'. This was actually a big crock: Rattrap was framing Scoop because he's a git, and the altruist really was trying to help and even believed that Starscream was a Primus-appointed leader. Since "altruists are unpredictable", Starscream let Scoop be arrested for crimes he hadn't committed. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

Once imprisoned, Scoop began researching the [[Covenant of Primus]], and so when Starscream came knocking on his cell after the [[Necrotitan]] appeared outside of the city, Scoop had more dogma for the "Chosen One." Scoop still believed in Starscream's Primus-designated stature, though he warned of a legend that predated [[Nova Prime]]'s reign. There would be a "false prophet who would remake everything," and that the "stars would scream." {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Starscream left, and Rattrap snuck in to talk to Scoop next. Scoop worried that while Starscream was the chosen one, he might have been chosen to bring about the end of the world. Scoop's doomsaying started seeming plausible once a surge from the Necrotitan razed the city. Scoop, now free, chose to help his fellow citizens rather than take revenge on Starscream. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} Scoop and his Construction Patrol continued to pull survivors from the city's wreckage, but when Starscream returned, Scoop began turning his scorn and the city against Starscream. Scoop pointed at the dark growth on Starscream's chest and called it a mark placed by Primus. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} Soon thereafter, the Necrotitan itself marched across the city, leaving it in flames. Scoop's anger burned as well, and he accused Starscream of betraying Cybertron because of his lack of faith. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}}

During the battle with the Necrotitan, Scoop and Rattrap worked together to evacuate the other neutrals. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Starscream pointed out that Rattrap was only helping out to make himself look good, bothering Scoop who told him to stop thinking about schemes for once. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} The Necrotitan was eventually defeated by [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], proving the prophet Scoop had believed in for so long untrue and leaving him rather glum and confused. When Starscream showed up for some friendly taunts over his misgivings, Scoop shocked the former Decepticon by revealing he'd first learned about the prophecy from Shockwave himself. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} That's when Shockwave enacted his master plan, dispatching an army of [[Ammonite]]s to cause chaos on Cybertron. Scoop joined a team of Autobots and Decepticons setting out to stop Shockwave, but elected to stay behind instead when the group proved too large for [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] to teleport. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}}

After Shockwave was defeated, Scoop ended up in the company of [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s Decepticons. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} {{storylink|Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} He remained with them as they traveled to [[Earth]], claiming to have renounced his faith in Starscream, {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}} when in fact he was acting as Starscream's agent, secretly keeping him up to date on the Decepticons' conflict with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s forces. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}} At one point Scoop was sent by Soundwave to fetch Galvatron, who responded by pointing a gun in his face and mocking his beliefs. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Scoops{{sic}} discovered an ancient Cybertronian prophecy speaking of a chosen one, whom Scoops believed to be [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Starscream wasn't so sure. {{storylink|Dark Cybertron (Legends)|Dark Cybertron}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1-toy Scoop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Bob the Builder not included.]]
*'''Scoop''' (Targetmaster, [[1988]])
**''Accessories'': "Holepunch" & "Tracer" Targetmasters

:Scoop transforms into an orange and yellow front payloader. The loader arm and bucket are hinged with two joints and thus can actually be used to simulate the loading of things. His wheels are appropriately large and his overall sculpting is quite detailed for a small Targetmaster.

:Most of the smaller Targetmasters have two [[5mm post|5mm mount points]] for their Nebulan companions, however Scoop is quite the exception with a total of ''five'' mount points. Holepunch and Tracer (or any other accessories with handle pegs of the correct size) can be mounted on either side of the vehicle, on either of two points at the rear, or at a single, central point at the front of the vehicle. Scoop's Targetmaster partners can attach to this central point in robot mode to create the illusion that he is looking through a gun sight. He also has very small hands, so his Targetmasters instead mount on the outside of his wrists. Holepunch and Tracer can become two separate handguns, or either can attach to the rear of the other gun to form a single rifle.

:No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Scoop/scoop.htm More information on Scoop at TFU.info]''

===''Generations''===
[[File:Scoop-deluxe-generations.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I must rebuild you because God told me to.]]
*'''Autobot Scoop''' (Deluxe, [[2014]])
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #014'''
**''Accessories:'' Holepunch, Caliburst

:Part of the eighth wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Scoop is a modernized, more [[Articulation|articulated]] version of his original toy. He comes with equally-modernized versions of his partners, Holepunch and <s>Tracer</s> Caliburst ([[trademark]] reasons...), who retain their abilities to transform from robots to guns, and to combine into a larger weapon. This time around, though, Scoop's got 5mm fistholes to wield them normally—while still having some pegholes on his arms and legs if you're feeling nostalgic. Scoop comes packaged with a copy of "[[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2]]."

:Scoop's stock photography shows his loader bucket with two differently colored halves, the front half being yellow like the original toy.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenScoop/scoop.htm More information on ''Generations'' Scoop at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Scoop Scoop's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue

2014-12-22T04:21:33Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=35
|prev=Births, Deaths, and Interventions
|next=Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays
|image=MTMTE35 regcvr.jpg
|title="The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 26]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=November 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=Alex Milne and [[Brian Shearer]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''The ''Lost Lighters'' realise that Brainstorm has time-travelled into the past in order to change history... and it looks like he has succeeded, as present-day Cybertron has become a world under the totalitarian grip of Functionism!'''

==Synopsis==

[[Minimus Ambus]] returns to Cybertron following a two-million-year service in the [[Primal Vanguard]], and is met at the spaceport by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]. Minimus is a little disappointed, hoping his brother [[Dominus Ambus]], Rewind's partner, would have come to greet him in person, especially given that he has not heard from him in months. Minimus's return home has come about due to the decommissioning of the [[Primal Vanguard]], occurring in the wake of the [[Functionist Council]]'s sale of [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]] to the [[Black Block Consortia|Black Box Consortia]] to end hostilities with the rest of the galaxy, which has also led to the "recall" of the now-obsolete spaceflight-capable [[Lunabot]]s. As the pair are attempting to leave, Minimus's outdated papers cause concern for a law-enforcement "[[Functionary]]", but just as he is scanning Minimus to confirm his function, a battered 'bot suddenly charges through the crowd, pursued by another officer. The two Functionaries gun down the fleeing 'bot, and report to the Functionst Council headquarters that they have just "recalled" the last Lunabot. Few 'bots even pay attention to the grisly scene, however... just another commonplace sight on ''present-day'' Cybertron.

Across the galaxy, on the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] smashes in Rewind's hab suite door when he hears him cry out, but the little archivist has merely been having a bad dream. Things are tense between the pair; Chromedome had hoped to pick up their relationship where they left off, but Rewind is mindful of the fact that neither of them is truly the same 'bot that the other one was with. Chromedome asks about Rewind's nightmare, and the archivist tells him he was remembering the "Dark Dawn" half-a-million years prior, when the Functionists recalled the laser pointers. Chromedome is baffled; such an event never occurred, as Functionism had long since been abandoned by that stage. Rewind pulls up the relevant information from his database, before realising that he too has no memory of it...

In the ''Lost Light'' morgue, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] solemnly regards [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'s dead body when [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] enters. Megatron expects a castigation, and Rodimus ''wants'' to deliver one, but more important matters demand their attention: namely, [[Brainstorm]]'s recent attempt to poison everyone on the ship by tainting the drinks at [[Swerve's]], which only left everyone unconscious instead of dead because [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] waters down his drinks. Rodimus reveals that Brainstorm has fled through means of a ''[[time travel|time machine]]'', a situation so ludicrous that Megatron has a mini-breakdown just trying to process it. Regaining his composure, Megatron concludes that rather than flee to escape repercussion for the poisoning, as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] believes, rather, Brainstorm poisoned everyone so he would be ''free'' to travel back in time and change the outcome of the war.

On Cybertron, Rewind brings Minimus back to his and Dominus's home, where they watch pirated security footage of a protester being executed by the Functionist Council by means of the explosive [[obsolescence chip]]s that all Cybertronians are now implanted with. Minimus is slowly realising that Rewind and his brother are anti-Functionist rebels when Dominus appears, and the reason for his recent silence is revealed: the council has subjected him to the horrifying process that has supplanted [[empurata]], replacing his head with a screen, thereby robbing him of his face and voice and leaving him able only to communicate through on-screen text. Minimus is overwhelmed, but has to leave to meet with the other former members of the Primal Vanguard so they can receive their new job allocations.

Elsewhere on the planet, in their floating headquarters, "[[Cog (IDW)|The Cog]]", the Functionist Council meets to discuss the next mass recall, choosing their victims not based on functional value, but rather, on their ability to store data that could be used against the council. Thus it is decreed that [[data slug]]s shall be recalled...

On the ''Lost Light'', [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] is explaining the means by which Brainstorm has time-travelled: his enigmatic [[briefcase]] is the control unit for a time machine made up of multiple other briefcases, linked to the ship's [[quantum engine]]s, and coded for use only by his [[spark]] type. Moreover, Brainstorm has found a way to circumvent the {{w|grandfather paradox}} inherent in attempts to change history, with the new timeline he has created already co-existing with and slowly "bedding in" around them before taking hold. The 'bots' only recourse is to use the quantum-duplicate control briefcase recovered from the other ''Lost Light'' to follow Brainstorm back in time and stop him, and Megatron believes he knows where the scientist has gone: to kill [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]].

Minimus Ambus finds himself surrounded by chaos as he speeds back to his brother's home, data slug 'bots dying all around him as their obsolescence chips are remotely detonated. Worse yet, upon his return, he finds that Dominus has been remotely mind-wiped by the Council, now capable only of expressing and understanding the most basic words. Through the words on Dominus's screen, the Council speak directly to Minimus and Rewind, revealing that they discovered Dominus's treachery via cameras secretly installed in Minimus's eyes—a process all Primal Vanguard members were secretly subjected to on their return flight, as a first test of a new surveillance system that will soon become mandatory for all Cybertronians. Rewind vows to stop them, announcing that Dominus has deactivated his obsolescence chip... but alas, the Council reveal that his ''back-up'' chip is still active. Seconds later, Rewind is gone...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Minimus Ambus]]/[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (2)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'s corpse (10)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (12)
*''[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]'' (13)
*''[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]'' (14)
*''[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'' (16)
*''[[Doublecross]]'' (17)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (33)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (34)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Brainstorm]]'' (18)

|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (4)
*[[Functionary|Functionaries]] (5, 7)
*[[Lunabot]] fugitive (6)
*[[Female protester]] (19)
*[[Dominus Ambus]] (20)
*[[One-of-Twelve]] (21)
*[[Two-of-Twelve]] (22)
*[[Three-of-Twelve]] (23)
*[[Four-of-Twelve]] (24)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Five-of-Twelve]] (25)
*[[Six-of-Twelve]] (26)
*[[Seven-of-Twelve]] (27)
*[[Eight-of-Twelve]] (28)
*[[Nine-of-Twelve]] (29)
*[[Ten-of-Twelve]] (30)
*[[Eleven-of-Twelve]] (31)
*[[Twelve-of-Twelve]] (32)
*[[Hot Rod (Henkei!)|Hot Rod]] (35)
*[[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (36)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==

"I'm fine. '''Bad dream''', that's all. My first flashback. These things'll happen when you've got a head full of history."
:—'''Rewind'''

"This conversation is ridiculous. '''You''' are ridiculous. Everything that's happened in the last few days is '''intensely''' ridiculous. Six months into this '''shambles of a quest'''—six months!—and not a day goes by—not an '''hour'''—when I don't have to stand back from this endless parade of '''nonsense''' and remind myself, by means of several blows to the head, that I am here of my '''own volition''', and not as a result of some—some '''elaborate trap''' set by Optimus Prime. Why bother looking for the Knights of Cybertron? Why postpone my trial? I've already been '''convicted'''—and '''this''' is my '''punishment. You!''' This '''ship!''' This '''life!'''" 
"Better?" 
"...Yes. I apologize." 
"Not at all. On this ship, a minor breakdown is practically a '''rite of passage.'''"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Won't Brainstorm's meddling simply create a second timeline that runs alongside our own—like a '''parallel universe?''' Hello...?" 
... 
"Oh, so I'm not allowed to take an interest in magic? I don't just captain ships and build [[Rodpod]]s, you know!"
:—'''Rodimus'''

'''Ultra Magnus:''' "What do we do now? Take his machine apart? Blow it up?" 
'''Perceptor:''' "No, that would strand Brainstorm in the past—and quite possibly '''cement''' any changes he's made. Will make. Might make." 
'''Rodimus:''' "It's time travel, Percy. Leave your tenses at the door."

"They took his words!" 
"His what?" 
"His '''vocabulary!''' All he's got left are the '''basics:''' yes, no, up, down, big, small... and the words he's lost—when you speak to him, the words he's lost—he doesn't know what they '''mean''' anymore! And there are certain words, Minimus—'''tiny''' words—'''important''' words—there are certain words you can't afford to lose."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*We are not informed that the opening scene is set in the present day until it ends, when ''More than Meets the Eye'' standard is to establish time periods through captions at the ''start'' of such scenes. Before this revelation, there's enough going on in the scene to make us think that it could just be set in the pre-war era, but there are also some clues sprinkled in: Minimus has been away for two million years, for instance, and as the pre-war era was at least four million years ago, that would place Minimus's departure at six million years ago, in [[Nova Prime]]'s era, and he's not that old. Mention is also made of how the intellectual class has been outlawed, and how "knock-offs" (Transformers who were [[reproduction|constructed cold]]) have been deported, scenarios incompatible with what we have seen of pre-war Cybertron in the past.
*Broadly speaking, the alternate timeline that Brainstorm has created is not one in which the Decepticons ''won'' the war, but one in which the war appears to have never even broken out. The Functionist Council was then subsequently never disbanded, and instead "unseated" the [[Senate]] and took complete control of Cybertron.
*As an effect of that, Pharma never went bonkers, and he and Ratchet are still friends, as they can be glimpsed chatting on page 3.
*Also, Dominus never vanished in this timeline, so the alternate Rewind doesn't wear a head-mounted camera.
*In the alternate timeline, the "Black Box Consortia" have purchased Luna 2, evidently this timeline's version of—or perhaps just a typo of—the [[Black Block Consortia]], previously mentioned in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issues #34]] and [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|#24]].
*"Laser pointers" are among the decommissioned disposable class 'bots; laser pointers were mentioned in the same breath as data slugs when the disposable class was first discussed back in [[Before & After|issue #12]]. Chromedome and Rewind had a friend who was a laser pointer named [[Shimmerstick]].
*The "old" Rewind bought a souvenir replica of Hedonia's "Raging Prism" from a gift shop on the planet; the Autobots visited Hedonia in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]], and the prism was mentioned in that issue and in [[Little Victories|issue #22]]. The gift shop appeared in issue #13's back-up prose story, "[[Signal to Noise]]", and if Rewind's description of the souvenir is anything to go by, we saw Chromedome attempting to throw it away back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]].
*Someone has placed a [[Rodimus Star]] in the deceased Trailcutter's hand; his desire to earn the award was part of the story of his [[The Reluctant Specialist|self-titled ''Spotlight'' issue]].
*It just seemed like a passing remark back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]] when Brainstorm noted he "always carried [his] own" drinks, but it takes on a whole new meaning with this issue's revelation that he's been spiking the proverbial punch bowl!
*The executed protester looks like a female version of Rung! Her bellowed rhetoric includes the phrase "All hail the Useless One"; it seems likely that she is talking about Rung himself, whose alternate mode is an unrecognizable, apparently-purposeless "ornament", and that she is some form of disciple or follower of his (or the idea he represents) in this alternate world, and has patterned her appearance after him.
*And of course, the fact that the protester is a female at all is point of interest, since in the regular timeline, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was the only female 'bot known to exist before the [[Caminus|Caminean]]s came onto this scene. Did females "evolve" on Cybertron the way they did on Caminus in this alternate timeline? She may also be transgender, as James Roberts [http://positronicwoman.tumblr.com/post/87833950888/you-guysssssssss mentioned the possibility on his twitter account.]
*We previously met Functionist Authenticator [[Three-of-Twelve]] in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]]. We now understand the meaning of his name, as he is the third member of the twelve-'bot Functionist council.
*The long-standing secret of Brainstorm's briefcase is revealed: as was hinted by the disruption of time that occurred when its quantum-duplicate was opened in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]], it's the control unit of a time-machine. Presumably, the paradox-defying component of the time machine played some kind of role in how the duplicate case and duplicate Rewind survived the erasure of "their" ''Lost Light''.
*Rodimus gripes that he is "not allowed to take an interest in magic"; as we know from [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], "magic=science that Rodimus doesn't understand".
*It is now explained that the "masterpiece" Brainstorm alluded to in #7 of the series was not a joke response to Chromedome's inquiry about his new project but a serious one, the only clue given at that time being the fact that "its success kinda depends on him catching the universe unawares".

===Transformers references===
*In the first panel of page 3, the spaceport is crammed with cameo appearances by [[Unicron Trilogy]] Autobots and Decepticons, including: [[Jetfire (Armada)|''Cybertron'' Jetfire]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|''Energon'' Wing Saber]], [[Blurr (Armada)|''Armada'' Blurr]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Crumplezone]], [[Tow-Line (Energon)|''Energon'' Tow-Line]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|''Armada'' Cyclonus]], [[Sky Shadow (Energon)|''Energon'' Sky Shadow]], [[Ironhide (Energon)|''Energon'' Ironhide]], [[Sparkplug (Armada)|''Armada'' Sparkplug]], [[Prowl (Energon)|''Energon'' Prowl]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|''Energon'' Snow Cat]], [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Brakedown]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|''Armada'' Hoist]], [[Bulkhead (Energon)|''Energon'' Bulkhead]], [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|''Energon'' Ultra Magnus]], [[Beachcomber (Energon)|''Energon'' Beachcomber]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)|''Energon'' Hot Shot]] and [[Demolishor (Armada)|''Armada'' Demolishor]] (we're not listing them in the cast list because c'mon, they ''are'' just easter egg cameos). The Lunabot who tries to evade capture is [[Jetfire (Armada)|''Energon'' Jetfire]], who has the spaceship alternate mode that makes him appropriate for the role. Their appearance was a choice by artist Alex Milne, in celebration of his ten years drawing ''Transformers'' comics<ref>[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/537641819568619520 Alex Milne (@markerguru) on Twitter]</ref> – [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Energon (comic)|''Energon'' comic]] was his first work on the franchise.
*Also, on page 4, a 'bot resembling [[Overcast (Movie)|Overcast]] from the [[Movie (toyline)|live-action film toyline]] is visible.
*On page 5, a [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]-colored 'bot similar to [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] is among the onlookers; while not an exact match for details, this is probably a reference to [[Shockwave (Cloud)|''Cloud'' Shockwave]], who is a [[redeco]] of [[Whirl (G1)#Generations|''Generations'' Whirl]].
*The word [[Pretender]] has a history in the franchise, of course, but in the alternate timeline, it's become a word used to describe 'bots who have fake [[kibble]] attached to themselves to try and pass themselves off as having different alternate modes. This also marks the first official in-fiction use of the fan term "kibble" to describe alternate mode parts evident in robot mode; it's been a passing plot point in ''More than Meets the Eye'' before, back in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]], where it was just referred to as "secondary anatomy".
*The functionary who reports on the Lunabot's death is number 664; that's "332" times two, 332 being the total number of issues of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK series]].
*Chromedome notes that, half a million years ago, he and Rewind were fighting [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] in the [[Manganese Mountains]]. The mountains have received a few references in IDW continutity before, but this reference is specifically to the Marvel ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series, which introduced the mountains, and in which Chromedome's unit did indeed fight Scorponok among the peaks.
*The 'bots coin the term "time jump" to describe Brainstorm's trip into the past; this was the term used for time travel in the Marvel UK series.
*In that same series, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] believed changes to the timeline would create a parallel universe. (He then stopped caring too much!)
*The Cog, headquarters of the Functionist Council, greatly resembles a [[transformation cog]], as do its members to some extent; their whole "gears and clockwork" motif isn't surprising considering their stated devotion to [[Adaptus]].
*On page 20, we get some more other-continuity cameos, but these guys ''do'' make it into the cast list because they're pre-existing characters within this continuity: [[Hot Shot (Armada)|''Armada'' Hot Shot]], whose Generation 1 incarnation [[Hot Rod (Henkei!)|Hot Rod]] (his name taken from his ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (franchise)|Henkei!]]'' toy) has already appeared in IDW continuity in [[Drift issue 1|''Drift'' #1]], and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|''Prime'' Bulkhead]], whose [[Bulkhead (G1)|G1 self]] has shown up in both [[The Transformers: Monstrosity|''Monstrosity'']] and [[The Transformers: Primacy|''Primacy'']].
*The Functionist Council employs [[harvester unit]]s which previously appeared in Marvel US issue [[The Smelting Pool!|#17]].

===Real-life references===
*The security officer who stops Minimus is designed after classic UK comic strip law-enforcer, {{w|Judge Dredd}}.
*Time travel creating parallel universes or a time traveller going ''to'' a parallel universe, rather than actually changing their host timeline, is a trope used in a few time-travel stories. That used to be the official rules of [[Marvel Comics]]' time travel.<ref>[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/09/04/the-new-marvel-rules-of-time-travel-courtesy-of-battle-of-the-atom-spoilers/ Bleeding Cool:The New Marvel Rules Of Time Travel ]</ref> So when Perceptor says parallel universes are a concept that "encourages ''second-rate scientists'' to avoid the more complicated implications of time travel", ''diss''.
**To digress a moment, Perceptor must be referring here specifically to alternate timelines created through the alteration of history via time travel, rather than to different universes in general, since there are, of course, a bajillion different Transformers universes. Within the confines of IDW continuity alone, the [[Dead Universe]] was a proven alternate universe that the Transformers were dealing with very recently.

===Errors===
* On page 4, panels 3 and 4, Minimus's spark appears to be blue, rather than the [[Point One Percenter]] green it should be. Of course, there's always a chance that he ''isn't'' a Point One Percenter in this timeline.
* On page 11, in panel 4, the three word balloons are offset to the right in a way that makes them all appear to come from Rodimus.
* The Council message on page 20, panel 3, alternates between the British English spelling ''offence'' and American English spelling ''offense''.

===Soundtrack===
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn_IPaS7GFE Blue Skies]'' by {{w|Longpigs}}
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peLiLUIpNvM No Surprises]'' by {{w|Radiohead}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' EVERYTHING IS FINE, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Three-of-Twelve, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' The third in November's series of three 30th Anniversary covers by [[Andrew Griffith]], depicting [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] riding [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] as they stomp [[Quintesson]]s, from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''
<gallery>
File:MTMTE35 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE35 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE35 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #36
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|#35]]
*''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' [[Primacy issue 4|#4]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Form Follows Function|#4]]
*''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]''
*IDW ''Littlest Pet Shop'' comic
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
*''[[Angry Birds Transformers (comic)|Angry Birds Transformers]]'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://tformers.com/idw-comics-preview-the-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-35/25238/news.html Preview]

==References==
{{reflist}}

Windblade (G1)

2014-12-15T04:51:54Z

SuzyP: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{disambig3|Windblade}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Windblade is an [[Autobot]] from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Windblade2coverplain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|YOU MAAAAAAAAADE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!]]

'''Windblade''' is a young [[Transformer]] who puts duty and truth first, even when both are difficult. Her friend and bodyguard [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] can get frustrated at times with the strength of Windblade's convictions, and Chromia believes Windblade trusts too much. This may not be a worldview that can survive sharing a planet with [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]].

Windblade is a better-than-average swordswoman, but her claim to fame is her rare talent for communicating with dormant [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitans]], for which she bears the title of [[Cityspeaker]]. Like other Cityspeakers, her face bears the markings of [[Caminus]].

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:BurningBright-Windblade.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|''They're Windblade and the brain Yes, Windblade and the brain One is an organ The other's ''<nowiki>[CHARACTERIZATION PENDING]</nowiki>]]

Windblade was a Transformer who hailed from the planet Caminus, born from the [[hot spot]] within the [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] Caminus who colonized the world and for whom it became named. Like the rest of her people, Windblade adapted to have a gender, in her case female. Long cut off from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Caminus's isolation ended with the arrival of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]; Windblade, her bodyguard [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and quantum engineer [[Nautica]] joined his crew in hopes of reconnecting with their homeworld and gaining aid for their ailing planet. {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City|A Bot and Her City}} Days after their joining Thunderclash's crew, his ship the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' came across the Autobot sage [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], who informed them that his longstanding partner, the Titan [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], was grievously wounded and required help. With Trion unable to help due to a quest that otherwise occupied him, and Thunderclash unwell, Windblade and her friends boarded a fast shuttlecraft and sped to the ocean world of [[Hydrophena]], where Metroplex was currently in hiding as an [[alchemical virus]] ravaged his body. The trio set themselves up inside his body, and began attempting to repair him. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}}

After some time, Windblade's group was found by a team of Autobots from the ''[[Lost Light]]'', who had been summoned there through complicated means by Metroplex himself. Using their ship's engines, they were able to give Metroplex's [[spark]] a jump-start, giving him the strength to [[space bridge]] back to Cybertron, where a battle between its inhabitants and the [[Necrotitan]] was taking place. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Though surprised by the sight of another Titan, Windblade and the other Autobots refused to abandon Metroplex's body; presently, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] returned Metroplex's severed thumb, laden with the transmutative [[Ore-7]], to him, healing him allowing him to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Following the battle, Windblade asked Metroplex about the ore's origins, and he explained that he had picked it up during his travels and jettisoned it when he was attacked by [[Ammonite]]s. Windblade related her findings to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], but was unable to coax any information out of Metroplex that would help Magnus and the rest of the ''Lost Light'' crew in their search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Not long afterwards, Ammonites began to swarm Cybertron, forcing Magnus to radio Windblade to ask Metroplex for aid. The titan needed no encouragement, and began to fight the horde. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} The Ammonites were subsequently destroyed by Metalhawk, after which Windblade and her fellow Camiens were called on by [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to engage the splintered components of [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

When the fighting was done, Windblade sought out [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]], to pass on a one-word message given to her by Alpha Trion before she had parted company with him: "[[Earth]]". {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} Prime first had to preside over the trial of Megatron, which Windblade was in the audience for, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace}} but after that was done, he prepared to leave to follow Trion's trial. Windblade and Ironhide stayed behind on Cybertron, now under [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'s leadership; Prime warned her to be wary of the Seeker, but Windblade simply returned that she was wary of ''everyone'' on this war-blighted world. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}

[[File:BotAndHerCity-illustriousleader.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|But aside from that, he's great!]]

Six months after the battle of the Titans, Windblade had tried settling into life on Cybertron as it had settled into Metroplex. She had an important role as Cityspeaker to the heavily-damaged Metroplex, though she was a novice at it and Starscream, the planet's leader, grew impatient and suspicious of her. Rolling blackouts threatened the city, and after she investigated the cause of those with Chromia, she also sought advice for how to best interact with Starscream. After talking with many of the denizens of [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'s bar, she came to the sobering realization that Starscream was a scheming opportunist who shouldn't be trusted. Not long after this revelation, an explosion seriously damaged her and put her under medical care. Moments before the explosion, she'd seen [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], Starscream's henchman, leaving the scene, and as she awoke from her medical bed, seeing Starscream approach her, she suspected Cybertron's leader had tried to kill her. {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}}

After giving Windblade a veiled threat, Starscream and Rattrap departed. Windblade revealed to Chromia that she had found traces of explosives, before the bodyguard discovered reporters spying on them. Later the two of them met up with Ironhide, who they had sent to guard Metroplex's brain. Windblade searched Metroplex's brain for reasons why Starscream would cause the blackouts, when Chromia noticed that [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] had let slipped in an interview that he knew something. Windblade was able to convince him to show her what he discovered despite his unwillingness to talk; a "mine" Starscream had build inside Metroplex, used to sift the Titan for the Regenesis ore in his body. Windblade returned to the reporters and brought them and the denizens of Blurr's bar down there to reveal the mine to them. Three of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s guarded the mine, and they were more than happy to try to take down Windblade and her friends. {{storylink|Windblade issue 2|Windblade #2}} Though she fought back valiantly, at a moment of weakness Starscream and Rattrap interrupted the battle to arrest Windblade and the others (minus Chromia and Sky-Byte) for "crimes against Cybertron."

[[File:Windblade3-altmodes.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

While the others were jailed, Windblade was interrogated violently by Rattrap. However, this interaction convinced her that while Starscream may be responsible for the mine, he was not responsible for the bomb that killed several citizens and nearly her. Then, Chromia and Sky-Byte invaded the compound to free Windblade and the others, and Windblade confided in her friend that she had discovered that Starscream was not the culprit they were after, to Chromia's shock. {{storylink|Windblade issue 3|Windblade #3}} Starscream and his goons were swiftly upon them, and the battle recommenced. Windblade and Chromia barely managed to duck inside Metroplex's brain room as Windblade attempted to hook up directly to Metroplex and solve everything. Merged mentally with Metroplex, finally she understood everything. She saw other Transformer colony worlds that had also broken off from Cybertron. She saw Caminus before he went lost. And, sadly, she saw Chromia in all her rage, and realized that her friend, her bodyguard, was the one who had placed the bombs in that street corner, that Chromia was willing to murder others to scare Windblade off the planet and to safety.

Supremely disappointed in Chromia, Windblade nevertheless had to keep the peace for the greater good. She plotted with Starscream to keep things buried, so that there would be a Cybertron for those lost colonies to eventually return to. Windblade left the both of them, wiser, but morally compromised. {{storylink|Windblade issue 4|Windblade #4}}

Windblade was present when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] emerged from medical rehabilitation. Recently betrayed by Chromia and bewildered by Starscream's machinations, Windblade sought out the nearly-murdered engineer as someone she could potentially trust. After Wheeljack reluctantly agreed to help rebuild [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], she and Ironhide observed in silent solidarity. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}}

[[File:ForeverIsALongTimeComing-MatrixofLeadership.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"But sometimes 'Susan.'"]]

When Optimus Prime returned from Earth, Windblade, Starscream, and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] told him about a series of murders that were targeting Decepticons. {{storylink|City of Steel (issue)|City of Steel}} The murderer struck again outside of [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]'s bar, killing one of his friends, and so she helped Optimus Prime follow this apparent lead. Inside the bar they find a very angry Gutcruncher and a expatriated [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]. It seemed to be a loose end, and the two left, but shortly afterwards the bar exploded, {{storylink|Fight or Flee (issue)|Fight or Flee}} killing everyone inside. After Windblade returned with them to investigate, Sandstorm snapped at Optimus Prime for killing his friends. This anger was short lived, and the shell of an [[infernus bullet]] was found in the wreckage, so another lead was found to follow. {{storylink|Quest for Fire}} The lead culminated in the brutal treatment and incarceration of the [[Firecon]]s, and Windblade took this opportunity to raise an eyebrow at the Autobots' violent methods. Things escalate further when it seemed [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] was responsible for the murders, causing Windblade to pull Optimus Prime out of an imminent battle with him. {{storylink|The Killing Jar (issue)|The Killing Jar}} Optimus Prime realized who the real culprit was, and he enlists Windblade and Starscream to set up a ruse to draw him out. Ultimately, the murderer was revealed to be Sandstorm. Windblade accompanied Optimus Prime on a personal errand to return the remaining half of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to the spot where he'd been given it millions of years ago. Optimus confided in Windblade that he was worried that violent Autobots like Slug and Sandstorm who had trouble acclimating to a post-war climate were the greatest threat to their race's new-found peace. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (issue)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===Transformers Legends===
Windblade and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] were dispatched from the [[Lost Light]] to explore a distant planet. There they met a group of Decepticons, and joined forces with them to battle their mutual foes, the Ammonites. Though several Ammonite attacks were thwarted by the alliance, soon differing opinions caused infighting in the group. Eventually, both the Ammonites and the Decepticons were defeated, and the two Autobots returned to their spaceship. {{storylink|Into the Abyss}}

{{-}}
==Toys==
===Generations===
[[File:Generationstoy-Windblade.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Built by the fans, for the fans, and... incorporating fans.]]
*'''Windblade''' (Deluxe, 2014)
**'''30 OF 30'''
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #019'''
**''Accessories'': "Stormfall Sword", scabbard, tessen

:Part of the tenth wave of 2012-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Windblade transforms from a jet with tilting, spinning VTOL fans and fold in front landing gear, into a robot with 'facepaint' evocative of Japanese [[Wikipedia:Kabuki|Kabuki]] theatre makeup. She comes with the Stormfall Sword, a translucent blade with a turbine at the hilt, which she can hold via its [[5mm post]]. The sword sheathes into the included scabbard, which can be held or tabbed onto slots on her thighs and back/cockpit sides, as well as be stored underneath her jet mode. Her headdress can also detach and be used as a "tessen" fan. A port under her nosecone is compatible with some action figure stands.

:She comes packaged with a copy of "[[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8]]", and has a designated number as part of the ''Thrilling 30'' line.

:Care must be taken when detaching her headdress, as its painted ''and'' clear-plastic nature makes it very tight and susceptible to breakage. It must be pulled/wiggled '''back''', not pulled up as the [[instructions]] say.
{{--}}

::*''[http://tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenWindblade/windblade.htm More information on Windblade at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
[[File:Windblade concept.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The face of [[democracy]].]]

* Windblade is the first "officially fan-created" Transformer ever, the culmination of [[Hasbro]]'s "Fan-Built Bot" initiative program. Two polls on Hasbro's official website allowed fans to determine her character and physical traits (well, ''most'' of her traits - her [[Japan]]ese motifs ''weren't'' an option in the poll and seem to be the work of the design team).
**From [[April 18]]th to [[May 5]]th, 2013,<ref>http://investor.hasbro.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=757648</ref> fans decided her faction (Autobot over Decepticon), alternate mode (jet over car, truck, tank, spaceship, terran beast [land], avian beast [airborne], helicopter, motorcycle, and construction), signature weapon (sword over blaster cannon, flame thrower, mace, spear/harpoon, morning star, Cybertronian taser, nunchucks, crossbow, and long-range blaster), color scheme (red & black over green & gold, blue & silver, orange & white, or purple & bronze) and personality (valiant over sneaky, hotshot, secretive, wild man, and grumpy).<ref>http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-fan-built-bot-poll/27089/</ref>
**From [[May 10]]th to [[May 17]]th, fans voted on name (Windblade over Autobot Eclipse, Charon, Centuritron, Cashtron, Autobot Wraith), gender (female over male), origin (from Kaon, Iacon, Altihex, Kalis, and Praxus) and specialty (telepath over combat medic, bodyguard, recon, and close combat specialist).<ref>http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-fan-built-bot-poll-second-round/27272/</ref>
**Subsequently, Windblade was revealed at [[San Diego Comic-Con|San Diego Comic-Con 2013]], where concept sketches of her (and the piece of finished art to the right) were part of the ''Transformers'' brand presentation.
* Concept sketches at San Diego Comic-Con showed that European knight (with visor, arm shield, and fencing foil-esque sword) and Roman warrior (with twin swords) concepts for Windblade were considered before her Japanese stylings were finalized. A different pre-production sketch gave her a Japanese hand-fan weapon in addition to her sword. Speaking of her Japanese motifs, her finalized helmet was apparently designed to resemble the hairstyle commonly worn by the ''[[wikipedia:onna bugeisha|onna bugeisha]]'', the upper-class warrior-women of feudal Japan.
* At [[Toy Fair 2014]], Windblade was noted as being the handiwork of designer [[Lenny Panzica]], who put "probably five times as much energy" into her as the rest of his workload. A [https://www.facebook.com/transformers/posts/723592181044312 gallery] of his work was posted by Hasbro on Facebook.
* Her name works on many levels: "Wind Blade" is a real variety of industrial fan blade; she turns into a jet with VTOL turbofans; Hasbro designers had said they envisioned her coursing more energy into her sword blade through a spinning turbine fan in the hilt; She has a tessen, or iron fan; and, of course, she was the fans' choice character.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]

Wreckage (issue)

2014-12-10T04:41:22Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Wreckage}}
{{Comicstory
|series=monstrosity|issueno=2
|prev=Derelicts
|next=Faces of Darkness
|caption=
|image=Monstrosity2.jpg
|title="Wreckage"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 13]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=
|story by=[[Chris Metzen]] & [[Flint Dille]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Before the war]]
}}

'''As the Dynobots continue their robberies and Scorponok's leadership of the Decepticons is met with opposition, Megatron proves to be more tenacious than his usurper thinks...'''

==Synopsis==
At the [[Rust Bucket]], three of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] are discussing their next high-risk heist when [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] starts accusing [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] of purposefully leading them on small-time jobs because he ''enjoys'' his exciting life on the run. Before the two can come to blows they are broken up by [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], who reminds them what would happen if they were to lose their tempers and transform, then gives them the details about their next job: robbing the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]]. Using [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] as a wrecking ball, they break into the refinery and are briefly overwhelmed by sentry drones until Grimlock kills the overconfident guard controlling them. With the resistance gone, they hunker down and wait for [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] to arrive with their tanker so they can drain the refinery of [[energon]].

Meanwhile, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] brutally fights off the hostile [[Junkion (species)|natives]] of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] with his bare hands and comes out victorious. He then falls, having lost an arm to the fighting, but refuses to stay down. He uses junk parts littering the planet to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched body and a new, monstrous arm. As he rises again in this patchwork form, he prepares to show the Junkions who's in charge.

At [[Kolkular]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] announces to the amassed [[Decepticon]] army that he is their new leader, having banished Megatron for his failure to capture [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. His declaration is met with mixed reactions, but the only one willing to speak up is [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]], who believes he failed to destroy Megatron out of fear, making him an unsuitable leader. He lets Scorponok know that his [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] will deal with him soon enough, but first they intend to travel to Junkion and achieve what he could not: finishing off Megatron.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (1)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (2)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (3)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (6)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (4)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (7)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (8)
* [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] (9)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (10)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (11)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (12)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (13)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (14)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
* [[Blackwall]] (16)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (17)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (18)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (19)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (20)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (21)
* [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] (22)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (23)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (24)
* [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (25)

|c4=
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (5)
* Sentry drone commander (26)
}}

==Notes==
*The spelling of Hun-Gar's name is consistent with ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Before & After|#12]] and not his first IDW appearance in ''[[Spotlight: Sixshot]]''.

Derelicts

2014-12-10T04:37:58Z

SuzyP:

{{Comicstory
|series=monstrosity|issueno=1
|prev=Endgame
|next=Wreckage (issue)
|caption=
|image=Monstrosity1.jpg
|title="Derelicts"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 1]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=
|story by=[[Chris Metzen]] & [[Flint Dille]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Before the war]]
}}

'''Whilst Optimus Prime tries to rebuild Cybertronian society, Scorponok has plans for the deposed Megatron...'''

==Synopsis==
In an abandoned part of Kaon, [[Strongbox]] and [[Nightshift]] are ''en route'' to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with a shipment of goods when they are caught in a huge explosion. The culprits are the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]], who had been tipped off about the shipment by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and are looking to gather the funds needed to leave [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Blowing open the trailer, however, they find a paltry amount compared to what had been promised. With police inbound, the Dynobots are forced to take what they can and flee.

Before returning to their safe house, Grimlock's team pays a visit to their informant at [[The Raw Deal Pawn Broker]], who, under duress, admits that the quality of [[Decepticon]] intel has gone downhill since the defeat of [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. Reasoning that he might be useful later, the Dynobot leader lets Swindle go free, before ruminating on the fact that the longer his team stays on Cybertron, the more all its inhabitants are in danger...

Meanwhile, at [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] is holding the very first meeting of the [[Grand Convocation]], a gathering of various Cybertronian guilds and factions, with the aim of rebuilding a stable society. Despite Prime's good intentions, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] of the [[Circle of Light]] cannot see past his history as an enforcer for [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] and sees him as just another tyrant. Atlas is talked down by [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] of the [[Engineering Guild]], who believes that Optimus's defeat of Zeta and Megatron is proof enough of his worth. Unconvinced, Atlas cites the global [[energon]] shortage and increasing Decepticon attacks as problems the new Prime has failed to solve, and only agrees to remain in the meeting out of respect for his being chosen by the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

In deep space, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] is shuttling [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] and the gravely wounded Megatron to the remote planet of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]], a nightmarish world subject of myths and superstition. Having seized control of the Decepticons, Scorponok seeks to make a legendary example of his predecessor by casting him into a metaphorical hell. Despite Starscream's complaints that the excursion is a waste of time, they arrive above the planet, and Scorponok throws Megatron from orbit to the planet below.

Back in Metroplex, Optimus, after reflecting with [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] on the Convocation, returns to his quarters to find [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] waiting for him. The philosopher shares his approval of Prime's plan for peace, and reassures him that the question of whether he is worthy of the Matrix is something only Optimus himself can answer.

On Junkion, Megatron falls to the ground, and the planet's [[Junkion (species)|inhabitants]] begin to draw close. Rising from his crater, the former leader of the Decepticons prepares to do battle.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (5)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (6)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (7)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (22)

|c2=
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (8)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (18)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (19)
* [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (20)
* [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (21)

|c4=
* [[Nightshift]] (1)
* [[Strongbox]] (2)
* [[Traachon]] (10)
* [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] (11)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (13)
* [[Slinger]] (15)
* [[Xaaron]] (16)
* [[Tomaandi]] (17)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (23)
}}

==Notes==
*The [[Grand Convocation]] is composed of an eclectic mix of characters new and old: established IDW characters [[Xaaron]] and [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] have seats, in addition to [[Slinger]], who previously appeared as an ally of [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. The remaining three members are all new to this continuity: [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] makes his debut as a ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' character, sporting his ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' design, whilst [[Traachon]] and [[Tomaandi]] are obscure [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] characters, suggested for inclusion by [[James Roberts]].<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=330363&highlight=#330363] IDW Publishing Forums post by [[Livio Ramondelli]].</ref>
*A crippled Megatron being deposed and thrown out of Astrotrain in spite of protesting that he still functions is a big ol' ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' reference. To have such a reference be then followed by Megatron winding up on Junkion in the company of Wreck-Gar has ''also'' happened before, back in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s "[[War and Peace]]" mini-series, but we'll be generous and assume that's an unfortunate coincidence, rather than a deliberate homage.
*Optimus Prime's quarters is decorated with busts of previous Primes, though Zeta's spot is empty.

===Errors===
*In the initial release Grimlock's name is misspelled "Grimlok" on page 2, panel 5. This was corrected for the trade paperback.

==References==
{{reflist}}

Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World

2014-05-12T03:38:39Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=28
|prev=Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11
|next=Earthfall Part 2
|caption=
|image=RID28 subcvr.jpg
|title="Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 23]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=April 2014
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] (present day) [[Joana Lafuente]] (flashbacks)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''Following a clue left by Alpha Trion, Optimus Prime leads a team of Autobots back to Earth, where an alliance of enemies old and new awaits them.'''

==Synopsis==

Six months have passed since the defeat of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] and his plan to fulfill the [[Dark Cybertron]] prophecy. But those events went unnoticed by [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], who is continuing to live his life on [[Earth]] in relative peace, his interest in human television having turned him into an aspiring writer. After a day flying around the globe while working on his screenplay—starring female human nurse "Susan Journeyer" and potential love interest "Josh Boyfriend"—he returns home to find that his dog, [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] has gotten out. Taking her back inside, he is greeted with an acerbic critique of his writing by his human liaison [[Marissa Faireborn]], who has come to request his help...

''Half a million years ago, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Decepticon]]s lay siege to the [[Autobot]] stronghold [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], with the Autobots incapable of doing little but fighting a holding action. When [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] returns from a scouting mission with news that [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] shows no signs of letting up, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] decides to take the field of battle himself, much to [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s consternation. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] speaks up in Prowl's favor, proposing an alternate tactic: fearful of the resurgence of dark secrets from Cybertron's past that Megatron and Shockwave's desire for a [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] portends, Trion takes Metroplex and departs the planet, intending to stop whatever [[Regenesis|great game]] Shockwave has in motion out among the stars.''

In the present day, the ''[[Ark-7]]'' arrives in Earth orbit, only to be attacked by a barrage of missiles of highly advanced design that start burrowing their way through the ship's hull. Presuming the weapons to be of Cybertronian design but unsure of where humans could have obtained them, Prime orders the ship to pull back behind the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. A frustrated Prowl protests, assuming they are giving up, but Prime reveals that he has another plan in mind: he is going to take a small team down to the surface aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. As the team heads down, their rear is covered by a rather grumpy [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], who is unhappy to discover that the promise of building a new future that convinced him to leave the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has led only to yet more fighting.

''One month ago, back on Cybertron, shortly after the conclusion of Megatron's trial, Cosmos tries to have a conversation with Prowl, but the police-bot is more interested in having somebody to complain to about the trial's verdict and Megatron becoming an Autobot. [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] struts up to join the chat, further infuriating Prowl by comparing himself to him: perpetually destined to play second fiddle to his faction's leader... except Starscream has broken that cycle and taken leadership for himself. Optimus overhears and cautions Starscream to watch himself, his words backed up by [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], who promise to keep an eye on their new city leader while Optimus is away. Because Optimus is now preparing to follow a message from Alpha Trion, passed on to him by Windblade... a message calling him to Earth.''

Reaching Earth's surface, Sky Lynx hides beneath the ocean for a time to be sure of shaking off their mystery attackers. After sending an update to the ''Ark-7'', Sky Lynx surfaces, and Prime takes [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] to track down a life-sign they detected upon approach to the planet, while Prowl works to discover who launched the missiles. Cosmos tracks Prime's team's progress from orbit, letting them know their proximity to the signal, but as they arrive at the site, he suddenly goes mysteriously silent. Realizing that the signal belongs to Thundercracker, Prime opens the door to his home to find the Seeker in a malaise, cryptically commenting that he is happy not to see Bumblebee among the Autobots, since he "liked him". Puzzled and annoyed, Prime inquires as to the whereabouts of Alpha Trion, but Thundercracker merely laughs, not having a clue. The Autobot leader explains about the end of the war, but it takes the reveal of Megatron's change of heart to make Thundercracker believe him. At that moment, the walls of the building are torn open, and a platoon of Decepticons led by [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] storms in, engaging the Autobots in battle! Thundercracker, it is revealed, was merely the reluctant bait to bring Prime in... but when the Autobots take the fight outside, they discover that Thundercracker is not Galvatron's only ally, as they are met by the armed forces of Marissa Faireborn and the [[Earth Defense Command]], the human half of the "Earth/Decepticon Alliance", who place them under arrest!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (4)''
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (7)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (8)
*''[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'' (9)
*''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (10)''
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (13)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (15)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' (17)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (19)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (20)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (23)
*''[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (25)''
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (1)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (5)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (16)
*''[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]'' (18)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (28)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (29)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (30)

|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*''[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'' (24)
*''[[Longtooth]]'' (26)
*''[[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]]'' (27)
|h4=[[Human]]s|c4=
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (3)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Susan approaches the HOSPITAL and JOSH BOYFRIEND, a male Earth human who is handsome like an F-22 jet fighter, greets her."
:—One of many tone-deaf lines from '''Thundercracker'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s screenplay.

"Megatron has '''reasons''' for his actions? Fine—but he hasn't got '''justification.'''"
:—'''Prowl''' on Megatron

"If it'll help, I can go out there and '''blast''' the missiles myself. I have a jetpack and '''everything'''."
:—'''Sideswipe'''

"2000 years of studying at the '''Institute''' so I can pilot a spaceship on account of I turn into an '''airplane'''..."
:—'''Jetfire''', muttering to himself

'''Prowl:''' "We've no shortage of enemies on this planet." 
'''Jazz:''' "Maybe so, man—but only a few cats can keep a missile launch of '''that''' magnitude off the '''airwaves''', dig?" 
'''Kup:''' "You got a way o' speakin', Jazz—makes a fella miss havin' a universe to himself."

"'''Thundercracker.''' We come in peace." 
"Sure, that's what you all say—then somebody '''pulls''' a '''piece'''." 
"'''Wordplay''' from a Decepticon '''Seeker'''?" 
"I'm '''not''' a Seeker. I'm a '''writer'''. I write '''screenplays'''. Really good ones. I almost have an '''agent'''."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Thundercracker'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Thundercracker has been living on Earth since the end of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]; chronologically, he was last seen in ''[[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]'', in which he was packing up his old home (that's why he's got a new one in this story). He refers to his turning against the Decepticons during Megatron's attack on Earth, which took place in [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|''All Hail Megatron'' #12]].
*Marissa compares Thundercracker's screenplay to the TV show ''[[Nurse Whitney]]'', which Thundercracker was shown developing a fondness for in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|issue #4]] of the ongoing. 'Cracker's script includes the line "That would be just beautiful"; Nurse Whitney's catchphrase was "That's just beautiful."
*The reason and circumstances for Metroplex's departure from Cybertron have been a mystery up until now, hinted at only as a "secret mission" of some kind in the [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 ''Robots in Disguise'' annual]]. It is here explained that he and Alpha Trion have been working against Shockwave's plans for the last half-million years—these activities are evidently tied in with the still-untold story of how Metroplex acquired the [[Ore-7]] that played a key role in "Dark Cybertron". The 500,000-years-ago timeframe of the flashback places it right around the time Shockwave himself left Cybertron to examine the fruits of his [[Regenesis]] program.
*After abandoning his faction to stay within Iacon in [[Second Exodus|issue #18]], Jazz is back on the Autobot side again.
*Prowl recalls Jazz's destruction of [[Skywatch]]'s stockpile of Cybertronian technology in [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29 of the ongoing]].
*Jetfire mentions studying at the Institute. Although there are several "Institutes" in IDW continuity, the context makes it sound more like the academic [[Institute for Higher Programming]], and not the secret brainwashing [[Institute]].
*Cosmos joins the cast of ''Robots in Disguise'' after spending the last two years over in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' on the ''Lost Light''. He didn't do much of anything over in that book, but did put in a couple of crowd-scene appearances that proved memorable because of how ''surprisingly gigantic'' he was. He's still bigger than you might imagine Cosmos being in his appearance this issue, but he's not nearly as huge as ''More than Meets the Eye'' depicted him.
*Kup reminds everyone of his last experience on Earth—being blasted through a portal to the [[Dead Universe]]—from ''[[The Transformers: Infestation issue 2|''Infestation'' #2]].
*Prime references Jazz's killing of human [[John Powell]] from [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|ongoing #17]].
*Thundercracker remembers the last time he saw Alpha Trion as being the time he tried to kill him and Prime, as seen in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]''.

===Transformers references===
*"Buster" is a name with [[Buster (disambiguation)|history]] in the Transformers franchise, but ''has'' been used for a [[Buster (DOTM)|dog]] once before.
*John Barber seems to be taking a pop at his own writing style with Marissa's critique, as she notes it's "pretty hacky to use a voice-over". First-person voice-over narration has been a consistent element in Barber's Transformers work.
*Blitzwing appears with the design of his 2013 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' toy.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's title is, of course, an inversion of the cartoon-cliche pre-suicide phrase "Goodbye cruel world", which has also been used as the title of various [[Wikipedia:Goodbye Cruel World|songs and albums]], though its origins are unknown. The inverted phrase is also the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYbgWDA2U-M&feature=kp| title of a song] that, coincidentally enough, [[James Roberts]] selected as the theme for [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] in More Than Meets The Eye.

===Trivia===
*This issue's story is followed by a letter from John Barber welcoming readers to the book.
*Similar to the pre-launch promotion for ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' two years prior, this series was trailed by a "scavenger hunt" for a series of six promo posters that were released to various sites around the internet: Optimus Prime on [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152330032183279&set=a.10150239372238279.337626.8473603278&type=1&stream_ref=10 IDW's Facebook page], Arcee on [https://twitter.com/theunderbase/status/458350741095075840/photo/1 The Underbase podcast's Twitter] (typo'd as "Acree"; a corrected version was released through [https://twitter.com/TheJohnBarber/status/458389167806758912/photo/1 John Barber's Twitter]), Cosmos on [https://twitter.com/trnsmissions/status/458357479403831296/photo/1 The TransMissions podcast's Twitter], Galvatron on [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/idw-publishing-dawn-of-the-autobots-teasers-seibertron-exclusive-robots-in-disguise-galvatron/29977/ Seibertron.com], Jazz on [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/idw-rid-promo-jazz-is-beleaguered-179762/ TFW2005.com] and Prowl on [http://tformers.com/prowl-discontented-transformers-robots-in-disguise-exclusive-promotional-art-cover/23114/news.html TFormers.com].

<gallery>
File:RIDPromo optimus prime.jpg|"Determined"
File:RIDpromo arcee.jpg|"Undecided"
File:RIDpromo cosmos.jpg|"Disgruntled"
</gallery><gallery>
File:RIDpromo galvatron.jpg|"Uncivilized"
File:RIDpromo jazz.jpg|"Beleaguered"
File:RIDpromo prowl.jpg|"Discontented"
</gallery>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Standard cover:''' Optimus Prime superimposed over the Earth, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Optimus, Sideswipe, Jazz and Arcee by [[Andrew Griffith]] and Lafuente, in homage to [[The Autonomy Lesson|issue #1]]'s cover E.
*'''Incentive cover:''' Optimus Prime by [[Livio Ramondelli]], part of a three-piece image alongside [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|''More than Meets the Eye'' #28]] and [[A 'Bot and Her City|''Windblade'' #1]].
<gallery>
File:RID28 cvrA.jpg|
File:RID28 subcvr.jpg|
File:RID28 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*[[Dawn of the Autobots]]
*''Robots in Disguise'' #28
*''Star Mage''
*IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/20878-idw-april-23-previews-g-i-joe-rah-201-extended-robots-in-disguise-28.html Preview]

Decepticon Air

2014-04-20T05:09:20Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=TFAni Decepticon Air Decepticons Freed.jpg
|caption=So which one of them is [[John Malkovich]]?
|ep=39
|ep2=36
|prev2=Human Error, Part II
|next2=This Is Why I Hate Machines
|title="Decepticon Air"
|airdate=[[May 2]], 2009
|written by=[[Michael Ryan]]
|directed by=[[Kalvin Lee]] [[Shigeharu Takahashi]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''The Decepticons aboard the Elite Guard ship decide to take down the Autobots that turned them in.'''

==Synopsis==
On [[Earth]], [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] have completed a [[space bridge]] terminal in record time, for which [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] congratulates them. However, the [[transwarp]] field sequencers still have to be recalibrated, and Sumdac and Bulkhead argue over whose fault that is. [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] insists she could have helped get it right, but both builders politely rebuff her as insufficiently knowledgeable. As they continue arguing about getting the resequencing done, she takes matters into her own hands—almost literally. Using her new abilities, she fixes the terminal's calibrations and gets it to activate, to the surprise of the others.

[[Image:TFAni Decepticon Air Sentinel Typing.jpg|thumb||180px|left|"[[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]] has poked me on Facebook ''how many'' times?"]]
Meanwhile, out in space, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] fruitlessly attempts to interrogate his [[Decepticon]] prisoners for info on the military cells that have been attacking space bridge outposts. He returns to the bridge after [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] tells him there's an incoming message from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]], [[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] indicate that the [[Autobot High Council]] has decided to make public the news of the assault on [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]. Sentinel tries to pull rank on them, since he's now technically the ''pro tempore'' [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]], and advises them to keep it quiet, but Alpha Trion makes it clear that they don't quite recognize his authority. Frustrated, Sentinel tries to pull rank on Jazz instead, commanding him to take the ship at full thrust through an energy cloud, despite any risks, as that heading will be the shortest route to Cybertron. Jazz complies despite objections, and of course, his worries prove justified: The energy strikes and flows through the ship, re-energizing [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] and bringing him out of time-stasis. Swindle soon frees and re-arms the other Decepticons, even if they don't have payment up front for it, as they work for [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], his best customer. With the alarms muted by Swindle's [[Sonic Jammer 3000]], the Decepticons strike at the ship's bridge just after the ship emerges from the energy cloud. Swindle quickly takes out [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] with a demo of the SJ3K's other function, a [[stasis suspension ray]]. Sentinel and Jazz put up a fight, but to little avail, and finally, Sentinel sends a brief, encrypted call for help to his old buddy, Optimus Prime (as he's too embarrassed to call Cybertron). Shortly afterward, [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] strikes him down, but Swindle convinces the massive Decepticon to spare their prisoners' lives: Not only could selling off their [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] parts earn a fortune, but they could be a bargaining chip in finding Megatron.

On Earth, Optimus receives Sentinel's message, which decrypts to "[[Broken Lance]]", a coded call for help that Sentinel used with him back in their [[Autobot Academy|academy]] days. Bulkhead notes the space bridge terminal detects an unusual transwarp field aboard the Elite Guard's ship. With Sari's help, the terminal locks onto the field, providing stable coordinates for an arrival point. [[Image:TFAni Decepticon Air Swindle Optimus Hand.jpg|thumb||180px|right|HUNGER GETS WHAT HUNGER WANTS.]] The space bridge is activated, and Optimus steps through... only to emerge from Swindle's chest, having arrived via the private storage dimension he uses for holding all his stock.

Rather than attack against overwhelming odds and attempt to free Sentinel and the others, Optimus takes off down the ship's corridors to better his situation. Most of the Decepticons give pursuit, with Lugnut ordering Swindle to watch the prisoners in the meantime. Taking an elevator to the ship's energon storage chamber, Optimus perforates a group of energon cubes with his axe, destabilizing them just enough. He then puts them in the elevator car and slices its cables, so it explodes near the bottom just as the Decepticons pry open the doors. Slightly charred from the backblast, Optimus enters one of the service ducts and works his way back to the brig area, grumbling as he does.

Meanwhile, Swindle's greed is still holding sway, and the arms dealer leaves his prisoners unguarded so he can raid the ship's stores. Prime arrives almost immediately afterward and frees his fellow Autobots, earning no gratitude from the power-tripping Sentinel. The Decepticons then return, so Optimus tells Jazz to rewire the decontamination unit on the bridge into a freezing chamber to trap them, his Autobot emblem blinking all the while. Optimus severs a steam duct, giving Jazz cover to escape, but then Lugnut punches a hole in the hull, sending everyone else in the brig out into space.

The Jet Twins prove far more capable in space combat than anticipated, giving the Decepticons a fair amount of trouble. Noting their predicament through a porthole in the storage depot, Swindle metaphorically shrugs and goes back to looting. Meanwhile, despite Sentinel's continued objections and struggling, Optimus uses him as a living spiked slingshot against Lugnut. Sentinel insists he be obeyed as leader, but this only prompts [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] to freeze him and hold him hostage. Sentinel demands they don't surrender, but Optimus convinces the Jet Twins to follow his lead instead, and they capitulate.

[[Image:TFAni Decepticon Air Optimus Jazz HighFive.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Slip me some metal, O.P.!]]
On the bridge, Blitzwing, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], and [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] put Sentinel, Optimus and the Jet Twins in the decontamination unit with Jazz. Blitzwing sneers that Optimus shouldn't have blabbed his plan where all could hear it, as now the Autobots will suffer freezing instead. However, when he activates the chamber, the freezing tubes reverse direction, icing all the Decepticons on the bridge and leaving the Autobots safe. Optimus explains to a surprised Sentinel that back in the brig, he'd used his blinking emblem to send a different message to Jazz in Cybertronian [[cybertronian optical code|optical code]]. They all pause as they hear a roar of engines, courtesy of a loot-filled Swindle taking off in one of the ship's shuttles. As the Decepticons are imprisoned again, Sentinel offers Optimus the Elite Guard spot that will be opening when Sentinel becomes Magnus, but Prime demurs, as he's still got plenty to do on Earth.

At [[Sumdac Tower]], Bulkhead frets as Swindle's transwarp signal moves too far away to warp Optimus back. Sari offers to help fix it, but her father points out it won't be necessary, as the Elite Guard ship has come to them. Optimus steps off the ship, and he and Sentinel trade salutes before it departs.

On Cybertron, Sentinel has a victory parade, displaying his prisoners to a cheering crowd. He vows to hunt down and offline [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] and any other Decepticon if the citizens of the planet accept him as the new Magnus. Perceptor and Alpha Trion exchange dubious glances, but say nothing.

[[Image:TFAni Decepticon Air Lugnut Megatron.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Ugh...I'll get the squeegee...]]
Out in space, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] warps into place near a drifting Lugnut, who abruptly finds himself plastered on the front window—right in front of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (2)
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] (8)
*[[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] (9)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (12)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (14)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (15)
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] (16)
*[[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]] (17)
*[[Dug Base]] (18)
*[[Tap-Out (Animated)|Tap-Out]] (19)
*[[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]] (20)
*[[Searchlight (Animated)|Searchlight]] (21)
*[[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]] (22)
*[[Furão]] (23)
*[[Freeway (Animated)|Freeway]] (24)
*[[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]] (25)
*[[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] (26)
*[[Huffer (Animated)|Huffer]] (27)
*[[Powerglide (Animated)|Powerglide]] (28)
*[[Seaspray (Animated)|Seaspray]] (29)
*[[Rattletrap]] (30)
*[[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]] (31)
*[[Rosanna (Animated)|Rosanna]] (32)
*[[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]] (33)
*[[Mainframe (Animated)|Mainframe]] (34)
*[[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]] (35)
*[[Cosmos (Animated)|Cosmos]] (36)
*[[Tracks (Animated)|Tracks]] (37)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (38)
|c2=
*[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] (5)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (6)
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (7)
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] (10)
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] (11)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (39)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (40)
|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (3)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (4)
|}}

==Quotes==
'''Sentinel Prime''': All due respect, Alpha Trion, the Council should concern itself with more important matters, like beefing up security for the Decepticon prisoners that...ahem...''I'' captured. 
'''Cliffjumper''': I thought that was [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]].
:—Actually, they're [[Lockdown (Animated)|both wrong]].

"Those bureaucratobots couldn't find their own [[Anatomic euphemism#Diode|diode]]s with a bitmap and a homing beacon."
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' talks behind the council's back.

"You Autobots will pay! Pay with your sparks!" 
"I also take all major credit downloads."
:—'''Lugnut''' and '''Swindle''' are on two different pages.

"The Sonic Jammer 3000! Don't leave Cybertron without it! But wait—there's more! It also has a stasis suspension ray, handy for those tight spots. Picked this baby up on [[Quintessa]]. Nice folks, the [[Quintesson]]s; give you a good deal and all the oil you can drink."
:—'''Swindle''', ready as ever with a sales pitch.

"Guard the prisoners, or... loot the ship? It's a no-processor...er."

"Maybe I should help them.... or maybe I should just help myself!"

"Nothing beats a shopping spree... especially when it's all ''free!''"
:—The Tao of '''Swindle'''.

"Maybe that energon was a little ''too'' unstable!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' realizes he may not have thought his plan through very well.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
* When Sentinel calls for Jetfire and Jetstorm, the prisoners do not have their facemasks.
* Character heights vary wildly throughout the episode, mostly with the non-Swindle Decepticons being various levels of undersized. The kneeling Decepticons still tower over Swindle as he first talks to them (which seems correct, as Swindle is small), but do not appear to gain any height on him once they're upright. The final scene in particular, Blitzwing and the two clones are downright tiny, looking to be about as big as the average Autobot.
* When Swindle is handing out weapons to the Decepticons, he gives Ramjet his guns, but when he goes to hand Sunstorm's weapons to him, he's still holding Ramjet's guns.
* While convincing Lugnut to let the elite guard live, Swindle's bolo tie suddenly disappears.
* When Swindle crosses over to Blitzwing, talking Lugnut into letting Sentinel, Jazz, and the Jet-twins live, the Triple-Changer's wings ''and'' cannons are gone.
* When Sunstorm and Ramjet trap the Autobots in the chamber, Sunstorm's chin seems like it's been cut down, and looks similar to the G1 Seekers' chin size.
* In the crowd scenes towards the end of this episode, characters change positions relative to each other every time the camera angle switches. Beachcomber, in particular, appears in literally four different places at once.
* When Lugnut crashes against Omega Supreme at the end of the episode, his Deception insignia is missing.
* How exactly did Jetfire/Jetstorm create a whirlwind in space?

===Continuity errors===
* Up until the part where [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] orders [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] to guard the prisoners, all of the captive Autobots were confined within the prison cells. Later, when Swindle contemplates whether to stay to guard the prisoners or loot the ship, all of the captured Autobots are now ''outside'' of their cells. Jetfire and Jetstorm have also been removed from the spherical forcefield and placed in stasis cuffs, despite still being inside the forcefield while in the cell. Unless this was an oversight by the animators, why would Swindle let them out in the first place?
* Optimus transforms into his full firetruck vehicle mode to escape the Decepticons when he first arrives, yet is able to detach his trailer several seconds before he actually transforms into robot mode. The trailer slides down an adjacent hall as he reaches the elevator.
* A possible error occurs during Sentinel's interrogation of the prisoners. When Lugnut declares "Megatron is everywhere!", Sentinel offhandedly comments "You don't know how true that is." While it is conceivable that the Earth-bound Autobots informed Sentinel of Megatron's fate, in the next episode he expresses shock at the fact that [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] is still online, which would suggest that he was either never told or they, for some reason, left that part out.
* What were the chances of Lugnut just randomly bumping into Omega Supreme like that? Space is ''huge''.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:TFAni Decepticon Air BoxScream ConeScream.jpg|thumb|180px|right|"Your conehead makes my ears look silly in comparison!" "No it doesn't!"]]
[[Image:DecepticonAirCrowdFullPan01.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
* Swindle claims to have had business dealings on [[Quintessa]], suggests they could make enough from Elite Guard parts to "retire to a beach island on [[Nebulos]]", and swears by "the fifth moon of [[Pz-Zazz]]".
* His reference to a "personal storage dimension" from which accessories can be pulled at a moments' notice hearkens back to the concept of [[subspace]].
* To help tell the Starscream clones apart, Swindle gives Ramjet a [[conehead]] accessory and Sunstorm a boxy helmet resembling those of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. The new cone-head is topped with a drill.
* Sentinel's adoring public consists of a seriously crazy amount of cameos, a great many of which have not been seen before this episode. While many of them could be identified right away, it would take a further few episodes, and some more crowd scenes in "[[This Is Why I Hate Machines]]" and "[[Endgame, Part II]]", before some of the more obscure characters could all be named and shamed. The crowd includes [[Tap-Out (Animated)|Tap-Out]], [[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]], [[Searchlight (Animated)|Searchlight]], [[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]], [[Furão]], [[Freeway (Animated)|Freeway]], [[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]], [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]], [[Huffer (Animated)|Huffer]], [[Powerglide (Animated)|Powerglide]], [[Seaspray (Animated)|Seaspray]], [[Rattletrap]], [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], [[Rosanna (Animated)|Rosanna]], [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]] (based on [[Autorooper]]), [[Mainframe (Animated)|Mainframe]], [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]], [[Cosmos (Animated)|Cosmos]] and [[Tracks (Animated)|Tracks]]. The widescreen-to-fullscreen crop also manages to cut off [[Lickety-Split|an unnamed orange female robot]] (her forearm can be seen for a split-second poking into shot over Rosanna's head) who would reappear in "Endgame, Part II", and a mysterious skinny red-and-orange robot (behind Hot Shot). Recolored [[generic]] robots in the crowd include ''two'' Tracks-colored Mainframes, a [[Sky Garry (Animated)|Sky Garry]]-colored Warpath, and a [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]]-colored Cosmos, sans nacelles.
**The widescreen-to-fullscreen conversion also excised larger appearances by [[Rattletrap]] and [[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]], got rid of most of [[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]], and entirely removed [[Bumper (Animated)|Bumper]], [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]], and the then-unnamed [[Lightbright]].
* Sentinel and the Autobot Council are carried upon [[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]]. Behind them, the Decepticon prisoners are carried by a [[Dug Base|Grandus lookalike]] with yellow detailing; Derrick Wyatt stated that this was supposed to represent [[Grandus (ROC)|''Return of Convoy'' Grandus]]'s ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]]'' [[redeco]], Dag Base.
* The "Lance" in "[[Broken Lance]]" refers to Sentinel's weapon of choice.

===Real-world references===
* The title is a play on ''[[wikipedia:Con Air|Con Air]]'', a Nicolas Cage movie where prisoners being transported by plane get free and do bad things.
* Sentinel's phrase "[[Broken Lance]]" is similar to the [[United States of America|U.S.]] military term "[[wikipedia:United States military nuclear incident terminology#Broken Arrow|Broken Arrow]]", which is used to describe a cock-up involving nuclear weapons. In this context, it is more likely to be a reference to the 1996 action film [[wikipedia:Broken Arrow (1996 film)|of the same name]], in which John Travolta hijacks a stealth bomber (in order to sell the nuclear missiles on board).
* Speaking of action movies, Optimus taking on all the Decepticons by himself using hit & run tactics and then crawling through an air shaft while sarcastically complaining about how much fun he's having, is very similar to a famous sequence from ''[[wikipedia:Die Hard|Die Hard]]''. The exploding elevator trick also appears in the film.
* When Optimus drops out of the air shaft suspended by a wire harness, it's similar to a famous sequence from the Tom Cruise version of ''[[wikipedia:Mission Impossible (film)|Mission Impossible]]''.
* Optimus claiming to have a small chamber that can trap his foes, only for them to doublecross him and force him inside it, only for him to ''triplecross'' them when the chamber is the only place safe from the real trap, is similar to a famous sequence from ''[[wikipedia:Superman II|Superman II]]''.
* Sari's fingers extending and separating when she types are a reference to ''[[wikipedia:Ghost in the Shell|Ghost in the Shell]]''.
* When Sentinel uses his remote to unlock and re-lock Lugnut's mouth clamps, it makes the same noise as a car alarm remote.
* When Swindle first hears Megatron's name, his facial expression changes with the sound of a cash register.
* Swindle's personal storage dimension features old Hanna-Barbera stock sound effects, typically used to denote magic spells.
* Swindle's "Don't leave Cybertron without it!" is a variation of the American Express credit card slogan "Don't leave home without it." He immediately follows that up with "But wait, there's more!", one of TV huckster [[wikipedia:Ron Popeil|Ron Popeil]]'s most famous catchphrases.
* When Swindle uses the stasis suspension ray, the sound effect is identical to that of the Zat Guns used in ''Stargate SG-1''.

===Trivia===
* Sentinel Prime went through the space disturbance to gain some time, but in the end, agreed to go all the way back to Earth to drop off Optimus Prime. So the whole thing ended up being a rather pointless act. Lesson learned, Sentinel?
* Sentinel seems to have decided to keep his Earth alt-mode [[Autoboot Camp|this time]].
* At the end of "[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]]", Captain Fanzone claimed that Swindle would be stripped down for parts. But other than his weapons (which would have been confiscated by the Elite Guard if the Detroit Police hadn't already taken them), nothing obvious seems to be missing from his person. Maybe Fanzone was just trying to freak him out?
* When he's giving the helmets to Sunstorm and Ramjet, Swindle mentions in a very casual manner that he "never could get the hang of cloning." Thinking back, no one was really shocked to see the army of clones that Starscream created. So maybe, cloning is something fairly common among Decepticons, or at least was at some point.
** Later, [[Dirge (Animated)|he does get]] [[Thrust (Animated)|the hang of cloning]].
* Ramjet and Sunstorm are pretty quiet throughout this episode, probably because their strange speech patterns make it nigh-impossible for them to have a normal conversation.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Blitzwing, Sunstorm, Ramjet, and Swindle.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Prise en Otage'''" ("Taking Hostage")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Decepticons Aéreos'''" ("Decepticon Air")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Uchūsen wo Tsuisekiseyo'''" (宇宙船を追跡せよ, "Chase the Spaceship")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 4|4 December]] [[2010]]
::*Blitzwing's turn at new [[stock footage]] and the viewing warning, starting with from tank to jet to robot mode. Hothead, Random, and Icy each take a turn in robot mode while delivering the line, respectively. Blitzwing also does the intro.

==Home video releases==
*This episode has yet to be released on home video.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

The Trigger, Part 2

2014-02-17T02:25:52Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=17
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=14
|prev2=The Trigger, Part 1
|next2=Victory (episode)
|image=The Trigger Blackarachnia chair.jpg
|caption=Lord Zedd got a makeover. By which we mean sex change.
|title="The Trigger" Part 2
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 19]], [[1996]]
|written by=[[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Michaela Zabranska]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|DX Megatron]]
}}
'''With the flying island under Predacon control, the Maximal base and the Beast Wars are in jeopardy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:The Trigger Blackarachnia symbol.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Even rocks have tattoos.]]
On the [[Brigadoon|floating paradise island]] of unknown origin, [[Tigatron]] resolves to be the island's dedicated defender, protecting it from the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] who would abuse its power. With the injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] on his back, he gets moving. Meanwhile, the Predacons plan to make Tigatron's fear come true. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] deduces how to detect traps on the island and that the obelisk that fires the laser weapon must be where the island is controlled.

At the same time, [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (with [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] on his back) flies towards the island, maintaining radio contact with [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] on the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s bridge. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] rushes onto the scene again, as he's spotted [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] leaving the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]]. As soon as he receives the news over the radio, Primal gets into an aerial scuffle with the two fliers, and because of his handicap from carrying Rattrap, is soundly blasted. Primal and Rattrap free-fall out of control.

[[Image:The Trigger Rattrap optimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Terrorsaur probably felt like he had a monkey on his back; it turned out to be a rat.]]
Rattrap, falling to his death, transforms and blasts the taunting Terrorsaur, commandeering the pteranodon as his new mode of transport. The battle between Primal and Waspinator ends in Waspinator's usual fashion.

Airazor and Tigatron have trouble with another of the island's deadly traps, but Tigatron cleverly blasts his and Airazor's way to freedom. Out of danger, they rendezvous with Primal and Rattrap (who is abandoned by his steed). Tigatron fills in his allies on how the symbols around the island denote the location of traps. Rattrap speculates the function of the island is, in fact, a test of the survival capabilities of whomever visits it.

Blackarachnia and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] reach the obelisk that controls the island. Seeing the fliers, she fakes aggression against them so they attack her, which triggers the island's laser defense, giving Blackarachnia the chance to blast her way inside of the obelisk safely. The black widow marvels at the power of the alien technology she discovers inside. She gleefully announces her plan to use the island to win the Beast Wars for herself. Scorponok objects, but is quickly tricked into one of the island's traps.

[[Image:The Trigger Blackarachnia power.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I AM THE POWER!]]
Inside of the ornate control room, Blackarachnia steps on a strange symbol on the floor, which bathes her in light. The light alters her colors and her voice and gives her mind a direct connection to the island's power. She blackens the sky and uses the obelisk to rain destruction on the island (in a literal sense). The monolith elongates as she directs the island towards the Maximal base. Optimus radios to Rhinox the command for the crew to evacuate the ''Axalon''.

Rattrap's leg is pinned down by some heavy stone debris, but he commands Tigatron to leave him behind so the cat can stop Blackarachnia's chaos. As Tigatron presses forward, Rattrap uses an energy weapon to get the obelisk's defense beam to free himself. Inside the obelisk, Tigatron reluctantly destroys the island's reactor, knowing that this action will doom the paradise.

[[Image:The Trigger Island crash.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Someone stole the Master Emerald.]]
Without an energy source, the island loses altitude and guidance, narrowly swooping over the Maximal base. The island crumbles as it crashes into the ground, robbing Blackarachnia of her chance to dominate. The fallen obelisk sends one final pulse of energy into the sky, which bounces off of a similar obelisk on [[Planet Buster|the smaller of the planet's two moons]], then vanishes into space.

Tigatron knows the beam was a signal, telling [[Vok|the creators]] of the island how the Maximals and Predacons ruined their island paradise. A reoccurring butterfly symbolically dies. The Maximals wonder what's next, and how the builders of the island will react to the vandalism.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Tigatron]] (1)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (5)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (6)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (7)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (8)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (11)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (4)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (9)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"Have a nice... trip? Hehehahahahaha!"
:—'''Scorponok''' is easily amused.

"We should move... how are you feeling?" 
"Better. Still thrashed... ''(grunts)'' ...can't fly". 
"In that case... the lady shall ride a tiger!"
:—'''Tigatron''' and '''Airazor'''

"A scared little mousie... This is just too good to be true!" 
"You know, beak-face... you're right!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' will wish he didn't tease a seemingly helpless '''Rattrap'''.

"You're a real piece of work, Rattrap." 
"Eh, ain't it the truth?"
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Rattrap''' on the latter's hijacking of Terrorsaur as a ride.

"...Oops." 
"Pterodactyl ''idiot''!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' and '''Waspinator''' realize that they've been duped.

"Uhhhh... yeeeesss... I FEEL the power. I have the control! Let there be... ''light.''"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' takes control of the flying island

"May I be forgiven for what I must do."
:—'''Tigatron''', just before destroying the flying island's power source

==Notes==
===Continuity errors===
*Despite Blackarachnia's observation that the monolith needs to recharge when it fires, it has no difficulty in firing a precise blast at Rattrap when he shoots at it, and it's dispersing energy all over the place at the time. Even if there are separate mechanisms for the different kinds of fire, the apparently large amount of energy consumed by the main beam seems as though it would cause some sort of pause in the barrage, at the least.
*Speaking of which, the monolith's main weapon has wildly varying power levels throughout the two-part episode. It was previously shown to be strong enough to badly damage Terrorsaur and Waspinator with one shot apiece, but in this episode, it only knocks them out of the sky, no worse for the wear. Later, it hits Rattrap almost dead-on, and leaves him seemingly uninjured save for a bout of dizziness. A possibility is that the repeated firings in such a short period of time are depleting the beam's charge, leaving it at the level of a strong blaster rather than a devastating superweapon.
* Tigatron's continual assertions that the island was a paradise or "land of peace" make little sense given that it was filled with death traps that activated purely on proximity (as opposed to the monolith punishing the use of energy weapons). Most paradises tend not to include arbitrary death by boulders.

===Real-world references===
* When Airazor is too injured to fly, Tigatron declares that "The lady shall ride the tiger". This is a reference to Frank Stockton's famous short story, "[http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/LadyTige.shtml The Lady or the Tiger?]"
* In [[wikipedia:The_Bible|the Bible]], "Let there be light" is a phrase used by God when he creates the universe.
* At the end, Tigatron relates how all they had to do was live in peace on the floating paradise - but instead they destroyed it. Optimus then shakes his head and replies that it is an "old story", and maybe someday they will all learn. This seems to be a reference to the Garden of Eden from the Bible.

===Trivia===
* Despite spewing massive amounts of firepower in every direction, the monolith under Blackarachnia's control fails to hit any of the Maximals. "[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0655450/quotes Just stop and aim, you idiot!]"
* This is the only episode of Beast Wars not to feature Megatron in any way, including [[Law of the Jungle|flashbacks]], [[The Web|dreams]], or [[A Better Mousetrap|holograms]]. However, Blackarachnia does mention him when she gloats that the island's power will allow her to defeat "even Megatron".
* Dinobot appears but gets no lines at all (which is odd given they had [[Scott McNeil]] there to voice Rattrap anyway).
*[[Cybertronix]]:
** As Rhinox makes contact with Primal, much Cybertronix appears on his screen. Though some is gibberish, the words "toilet", "Rod was here", and "you look too close" can be made out.
** Upsidedown text at the bottom of the screen when Airazor spies on Blackarachnia includes the names "PAM" and "KRIS", as well as "MCM10C4" (1994 in the Maximal numbering system).
* Like [[Dark Designs|Rhinox before her]], Blackarachnia's temporary color change never got a toy. Come on Hasbro, get on the ball!

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'Île Volante - 2e partie'''" ("The Flying Island - Part 2")

:*''Title:'' "'''Île Volante 2'''" ("Flying Island 2")

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il grilletto - Parte 2'''" (The Trigger - Part 2")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ukishima no Death Match Kōhen'''" (浮島のデスマッチ後編, "Floating Island Death Match Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 31|31 December]] [[1997]]
::*Tigatron's verbal tic of ending sentences in "gozaru" is suddenly played to excess beginning with this episode, as he now ends practically ''every'' sentence in the phrase. It is an archaic manner of speech often associated with the samurai (as, for humor, Tigatron was played as a wandering samurai ronin in this dub).
::*This is the first episode to feature the characters chattering through the [[commercial bumper]]s. In the Japanese version, all bumpers are themed to a different character. As Rattrap falls through the sky after being shot from Optimus's back by Terrorsaur, his scream of terror continues into the bumper (themed around him, naturally).
::*At the very end of the episode, as the camera pulls out, looking ominously down at the Maximals who are staring up at the sky, each character recites their verbal tic for comedic effect ("Da na", "Jaa--an", "gozaru", etc.).

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Gatilho Parte 2'''" ("The Trigger Part 2")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El Detonante Segunda Parte'''" ("The Explosive Second Part")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trigger part 2}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

The Trigger, Part 2

2014-02-17T02:25:32Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

Three Monologues

2014-02-10T01:29:40Z

SuzyP: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=20
|prev=Homecoming (IDW)
|next=Shockpoint
|caption=
|image=RID20 cvrB.jpg
|title="Three Monologues"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 7]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=August 2013
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Priscilla Tramontano]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}

'''A blackout, a do-gooder and an opportunist which are all more than they appear make Starscream's first night leading Iacon a difficult one, as the former Decepticon finds that the only way he can speak without being reproached at every turn is to speak to those who cannot talk back.'''

==Synopsis==
===1: Long Night===
As [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]]'s remains lie in state, [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] visits his once and former friend to thank him for all the advice he gave him during their tumultuous attempts to forge a government alongside [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], and apologizes for killing him. He laments the lack of friends he has had in his life, but remarks that he knew Metalhawk would not have been any better at leading than Bumblebee was; now, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s destiny lies in the hands of someone who can and will ''do'' something.

Starscream ventures to the wrecked [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] and petitions owner [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] to use the bar as a meeting place to connect with the common Cybertronian. Blurr laughs in his face: as far as he is concerned, he did not pick Starscream as his leader, but merely chose not to be part of the war anymore, and wants nothing to do with the former Decepticons. Just as he is kicking Starscream out, the entire city is blanketed in darkness as a blackout knocks out power across the polity.

[[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] broadcasts a special report from the med-center on [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] and his Construction Patrol, who are working diligently to help repair the damage caused by the previous night's battle and are now endeavoring to solve the blackout problem. Starscream drops in, more than a little miffed to see his spotlight being stolen away; medic [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] assumes he's come to check on the status of the new body he's working on, but he's actually come to see [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], hoping the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] will stand at his side. Instead, Dirge slugs him good and hard. Starscream turns on his former subordinate, whispering threats of death, until he realizes that privacy is a thing of the past for him: Circuit is filming him, and he spins a quick lie. Power suddenly returns thanks to Scoop's efforts, and Circuit hands his broadcast off to [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]], who is interviewing the hero of the hour. A sulking Starscream is then approached by [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], a stinky little former Autobot who has previous experience with Scoop and has always distrusted him, calling him jealous and greedy. Rattrap shows Starscream the damaged power coupling responsible for the blackout, and points out the [[phosphex]] burn that makes it clear the power loss was no accident: it was sabotage.

===2: Young Evening===
Starscream gives himself a pick-me-up by visiting [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], still held immobile in the forcefield that was responsible for his defeat. He gloats over his victory and the new horizons he will lead the people towards, and then, feeling suitably reinvigorated, heads out to the city's comm array, which Scoop's team are about to start fixing, finally restoring Cybertron's communication with the galaxy. Rattrap points out Scoop's suspicious, ever-present toolbox, which he and Starscream figure would be a good place to stash anything incriminating, so Starscream calls Scoop over before he climbs the array... only to be suitably taken aback when Scoop dramatically genuflects before him. The engineer expresses his disillusionment in his former Autobot brothers, and his new faith in Starscream born of the words of the [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]], leading Starscream to realize that the Construction Patrol are actually following him because they're religious fanatics. Decidedly disarmed, Starscream can stall Scoop no longer and he leaves to head up the array, but his words prompt a line of inquiry from Circuit, who chats with Starscream about the divided opinion on his first few hours of leadership. In short order, Scoop has repaired the array, but as he descends, Rattrap deliberately gets under his feet and causes him to drop his toolbox, which spills its contents for all to see... including a canister of phosphex. As Circuit broadcasts live, Starscream reveals Scoop's deception and has him carted away for incarceration, assuring the viewers that ''he'', at least, will not let them down.

===3: Early Dawn===
Some time later, as Rattrap returns to the dingy little den he calls home, he finds Starscream waiting for him. Being a professional liar, Starscream calmly explains, means he can also ''spot'' a liar quite easily. Scoop was no liar—he genuinely wanted to do good. Rattrap is the prevaricator here, the one who was always jealous of other 'bots, and the one responsible for the sabotage and for planting the phosphex on Scoop. Rattrap wants to know what this means for him: a self-serving, out-for-number-one response that Starscream applauds. With a grin, he offers Rattrap a job in his government.

Later still, Starscream retires to a tower elsewhere in the city and watches as the sun begins to rise, even if it does feel a little early. He speaks to an unseen listener, ruminating on the lessons he has learned about the nature of power, and the fact that, really, the people are just looking for someone to blame. What, he wonders, will the listener do when he is better, free of the [[CR chamber]] in which he now heals? Starscream hopes he'll stand with him, since he trusted him when they began the city. But for now... Starscream bids [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] good night.

==Featured characters==
For this list and all others going forward, we are assuming that anyone who has stayed in Iacon of their own free will has discarded their faction in the process, as per Starscream's decree.
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (24)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (21)
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (3)
*[[Tappet]] (4)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (5)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (6)
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (7)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]] (8)
*[[Boomer]] (9)
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] (10)
*[[Ricochet (G1)|Ricochet]] (11)
*[[Longtooth]] (13)
*[[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] (14)
*[[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]] (16)
*[[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] (17)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (18)
*[[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] (19)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (20)
*[[Fastlane]] (22)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==

"I'm not... I '''wasn't''' used to having '''friends.''' '''Accomplices,''' and people in my way, sure. But there have not been many '''friends''' of '''Starscream.'''"
:—'''Starscream''' sets the ovaries of fangirls far and wide tingling

"I need somebody I can trust. I mean, even if you '''hate''' me, you're still a '''Seeker''', right?" 
"You know '''what?'''" 
''(Dirge decks Starscream with a mighty POW!)'' 
"'''Huh.''' I thought you'd at least give me a snazzy '''one-liner'''. <nowiki>'</nowiki>'''''Seek this''''',<nowiki>'</nowiki> or something."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Dirge'''

"'''Altruism''' is '''unpredictable.'''"
:—'''Starscream'''

==Notes==

*This is the first issue of ''Robots in Disguise'' to ''not'' feature narration in the form of an internal character monologue delivered through caption boxes. Instead, Starscream—the one character who is so rarely legitimately truthful when interacting with others—gets to actually speak his true thoughts aloud, without being suspected, rebuked or second-guessed, but only by talking to the dead, the paralyzed, and the comatose. He mighta killed that dude, but it's actually sort of tragic.

===Continuity notes===
*Scoop has made a brief entry into IDW continuity before now, battling alongside the Wreckers in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]''. Whether he was a member of the group wasn't clear at the time; his personality as portrayed does ''not'' seem like Wrecker material.
*Mentioned in passing in [[Second Exodus|issue #18]], Flatline makes an on-panel appearance this issue. Artist Andrew Griffith designed him as a retool of the ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] toy, but did so on his own initiative without instruction from [[Hasbro]], so don't get too excited.
*Phosphex is the primary chemical component of the assorted variations of [[glass gas]]; "cold phosphex" was mentioned in ''[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4]]'', while ''[[Bullets]]'' gave us "black phosphex".
*Starscream references his disastrous previous attempt at leading the Decepticons, as seen during the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009–2011 ongoing series]].
*Wheeljack appeared to die back in [[Before the Dawn|issue #14]]. He lives! Yaay!
*The reason why the sunrise feels early is probably because it's not a sunrise, as shown in [[Second Exodus|issue #18]].

===Transformers references===
*Scoop's got a new ''Generations'' toy coming up soon, hence his slightly surprising prominent role here, alongside his fellow "Double" Targetmasters Quickmix and Landfill. His Targetmaster partners [[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] and [[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]] appear too, presumably being small Cybertronians here, rather than Nebulans.

===Errors===
*Blurr is still wearing his Autobot symbol when he should have abandoned it if he was staying Iacon. However, given that every single other character is devoid of a symbol, and Blurr appears ''consistently'' with his symbol in every panel he appears in, coupled with his comments about staying and allegiance, this might not actually be a mistake.
*Holepunch and Tracer are miscolored as [[Takedown]] and [[Groundpounder]] respectively, two members of the ''original'' [[Construction Patrol|Micromaster Construction Patrol]].
===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Starscream stands over Metalhawk's remains, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' Starscream (with crown) poses dramatically, while Scoop and Rattrap hang back in the shadows, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]. This image would later be used for the fifth TPB volume.
*'''Cover RI:''' Starscream by [[Livio Ramondelli]], in the first part of a three-part image formed with the RI covers of issues #21 and #22.
<gallery>
Image:RID20 cvrA.jpg|Need a hand, Metalhawk?
Image:RID20 cvrB.jpg|This is bad comedy.
Image:RID20 cvrRI.jpg|Retailers' Incentive cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|#20]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part Four|#94]]
*''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' [[Monstrosity issue 3|#3]]
* (back cover)
[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

Ark-17

2013-12-01T02:19:53Z

SuzyP: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{disambig3|Ark}}
:'' '''''Ark-17''''' is an [[Autobot]] starship from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Ark-17.jpg|200px|thumb|Yawn. Another one.]]

The '''''Ark-17''''' is one of a fleet of numbered Autobot starships designated ''Ark'', with the primary function of science vessel. They are presumably named after the first legendary lost ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''.

Her crew includes:

*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Siren]]
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]]
*[[Pincher]]<ref>[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]]'s [[Autopedia]] entry from [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]]</ref>

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] used the ''Ark-17'' as a platform from which he launched his operation to rescue [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. The ship housed seemingly endless hordes of [[Autobot]]s that Springer threw at the crazy and powerful Kup. Eventually, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] rendezvoused with the ''Ark-17'', and he easily rescued the old coot. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

Sometime later, [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] had hatched a plan to boost Autobot morale by rebuilding and rehabilitating Kup using [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s [[Pretender]] technology that [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] had perfected. To maintain Kup's mental stability, it was agreed that he would never be told what he did to the ground teams from ''Ark-17'', and survivors such as Siren and Sizzle were sworn to silence. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15}}

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Autobot starships]]
[[Category:Generation 1 starships]]

Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1

2013-11-06T23:38:53Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Dark Cybertron|The Transformers: Dark Cybertron]]'' #1
|prev=Soundwaves (issue)
|next=Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|prev2=Little Victories
|image=DarkCybertron_regcvr.jpg
|title="Dark Dawn" Dark Cybertron Chapter 1
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 6]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=October 2013
|written by=[[John Barber]] and [[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Phil Jimenez]] (layouts) [[Andrew Griffith]] (finishes) [[Brendan Cahill]] (prologue)
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] (main story) [[John-Paul Bove]] (prologue}
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}

'''While Orion Pax's team joins up with the ''Lost Light'' crew, Shockwave unleashes his undead Metrotitan on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==

''Six million years ago, the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]]'' comes upon a mysterious swirling vortex on the fringes of the [[Benzuli Expanse]]. [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] is left baffled by the cosmic anomaly, but [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] is reminded of a legend that spoke of a parallel reality of unlife—a [[Dead Universe]]. Jhiaxus scoffs at the superstitious notion, but there is no denying that whatever the vortex is, it is indeed a gateway to another universe. At [[Nova Prime]]'s command, [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] sets the ship on a course toward the anomaly, but as it grows near, the anomaly reaches out and begins to pull the ship in. Nova Prime remains calm, but a distressed Jhiaxus quickly beams a final message back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], to his student [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], urging him to carry on his work...''

In the present day, beneath the surface of Cybertron in [[Crystal City]], Shockwave gloats over the imminent fruition of long-germinating plans. Jhiaxus, reporting in from the vicinity of [[Gorlam Prime]], lets Shockwave know that the [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] awoken on the planet by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] is presently in mid-teleport to Cybertron, guided by [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], while [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], at Shockwave's side, reports on the energy fluctuations that herald the Titan's arrival. As the colossal Transformer materializes, the [[Ore-2]] in its body begins to react with the [[Ore-14]] that lines the cavern walls, and the giant howls in agony.

In [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], a worried [[Rattrap]] interrupts [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] with some news, while the former Decepticon is busy familiarizing himself with his new body. Before Rattrap can share his fears, though, Starscream sees the source of his concern for himself: the sun, which had apparently risen some time ago, has not moved from its position in the sky since Starscream last saw it. Realizing that dawn is, in fact, hours away, Starscream scans the mysterious ball of light, and with a suspicion that he recognizes its energy signature growing, has Rattrap put in a call to the ''[[Lost Light]]''.

In the vicinity of Gorlam Prime, Orion Pax and his team aboard Pax's ship the ''[[Skyroller]]'' struggle to escape the gravity well of the collapsing planet as the expanding Ore-2 destroys it. Fortunately, responding to a distress call put out by Pax, the ''Lost Light'' [[quantum jump]]s onto the scene directly overhead. The ''Skyroller'' docks with the larger ship—which easily outpaces the pull of Gorlam Prime's collapse—and Pax's team are welcomed on board by [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], who, it turns out, specifically responded to the distress call because it was warning him ''away''. As members of the two crews quietly comment on how ''weird'' the others are, and [[Garnak]] has a happy reunion with his old captain Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] inquires if Orion will be taking command of their ship. Orion haltingly confirms that he won't, and asks for a tour of the ''Lost Light'' instead; this takes the group to the bridge just as Starscream's transmission comes through. Studying the readings Starscream provides, Cyclonus confirms his fears: the light in the sky over Cybertron is a portal to the Dead Universe.

Back on Cybertron, [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] venture closer to the mysterious light, in which Arcee can sense Jhiaxus's hand. The Dinobots roar ahead into action despite the presence of no visible enemy to battle, but just as Prowl is starting to come around to their viewpoint, the ground beneath the Autobots' feet quakes... and the Metrotitan emerges, transformed by the fusion of ores into an undead behemoth!

A vision of the future assails Shockwave: he sees Galvatron battling [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]... Starscream disintegrating... Rodimus being crushed... [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] in chains... [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]... the ''Lost Light'' crashing... and Orion Pax staring down... himself? Though he reels from this premonition, Shockwave rights himself as Dreadwing continues to provide updates, informing him that the Metrotitan is functioning as a "conduit", but that a complication has arisen. This seems of little import to Shockwave—as does Dreadwing's disrespectful tone, which Waspinator chides him for—as he turns instead to bow deeply before a viewscreen that delivers a transmission from the other side of the Metrotitan's link: Nova Prime and Galvatron yet survive within the Dead Universe, and soon they will return to conquer ''all'' universes!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks or flash-forwards.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (17)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (18)
*''[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]'' (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (22)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (23)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (24)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] (25)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (26)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (27)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (29)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (30)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (31)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (32)
*[[Brainstorm]] (33)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (34)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (35)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (36)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (37)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (38)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (39)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (40)
*''[[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'' (42)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (43)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (8)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] (9)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (11)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' (41)
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (1)
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] (2)
*''[[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]]'' (3)
*[[Nova Prime]] (4)
*''[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'' (5)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (6)
*''[[Tailpipe (G1)|Tailpipe]]'' (7)
*[[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (14)
*[[Rattrap]] (15)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Garnak]] (28)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==

"Hey Pax—your distress call was so '''epic''' I've got it as my ringtone."
:—'''Swerve'''

"You remember last year, when Rodimus gave his big speech about a quest to find the '''Knights of Cybertron?''' I was '''this''' close to signing up." 
"''Made-up knights impossible to '''find'''—and so you decided to stay '''behind'''.''" 
"No... I made the mistake of looking at the '''crew manifest.''' Rodimus has got some '''reeeeeal''' weirdos on board..."
:—'''Hardhead''' and '''Wheelie'''

"...And this is where we spend most of our time, fine-tuning strategy, reflecting on our progress to date... and debating the pedagogical constraints of logic, grammar, and rhetoric." 
... 
"Has someone been '''drawing''' on the navicomp?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

"'''Ironhide''', keep your '''lunkheads''' in line." 
"They ain't lunkheads, '''Prowl''', they're just '''brave'''." 
"Most lunkheads are."
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Ironhide''' on the Dinobots

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The Ark's approach to the Benzuli Expanse anomaly was previously seen in ''[[Spotlight: Galvatron]]''. That issue gets a bit of a soft retcon here; it implied that Galvatron had sent the Ark-1 into the anomaly of his own accord, but here we see Nova Prime order him to set their course.
*Tailpipe was revealed to be among the crew of the Ark-1 in ''[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|More than Meets the Eye'' #13]].
*It wasn't clear if the presence of an Autobot symbol on Blurr's chest was an error when he last appeared in [[Three Monologues|''Robots in Disguise'' #20]], but that puzzle seems to have been solved with this issue as it's now gone.
*The mysterious "sunrise" appeared at the end of ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Second Exodus|#18]], [[Three Monologues|#20]] and [[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]].
*Orion Pax and company are escaping Gorlam Prime directly following on from the end of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Homecoming (IDW)|#19]].
*We join the ''Lost Light'' after the ship's departure from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|#21]]; Rodimus notes that (for undivulged reasons) they're looking for [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they met in the earlier-set [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*Garnak served under Rodimus in the "Space Opera" storyline that ran from from issues [[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|#19]] to [[Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|#21]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].
*The ''Lost Light'' and Starscream previously made contact with each other in "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", the prose back-up story in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21.
*Nova Prime last appeared in ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]'' [[Heart of Darkness issue 4|#4]], in which he was reanimated by the [[D-Void]] and last seen being forced back through a portal to the Dead Universe. Likewise, Galvatron's last appearance—in [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|issue #30]] of the ongoing series—saw him disintegrate when a portal to the Dead Universe began to open before him. These two have historically not gotten along too well; Galvatron turned on Nova back in "[[Spotlight: Sideswipe|Revelation]]", and Nova battled Galvatron at D-Void's command in ''Heart of Darkness''. With the destruction of the D-Void and it's [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]] in "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]", however, it seems this pair have been freed of the dark lusts that have pit them against each other—perhaps most obviously evinced by the fact that Nova Prime has dropped the "Nemesis Prime" moniker he went by after taking the Darkness into himself.

===Transformers references===
*Tailpipe is based on the [[Tailpipe (DOTM)|''Dark of the Moon'' character of the same name]].
*The Metrotitan has a blue, white and hot-pink color scheme that seems intended to mark it as ''the'' [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] of ''[[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]'' fame, though the color layout is not exactly the same. Could the Titan's transformation into an undead horror be a reference to the old [[fandom]] misconception that Metrotitan was a [[zombie]]?
*Rattrap professes to have a "ninth sense", the way a human would claim to have a sixth. This seems to hearken back to the "standard seven senses" that Transformers are constructed with (according to [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]'s profile in [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]s [[The Transformers Universe|''Transformers Universe'']]), but that would mean there's an eighth going unmentioned. Mistake?
*Starscream's new body is, of course, the new ''[[Transformers: Generations]]'' toy based on [[Starscream (Armada)|''Armada'' Starscream]].

===Real-world references===
*Rattrap describes himself as a "stainless steel rat", after the title of the 1961 [[Wikipedia:The Stainless Steel Rat|Harry Harrison novel]]. The same reference was also made in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]".

===Trivia===
*The inside-front cover of an IDW Transformers comic normally contains a "previously" text blurb, credits and a list of variant covers, but for this one-shot special, the "previously" section is expanded to two full pages, and is made up of re-used artwork from '''Robots in Disguise'' [[Shockwaves|#17]], #18, #19, and [[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21 and #22. The credits and cover list come on page 3.
*This issue's story is followed by a "Roll Call" page listing off the major players, a checklist of issues for the full "Dark Cybertron" event, and a "Thank You" to the VIP Attendees who visited the IDW studios at [[BotCon 2013]].

===Covers (5)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Orion Pax, Rodimus and Bumblebee charge forward, at the fore of a collage of characters from the story with Shockwave looming over all, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
*'''Sub cover:''' Shockwave's shadow is cast across Cybertron in front of a montage of the cast, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]. Retailers could order as many of this variant as they wished, with the notional intent that it only be available to customers with in-store subscriptions to the book.
*'''Cover RIA:''' Starscream in his new body, by Jiminez and Fajardo Jr.
*'''Cover RIB:''' Blank white cover for hand-drawn sketches by [[Andrew Griffith]]
*'''Cover RE:''' Orion Pax in an homage to [http://marvel.wikia.com/New_Mutants_Vol_1_87 ''New Mutants'' #87], by original ''New Mutants'' cover artist [[Rob Liefeld]], with colors by Fajardo Jr.

<gallery>
File:DarkCybertron_regcvr.jpg|
File:DarkCybertron_subcvr.jpg|
File:DarkCybertron_cvrRIA.jpg|
File:DarkCybertron_cvrRIB.jpg|
File:DarkCybertron_cvrRE.jpg
</gallery>

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*CGC
*''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' (back cover)

==External links==
* [http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=21683&ss=as Preview]

Masters & Students

2013-10-26T02:19:37Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one—" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Behold the functionality of our newest member: Jumbotron!"]]
[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth. Though Ratchet believes the kids should be learning about Cybertron instead.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technahar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] [[Fowler's V-tol|his hi-tech jet]]. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!" "Wait, what about me?!" "...bye!" *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the [[Memorial High School|school]] roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)
*[[Science fair judge]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle.

"Awaken, warrior! Rise and serve your new master!" 
''[wakes up and emerges from stasis]'' "Skyquake serves only one master!" 
"Excellent! Your loyalty and devotion will set a fine example for the troops. No need to be timid, Skyquake. You may bow." 
"You fail to grasp my meaning. I am here on a mission, assigned to me by my one master, Megatron." 
"Yes, him. Sadly, Megatron is no longer with us." 
"Impossible!" 
"Why is this so difficult for everyone to accept?"
:—'''Starscream''' gives '''Skyquake''' a rude awakening.

"Well I'll be a bald eagle..."
:— '''Agent Fowler''', ever the patriot.

"Air superiority achieved!"
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

"And this time...STAY DEAD!"
:— '''Starscream''' pulls off his most hardcore takeover attempt ever!

==Notes==
===Astronomical errors===
*The image displayed on Soundwave's monitor is presumably meant to be the [[asteroid belt]], as the wreckage is too large to be that of the [[space bridge]]. However, the Asteroid belt lies outside [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], not Earth.

===Animation and technical errors===
* The copies of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]'' that Raf uses to make his paper mache volcano from are printed back-to-front, with the Sports section on the front and the masthead on the back. Since this happened again in "[[Deus ex Machina]]", maybe Jasper just really loves their sports?
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage. No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*When Skyquake slashes at Optimus after being knocked into a wall, it leaves a scratch mark visible on Optimus' chest. However, it's no longer there after Skyquake scans Fowler's jet, especially noticable when Optimus transforms into his truck mode and the windshields seem intact.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space. Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard. This is, however, a fairly common mistake, especially in children's television.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
**However this is a trait that would continue with every other character with the exception of Optimus Prime and Soundwave.
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].
*This is [[Transport to Oblivion|not]] [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|the]] [[Fragmentation (G1)|first]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|time]] an incarnation of Megatron has survived a space bridge disaster.
*[[Furmanism|"If Megatron could not conquer Earth, what chance do we have?"]]
*When Optimus transforms after nearly being hit by Skyquake's missile, the classic transformation sound is clearly heard, as opposed to the newer "swooshing" effect used in ''Prime''.

===Trivia===
*The name of this episode was parsed "Masters and Students" [http://www.hubworld.com/watch/773790332001/transformers-prime-clip-1-masters-and-students on the Hub's website].
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first episode in the series to use the full [[title sequence]].
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask. This was later explained in "[[Grill]]" as a modification Ratchet had made to Fowler's jet.
*Adaptations of this episode include a prose version in ''[[Optimus Under Threat]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Meister und Schüler'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 28|28 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mesterek és tanítványok'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16|16 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Guru dan Murid'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' 10 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestri e allievi'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Kūchū Henkei! Skyquake''' (空中変形!スカイクエイク, ''Aerial Transformation! Skyquake'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 12]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seuseung gwa Jeja'''" (스승과 제자, "Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 13|13 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12|12 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|December 13]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestros y Estudiantes'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]
::*This episode was unexpectedly first aired as part of a ''Transformers: Prime'' marathon instead of the usual time slot.

==Home video releases==
A DVD of "Masters & Students" comes with the entertainment pack containing figures of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], [[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]]. This DVD is also included in the first-wave Prime Cyberverse Commander figures.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

One Shall Fall

2013-10-26T02:10:50Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|an episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Tranaformers: Prime]]''|the week-long event in the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers legends'' mobile game]]|One Shall Fall...}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 23
|prev=Stronger, Faster
|next=One Shall Rise, Part 1
|image=OneShallFall-visionfulfilled.jpg
|caption=''Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword!''
|title="One Shall Fall"
|airdate=[[August 21]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]] and [[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''A prophecy predicts dark times ahead, which Megatron intends to see through.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OneShallFall-MegatronKnockOut.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Miiiight not be the best time to examine your manicure, Knock Out.]]

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] recites a passage from the [[Covenant of Primus]], foretelling that a perpetual conflict will culminate when the forty-seven spheres align. Despite the other [[Autobot]]s' lack of faith, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] realizes that the "world forged of chaos" referred to in the prophecy is [[Earth]]—and that the alignment will occur in a matter of days.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] explains to [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] that he sought the [[Dark Energon|blood]] of [[Unicron]] so that he could conquer worlds with [[Terrorcon (Prime)|undead armies]]. Knock Out assures him that more Dark Energon awaits amongst the stars, but advises him not to push himself, since he was in stasis. Megatron then claims that he is the "rising darkness" of which the prophecy speaks.

[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], and [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] find a picture of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] while searching a conspiracy website. Raf replaces the image with a dancing cat, which makes Ratchet laugh. Jack then invites Optimus to take a look, but is flatly denied. Ratchet then states that, before he became a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], Optimus behaved quite similarly to Jack. [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] suddenly interrupts and reveals that the [[Decepticon]]s have been stealing components to build a second [[space bridge]]. Back aboard the ''Nemesis'', Knock Out and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] inform Megatron that the only item left on the list is an ample power source, which can be found in a heavily fortified human base. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] could simply tunnel in, but Megatron rather angrily declares that the time for stealth is over, and he sends a massive squad of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] to retrieve it. Optimus warns Fowler to have his troops evacuate, for fear of human casualties.

[[Image:PrimeEp23-BumblebeeRaf.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Where is your BS&P now???]]

Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] arrive to fend off the Vehicons, and all goes well until Megatron himself heads out toward the battlefield. En route, he spots Bumblebee, who was taking Raf racing. Megatron opens fire, frying Bumblebee's systems and knocking Raf out cold. Megatron arrives at the base just as the Autobots disable the last of his drones, and he taunts Optimus as Bumblebee arrives whilst carrying a wounded Raf. Bulkhead restrains the enraged scout before Optimus orders Arcee to take him and Raf back to base. Megatron then ascends onto the ''Nemesis'' with the power source. Unbeknownst to Megatron, Optimus and Bulkhead climb aboard the ''Nemesis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hull.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], Ratchet panics that his tools are wrong for human examination, and Jack suggests that they call in [[June Darby|his mother]]. Meanwhile, Megatron has another vision in which he sees a [[Unicron|sinister face]] and a volcano. He then orders Knock Out and Airachnid to complete the space bridge, as there is something he must attend to. June arrives at the Autobot base and quickly unnerves Ratchet with the knowledge that Raf will die unless she can stabilize him immediately. Bumblebee vents his frustration on a nearby wall, but Arcee manages to calm him...a little. Ratchet regrets having not bothered to learn human science and medicine, despite accepting the children into their lives. He then states that he has grown to need Rafael, just as Raf needs him.

Bulkhead and Optimus storm the ''Nemesis'', and Optimus claims to have had a change of heart: He orders Bulkhead back to base with the power source, declaring that there is something he must do. He then muses grimly that he has realized that Autobots and Decepticons will never co-exist peacefully, and he vows to destroy Megatron.

As the planetary alignment nears, Megatron arrives at the volcano site, and Optimus uses a Vehicon comm link to challenge him. Optimus soon joins him at the base of the volcano, and the two exchange brief banter before engaging each other in fierce battle.

[[Image:PrimeEp23-PrimeMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Why throw away your life so recklessly?" "I keep [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|''trying'']] to, but Hasbro won't [[To sell toys|let me]] anymore!"]]

Meanwhile, Ratchet realizes that Raf has been infected with [[Dark Energon]] and theorizes that exposure to normal energon should cure him. He takes a sample from Bumblebee, placing Raf in a sealed chamber to test his theory as the others watch helplessly. Rafael soon opens his eyes, his pulse stabilizing.

Optimus appears to defeat Megatron and prepares to deal the final blow, but the Decepticon leader catches his sword with unusual strength as the volcano begins to erupt. Strange purple markings glow to life across his body, and he quickly overpowers Optimus. He realizes that the volcano is spewing forth Dark Energon, and he moves to kill Optimus, as he saw himself doing in a previous vision.

To be continued...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (6)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (13)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[William Fowler]] (10)
*[[June Darby]] (16)
|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==

"And it was written in the Covenant of Primus that 'when the 47 spheres align, a perpetual conflict will culminate upon a world forged from chaos. And the weak shall perish in the shadow of a rising darkness.'"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' recites a passage of ill tidings.

"Uh...crazy coincidence, right?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' notes the multiple connections to Earth and Cybertron throughout the show.

"Mars Cat says, 'Take me to your feeder!'"
:—'''Miko''' starts a new internet meme

"Um, Optimus! You wanna see something funny?" 
"No."
:—'''Jack''' learns of '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s minimal sense of humor.

"It would seem I have swatted a bee and squashed a bug."
:—'''Megatron''' mocks Raf's condition with zero remorse.

"Does he seem to be...'losing it'?" 
"A bit..."
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Airachnid''' discuss Megatron's state of mind.

"I have been foolish not to see what history has proven over and over again...that Autobots and Decepticons will never mend their ways. If there can be no diplomatic solution to this perpetual conflict, then I must not allow more darkness to fall upon this or any planet. Megatron must be destroyed!"
:—It's about slaggin' time, '''Optimus Prime'''.

"Your defeat was foreseen here by the ancients. What was it they wrote? 'The weak shall perish'?" 
"Do not believe everything you read."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''', unusually philosophical in the middle of a death match.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the flying Vehicons arrive to help retrieve the power source from the military base, the Vehicon ground units which stole it in the first place vanish.
* When Megatron arrives at the volcano, the points of his helmet disappear through his neck armor.
* As Megatron extends his blade when Optimus leaps at him, the sound effect is that of his cannon firing.
* When Optimus tries to strike the finishing blow, he's standing on Megatron's chest. Once Megatron catches the blade, Optimus is standing much further back.

===Continuity errors===
*Megatron's jet-mode cannons score a direct hit on Bumblebee, yet do no apparent damage other than briefly stopping him. When Arcee was hit in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]", it nearly killed her. On a similar note, Bumblebee should have taken the brunt of the Dark Energon exposure, but only Raf shows any symptoms. Remember that Arcee was weakened by exposure to a few drops from [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]'s animated corpse in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
**However, Optimus tells Arcee to look after Raf AND Bumblebee; it's likely that Bee's just being strong for his partner's sake. Bumblebee also handled a shard of Dark Energon during "[[Out of His Head]]" without any ill effects, so maybe he's just resistant to the stuff.
*Bumblebee knows Raf is injured, so why does he drive nearly two miles (three klicks) to the battlefield instead of just calling for a [[GroundBridge]] immediately?
*Raf says he can't see without his glasses in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", but his first person shot is perfectly clear. This is a common thing for TV and movies, but still...

===Continuity notes===
*Megatron refers to his feeling by saying "it's as if" he can hear Unicron's thoughts, which he gibbered about back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*The story revolves around the idea that Dark Energon is out in space, another "Darkness Rising" plot point. Turns out that it's not as far out as the characters think...
*Agent Fowler's men at first thought it was [[MECH]] who stole the phase conductor until they found the security image of Soundwave.
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] demonstrated that energon does not agree with human physiology in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]" and "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4|Part 4]]", which Ratchet confirms here. Apparently, Dark Energon has similar effects, but the two types cancel each other out (at least in a human).
*Arcee tells Bumblebee that she knows what it's like to see a partner <strike>killed</strike> harmed, referring to [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death at Airachnid's claws in "[[Predatory]]". Her general speech seems to call back to the lesson she learned at the end of "[[Partners]]". Ironically, Bumblebee was the one who prevented Arcee from giving into her desire for vengeance in that episode.
*Ratchet extracts energon from Bumblebee with the same device that he used to inject himself with synthetic energon in [[Stronger, Faster|the previous episode]].

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Tfprime23 unicron.jpg|right|thumb|Hey look, it's Unicron! Wait, why does he have Cyclonus's helmet horns?]]
* The [[Covenant of Primus]] first appeared in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
* Megatron and Optimus punch each other in the style of the opening credits, only on opposite sides. This isn't [[Sick Mind|the first time]] the show has done this.
* Yeah, yeah, "[[The Transformers: The Movie|One shall stand, one shall fall]]." This is the third time in this series alone, following "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" and "[[Sick Mind]]", and that's not even including the title of THIS episode. Megatron even completes the saying for Optimus, he's heard it plenty of times by now.
* Ratchet mentions that he has known Optimus for longer than any of the other Earth-stationed Autobots, even before he was a Prime. Taking the character's appearance in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' into account, this would be true, as Ratchet was under the direct command of Optimus prior to, and at the start of the game's storyline.
**In comparison, the first cutscene of the Autobot campaign showed Bumblebee's first meeting with Optimus, and whilst Arcee was in the game, she never personally interacted with Optimus during the story. Bulkhead was mentioned as having joined Optimus during a later period of time.
* Megatron refers to Optimus as "the last of the Primes". He was also called this by the head of the [[Autobot High Council]] in ''War for Cybertron'', upon his ascension to the rank of Prime. It is also a term used to refer to his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|live-action film]] counterpart.
*Megatron breaks Prime's sword in the same way as in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]."

===Real-world references===
*The picture on the conspiracy website of a supposed alien looking through a window is a reference to the famed "Denver Alien" sighting where a man called Jeff Peckman claimed he filmed an extra-terrestrial outside of his home.

===Trivia===
* The episode was first broadcast on Canada's Teletoon channel. It later first aired in the United States on [[September 24]], [[2011]].
* At the beginning of the episode, as Megatron explains why he sought out the blood of Unicron, Knock Out totally checks out his "nails" in the background. How vain can you get?
* Megatron laments that the only shard of Dark Energon he has is the one in his chest. It would seem that, despite his machinations being discovered, Starscream never gave Megatron's original shard back.
* Bulkhead states that he has never seen Optimus "laugh, cry or lose his cool". While it could just be an offhand expression, this inadvertently raises an interesting question as to whether Cybertronians actually have the ability to cry...[[Humanization#Crying|hmmmmmmmm]].
* Ratchet tells the kids that the title of Prime can only be earned, not inherited or born into. This is the inverse of what [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|a different Optimus]] told [[Megatron (Movie)|his archenemy]] in [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|a different universe]].
* This is the first time in the series an Autobot weaponizes a part of their vehicle mode—in this case, Optimus's wheels on his legs.
*Ratchet actually ''laughs'' in this episode, and at a cartoon space cat, of all things!

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 9|9 April]] [[2012]]

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Prophezeiung'''" ("The Prophecy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 24|24 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Egyikünk elbukik'''" ("One of Us Falls")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 8|8 February]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Satu Harus Jatuh'''" ("One Shall Fall")
:*''Original airdate:'' 1 October [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'antica profezia!'''" ("The Ancient Prophecy!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 11|11 December]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ichigeki Henkei! Optimus Prime VS Megatron'''" (一撃変形!オプティマスプライムVSメガトロン, "One-Shot Transformation! Optimus Prime VS Megatron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 8|8 September]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Godae ui Yeeon'''" (고대의 예언, "The Ancient Prophecy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 14|14 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 4|4 January]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "Uno caerá'''" ("One Shall Fall")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 21|21 July]] [[2012]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

One Shall Fall

2013-10-26T02:09:33Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|an episode of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Tranaformers: Prime]]''|the week-long event in the [[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|''Transformers legends'' mobile game]]|One Shall Fall...}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 23
|prev=Stronger, Faster
|next=One Shall Rise, Part 1
|image=OneShallFall-visionfulfilled.jpg
|caption=''Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword!''
|title="One Shall Fall"
|airdate=[[August 21]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]] and [[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''A prophecy predicts dark times ahead, which Megatron intends to see through.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OneShallFall-MegatronKnockOut.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Miiiight not be the best time to examine your manicure, Knock Out.]]

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] recites a passage from the [[Covenant of Primus]], foretelling that a perpetual conflict will culminate when the forty-seven spheres align. Despite the other [[Autobot]]s' lack of faith, [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] realizes that the "world forged of chaos" referred to in the prophecy is [[Earth]]—and that the alignment will occur in a matter of days.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] explains to [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] that he sought the [[Dark Energon|blood]] of [[Unicron]] so that he could conquer worlds with [[Terrorcon (Prime)|undead armies]]. Knock Out assures him that more Dark Energon awaits amongst the stars, but advises him not to push himself, since he was in stasis. Megatron then claims that he is the "rising darkness" of which the prophecy speaks.

[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], and [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko]] find a picture of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] while searching a conspiracy website. Raf replaces the image with a dancing cat, which makes Ratchet laugh. Jack then invites Optimus to take a look, but is flatly denied. Ratchet then states that, before he became a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], Optimus behaved quite similarly to Jack. [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] suddenly interrupts and reveals that the [[Decepticon]]s have been stealing components to build a second [[space bridge]]. Back aboard the ''Nemesis'', Knock Out and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] inform Megatron that the only item left on the list is an ample power source, which can be found in a heavily fortified human base. [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] could simply tunnel in, but Megatron rather angrily declares that the time for stealth is over, and he sends a massive squad of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] to retrieve it. Optimus warns Fowler to have his troops evacuate, for fear of human casualties.

[[Image:PrimeEp23-BumblebeeRaf.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Where is your BS&P now???]]

Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] arrive to fend off the Vehicons, and all goes well until Megatron himself heads out toward the battlefield. En route, he spots Bumblebee, who was taking Raf racing. Megatron opens fire, frying Bumblebee's systems and knocking Raf out cold. Megatron arrives at the base just as the Autobots disable the last of his drones, and he taunts Optimus as Bumblebee arrives whilst carrying a wounded Raf. Bulkhead restrains the enraged scout before Optimus orders Arcee to take him and Raf back to base. Megatron then ascends onto the ''Nemesis'' with the power source. Unbeknownst to Megatron, Optimus and Bulkhead climb aboard the ''Nemesis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hull.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]], Ratchet panics that his tools are wrong for human examination, and Jack suggests that they call in [[June Darby|his mother]]. Meanwhile, Megatron has another vision in which he sees a [[Unicron|sinister face]] and a volcano. He then orders Knock Out and Airachnid to complete the space bridge, as there is something he must attend to. June arrives at the Autobot base and quickly unnerves Ratchet with the knowledge that Raf will die unless she can stabilize him immediately. Bumblebee vents his frustration on a nearby wall, but Arcee manages to calm him...a little. Ratchet regrets having not bothered to learn human science and medicine, despite accepting the children into their lives. He then states that he has grown to need Rafael, just as Raf needs him.

Bulkhead and Optimus storm the ''Nemesis'', and Optimus claims to have had a change of heart: He orders Bulkhead back to base with the power source, declaring that there is something he must do. He then muses grimly that he has realized that Autobots and Decepticons will never co-exist peacefully, and he vows to destroy Megatron.

As the planetary alignment nears, Megatron arrives at the volcano site, and Optimus uses a Vehicon comm link to challenge him. Optimus soon joins him at the base of the volcano, and the two exchange brief banter before engaging each other in fierce battle.

[[Image:PrimeEp23-PrimeMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Why throw away your life so recklessly?" "I keep [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|''trying'']] to, but Hasbro won't [[To sell toys|let me]] anymore!"]]

Meanwhile, Ratchet realizes that Raf has been infected with [[Dark Energon]] and theorizes that exposure to normal energon should cure him. He takes a sample from Bumblebee, placing Raf in a sealed chamber to test his theory as the others watch helplessly. Rafael soon opens his eyes, his pulse stabilizing.

Optimus appears to defeat Megatron and prepares to deal the final blow, but the Decepticon leader catches his sword with unusual strength as the volcano begins to erupt. Strange purple markings glow to life across his body, and he quickly overpowers Optimus. He realizes that the volcano is spewing forth Dark Energon, and he moves to kill Optimus, as he saw himself doing in a previous vision.

To be continued...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (6)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (13)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (9)
*[[William Fowler]] (10)
*[[June Darby]] (16)
|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==

"And it was written in the Covenant of Primus that 'when the 47 spheres align, a perpetual conflict will culminate upon a world forged from chaos. And the weak shall perish in the shadow of a rising darkness.'"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' recites a passage of ill tidings.

"Uh...crazy coincidence, right?"
:-'''Bulkhead''' notes the multiple connections to Earth and Cybertron throughout the show.

"Mars Cat says, 'Take me to your feeder!'"
:—'''Miko''' starts a new internet meme

"Um, Optimus! You wanna see something funny?" 
"No."
:—'''Jack''' learns of '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s minimal sense of humor.

"It would seem I have swatted a bee and squashed a bug."
:—'''Megatron''' mocks Raf's condition with zero remorse.

"Does he seem to be...'losing it'?" 
"A bit..."
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Airachnid''' discuss Megatron's state of mind.

"I have been foolish not to see what history has proven over and over again...that Autobots and Decepticons will never mend their ways. If there can be no diplomatic solution to this perpetual conflict, then I must not allow more darkness to fall upon this or any planet. Megatron must be destroyed!"
:—It's about slaggin' time, '''Optimus Prime'''.

"Your defeat was foreseen here by the ancients. What was it they wrote? 'The weak shall perish'?" 
"Do not believe everything you read."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''', unusually philosophical in the middle of a death match.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the flying Vehicons arrive to help retrieve the power source from the military base, the Vehicon ground units which stole it in the first place vanish.
* When Megatron arrives at the volcano, the points of his helmet disappear through his neck armor.
* As Megatron extends his blade when Optimus leaps at him, the sound effect is that of his cannon firing.
* When Optimus tries to strike the finishing blow, he's standing on Megatron's chest. Once Megatron catches the blade, Optimus is standing much further back.

===Continuity errors===
*Megatron's jet-mode cannons score a direct hit on Bumblebee, yet do no apparent damage other than briefly stopping him. When Arcee was hit in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]", it nearly killed her. On a similar note, Bumblebee should have taken the brunt of the Dark Energon exposure, but only Raf shows any symptoms. Remember that Arcee was weakened by exposure to a few drops from [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]'s animated corpse in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
**However, Optimus tells Arcee to look after Raf AND Bumblebee; it's likely that Bee's just being strong for his partner's sake. Bumblebee also handled a shard of Dark Energon during "[[Out of His Head]]" without any ill effects, so maybe he's just resistant to the stuff.
*Bumblebee knows Raf is injured, so why does he drive nearly two miles (three klicks) to the battlefield instead of just calling for a [[GroundBridge]] immediately?
*Raf says he can't see without his glasses in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", but his first person shot is perfectly clear. This is a common thing for TV and movies, but still...

===Continuity notes===
*Megatron refers to his feeling by saying "it's as if" he can hear Unicron's thoughts, which he gibbered about back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
*The story revolves around the idea that Dark Energon is out in space, another "Darkness Rising" plot point. Turns out that it's not as far out as the characters think...
*Agent Fowler's men at first thought it was [[MECH]] who stole the phase conductor until they found the security image of Soundwave.
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] demonstrated that energon does not agree with human physiology in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]" and "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4|Part 4]]", which Ratchet confirms here. Apparently, Dark Energon has similar effects, but the two types cancel each other out (at least in a human).
*Arcee tells Bumblebee that she knows what it's like to see a partner <strike>killed</strike> harmed, referring to [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death at Airachnid's claws in "[[Predatory]]". Her general speech seems to call back to the lesson she learned at the end of "[[Partners]]". Ironically, Bumblebee was the one who prevented Arcee from giving into her desire for vengeance in that episode.
*Ratchet extracts energon from Bumblebee with the same device that he used to inject himself with synthetic energon in [[Stronger, Faster|the previous episode]].

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Tfprime23 unicron.jpg|right|thumb|Hey look, it's Unicron! Wait, why does he have Cyclonus's helmet horns?]]
* The [[Covenant of Primus]] first appeared in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
* Megatron and Optimus punch each other in the style of the opening credits, only on opposite sides. This isn't [[Sick Mind|the first time]] the show has done this.
* Yeah, yeah, "[[The Transformers: The Movie|One shall stand, one shall fall]]." This is the third time in this series alone, following "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" and "[[Sick Mind]]", and that's not even including the title of THIS episode. Megatron even completes the saying for Optimus, he's heard it plenty of times by now.
* Ratchet mentions that he has known Optimus for longer than any of the other Earth-stationed Autobots, even before he was a Prime. Taking the character's appearance in ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' into account, this would be true, as Ratchet was under the direct command of Optimus prior to, and at the start of the game's storyline.
**In comparison, the first cutscene of the Autobot campaign showed Bumblebee's first meeting with Optimus, and whilst Arcee was in the game, she never personally interacted with Optimus during the story. Bulkhead was mentioned as having joined Optimus during a later period of time.
* Megatron refers to Optimus as "the last of the Primes". He was also called this by the head of the [[Autobot High Council]] in ''War for Cybertron'', upon his ascension to the rank of Prime. It is also a term used to refer to his [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|live-action film]] counterpart.
*Megatron breaks Prime's sword in the same way as in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]."

===Real-world references===
*The picture on the conspiracy website of a supposed alien looking through a window is a reference to the famed "Denver Alien" sighting where a man called Jeff Peckman claimed he filmed an extra-terrestrial outside of his home.

===Trivia===
* The episode was first broadcast on Canada's Teletoon channel. It later first aired in the United States on [[September 24]], [[2011]].
* At the beginning of the episode, as Megatron explains why he sought out the blood of Unicron, Knock Out totally checks out his "nails" in the background. How vain can you get?
* Megatron laments that the only shard of Dark Energon he has is the one in his chest. It would seem that, despite his machinations being discovered, Starscream never gave Megatron's original shard back.
* Bulkhead states that he has never seen Optimus "laugh, cry or lose his cool". While it could just be an offhand expression, this inadvertently raises an interesting question as to whether Cybertronians actually have the ability to cry...[[Humanization#Crying|hmmmmmmmm]].
* Ratchet tells the kids that the title of Prime can only be earned, not inherited or born into. This is the inverse of what [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|a different Optimus]] told [[Megatron (Movie)|his archenemy]] in [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|a different universe]].
* This is the first time in the series an Autobot weaponizes a part of their vehicle mode—in this case, Optimus's wheels on his legs.
*Ratchet actually ''laughs'' in this episode, and at a cartoon space cat, of all things!

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 9|9 April]] [[2012]]

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Prophezeiung'''" ("The Prophecy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 24|24 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Egyikünk elbukik'''" ("One of Us Falls")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 8|8 February]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Satu Harus Jatuh'''" ("One Shall Fall")
:*''Original airdate:'' 1 October [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'antica profezia!'''" ("The Ancient Prophecy!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 11|11 December]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ichigeki Henkei! Optimus Prime VS Megatron'''" (一撃変形!オプティマスプライムVSメガトロン, "One-Shot Transformation! Optimus Prime VS Megatron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 8|8 September]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Godae ui Yeeon'''" (고대의 예언, "The Ancient Prophecy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 14|14 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 4|4 January]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "Uno caerá'''" ("One Shall Fall")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 21|21 July]] [[2012]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Transformers Comic issue 4.16

2013-10-26T00:42:56Z

SuzyP: /* Fury from the Deep */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|''Transformers: Prime'']] #16
|prev=Transformers Comic issue 4.15
|next=Transformers Comic issue 4.17
|image=
|caption=
|publisher=[[Titan Books|Titan Magazines]]
|date=[[August 8|8 August]] [[2013]]
|editor=[[Rona Simpson]]
|assistant editor=[[Tom Williams]]
|senior editor=[[Steve White]]
|designer=[[Dan Bura]]
|publishing manager=[[Darryl Tothill]]
|price=£3.99
}}
'''There's something ''fishy'' going on...''' hahahaha

==Fury from the Deep==
* '''Script:''' [[Chris Cooper]]
* '''Art:''' [[Dario Brizuela]]
* '''Lettering:''' [[Comicraft]]
* '''Continuity:''' ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''
''A sudden storm came upon the ship ''[[Mary Jane]]'', tearing it apart... as most of the crew are lost, the survivor clings onto some wreckage and sees it.. the '''[[Piranacon (Prime)|monster]]'''!''

So says [[Al]], who is telling his story to [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] at some burger bar during their summer holiday. The burly waiter removes Al from his restaurant, but Miko's already intrigued by his story, and jumping to conclusions about [[Decepticon]]s after seeing the metal 'tooth' hanging round Al's neck. Raf is on the case, laptop in hand, finding that the ''Mary Jane'' sank 10 years ago in [[Devil's Cove]] (where else?) not far away. Jack's not too sure, but the idea of beach time persuades him to go along with the others in [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to check it out.

At the cove, the kids head out in a dinghy and spend an hour not doing much. From a rocky overhang above, Bumblebee spots something large heading straight for them underwater, and just as it attacks ('SPWOOOOSH') he jumps in to rescue the kids. Underwater, the huge bulk of Piranacon rises behind him...

The kids find themselves in an underwater cave, next to the ''Mary Jane''. As they explore further, they find more and more wrecked ships, all stripped of parts. Raf notices that one of the 'wrecks' is not from Earth, but a Decepticon, and gets on the [[Autobot Archive]] to find out who. Miko notes that this means she owes Jack lunch.

The remains are of [[Snaptrap (Prime)|Snaptrap]], the leader of the [[Seacon (Prime)|Seacons]], a [[Special Team|special team]] of Decepticons adapted for underwater combat. There are another five Seacons out there, combined into Piranacon—but without Snaptrap in command he's "pretty much a mindless monster".

Bumblebee already knows this of course, and is doing his best to stay alive against the huge Decepticon. With the help of some narrative captions, Bumblebee uses some rocks to inflict a bit of damage, but eventually Piranacon captures 'bee in his tentakils, er, tentacles.

The kids have found a pile of unexploded [[World War II]] mines, and use them to blow a hole in the side of their cave, thus freeing them. The resulting explosion sends huge boulders shooting through the water, one of which fatally wounds Piranacon (in the face), who sinks into the abyss... The kids of course are drowning, having been knocked unconscious by the explosion, but valiant Bumblebee saves them from joining the Seacons by grabbing them and making for the surface.

The story ends on the beach at sunset, with Miko and Jack wrapped in towels round a fire planning a staycation next time... while Raf, still in his trademark tank-top, shirt and jeans, laptop under his arm, gives Bumblebee a high-five.

===Featured characters===
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (5)

|c2=
*[[Piranacon (Prime)|Piranacon]] (6)
*[[Snaptrap (Prime)|Snaptrap]] (7)

|c3=
*[[Al]] (1)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (4)
}}

===Quotes===
"AARROOOOOOOOOOO"
:—'''Piranacon'''

"Mechanical elements compatible. De-construct Autobot with ''maximum force''. Zzk!"
:—'''Piranacon''' gets more coherent the closer he is to victory.

===Notes===
*There are 6 Seacons, but 5 of them can still form Piranacon without their leader Snaptrap. The resulting robot still has a torso, head and all four limbs.
*Piranacon's body is reminiscent of the [[Piranacon (G1)|original Generation 1 version]], but there is very little direct correspondence, and we don't get many clear looks.
**The color scheme is blue, teal, grey and pink, as you might expect.
**The head design is a clear homage. The head looks to be the most damaged part, trailing cables/tentacles/dreadlocks behind it.
**His left arm has tentacles for a hand, and some black details reminiscent of [[Nautilator (G1)|Nautilator]]'s lobster-legs along it. It's also got what looks like a large pink toothy upper-jaw on the shoulder.
**His right arm ends in a pink claw/pincer and has grey fish-like tail on the shoulder.
**He has pink thighs, teal shins, and pink feet.
*The Bumblebee/Piranacon match-up was originally promised back in [[Transformers Comic issue 4.11|issue 11 of this volume]].
* The kids learn who the Seacons are from the "[[Autobot Archive]]", which resembles this very wiki.

==Contents==
===Articles and features===
*'''Beast Hunters Sneak Peak!''' -preview of [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)#Season_3: Beast Hunters|Season 3 of Transformers: Prime]].
*'''''[[Front Line! (Prime)|Front Line!]]'''''. Newspaper front page, but also done up a bit like the comic front page, advertising the comic's contents... A bit confused. There will be a Transformers: Prime UK tour again this year (8th Aug - 7th September). And regarding [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Transformers 4]]: "IT'S HAPPENING!" the headline threatens.
*'''All About Ultra Magnus''' profile page
*'''Competition''': Win a Transformers: Prime: Decepticons Unleashed DVD or a Beast Hunters voyager figure.
*'''Kre-O Transformers Conundrums''' puzzles
*'''Bumblebee's Beach Bonanza!''' more puzzles
*'''Soundwave's Stumpers''' yet more puzzles.
*'''X Marks The 'Bot''' - a codebreaker puzzle.
*'''Poster''' of Optimus and Ratchet
*'''Mega-Mouth''': [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] answer letters and critique art again.

===Free Gift!===
*I got a disc shooter and a water pistol. Did everyone else get the same thing, or are they just clearing out the warehouse? Am I the only one buying this any more?

===Mega-Mouth===
"Fleshbags, I have to admit your efforts on these pages have improved. Who knew such pathetic creatures could be so creative? I may just let you live today."
:—'''Megatron''' loves us all really.

==Notes==
===Errors===
*Nothing so far.

===Trivia===
*There's a moth in here with me.

===Advertisements===
*Freakin' Awesome! [[wikipedia:Adventure Time|Adventure Time]]! An advert for another comic from Titan.
*babyFACES - Look who's arrived!! DVDs of Baby Bugs Bunny and baby friends.
*Subscribe today!
*[[Transformers Comic issue 4.17]] — this will be '''the [[Beast Hunters]] Issue!''' with the usual selection of features, on sale 10th October.

==External link==
*[http://aesircomics-books.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/titan-prime-16.html Aesir's Written Word: Titan - Prime #16]

[[Category:Prime Magazine issues]]

Prime Directive issue 6

2013-10-26T00:31:42Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Transformers: Generation 1'']] #6
|prev=Prime Directive issue 5
|next=Transformers Volume 2 Preview
|image=G1_Vol.1_Issue6_1.jpg
|caption=Not now, Inferno.
|publisher=[[Dreamwave Productions]]
|date=[[October 23]], [[2002]]
|coverdate=October 2002
|writer=[[Chris Sarracini]]
|penciler=[[Pat Lee]]
|backgrounds=[[Edwin Garcia]]
|inker=[[Rob Armstrong]], [[Erik Sander]]
|colorist=[[Ramil Sunga]], [[Gary Yeung]], [[Alan Wang]], [[Shaun Curtis]], [[Rob Ruffolo]], [[Stuart Ng]], [[Angelo Tsang]], [[Juan Malera]], [[Matt Cossin]], [[Pat Lee]]
|letterer=[[Dreamer Design]]
|editor=[[Roger Lee]]
|continuity=[[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave continuity]]
|chronology=[[Dreamwave timeline|Modern era]]
}}

'''The Autobots save the day but pay the ultimate price.'''

==Synopsis==
Defense Minister [[Dawson]] and the [[President of the United States]] are getting a sitrep on the [[San Francisco]] battle when the [[CIA]] breaks in with news that the city has been targeted by a nuclear missile from the American arsenal. The President frantically orders to abort the launch, but he's too late.

In the [[Northwest Territories]], a misguided tank commander of the [[Canada|Canadian]] military orders the [[Autobot]]s to lower their weapons. When [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] tries to explain their mission the tanks open fire, and a viral wave heads straight for the humans.

In San Francisco, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] explains to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] that he ordered all the devastation on the city just to get Prime's attention. Still weary, Optimus tells Megatron to shut up, and that he'll defend [[human]]s even if they betray him and his own [[Grimlock (G1)|troops]] abandon his cause. Just as Megatron decides to end Optimus Prime's life once and for all, the sound of honking distracts him. Prime jumps out of the way as three fire engines, driven by humans, come racing down a broken freeway and slam into the [[Decepticon]]s. Prime uses the distraction to quickly free his captured troops and then tells the Autobots that he wants their heads but to save Megatron for him.

In the [[Pentagon]], [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] has already tipped over the edge of insanity and is gleefully watching the nuclear countdown. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] bursts in and announces the general's complicity in the destruction of the ''[[Ark II]]'' and the deaths of the humans on board. Hallo swings the gun in Spike's direction and tells him to enjoy the show.

Back in Canada, the [[cyber-virus]] is eating up the Canadian tanks and their human operators. Their interference has stymied Wheeljack's plan to stop the virus. Jazz and Wheeljack can't agree if they should retreat or stay and try to find some last-ditch solution. Wheeljack has an epiphany and races off toward a human settlement without explanation.

Meanwhile, Hallo is still holding Spike at gunpoint and ranting about safeguarding the security of the [[United States of America|United States]]. Luckily for Spike, the president and several armed officers arrive. When Hallo turns his gun on them he's shot down.

[[Image:PatLeeGrimlockHead.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Me not hear the magic word.]]
In San Francisco, Optimus and the Autobots are making short work of the Decepticons. Optimus decides that taking Megatron captive isn't good enough this time, but [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s alert of an incoming nuclear projectile makes him pause. Despite his damaged state, Megatron laughs at the irony. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] merge into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and take off, while in Canada Wheeljack hooks himself up to a satellite dish. He uses the last of his power to blast the virus, just as Superion flies into the nuclear missile, causing a huge explosion and tidal wave.

Spike wakes Optimus Prime and lets him know the Decepticons have fled and the missile was stopped. The Autobots uncover [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] from the rubble and Optimus offers the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] leader a place back in their ranks. But Grimlock refuses and walks off. Prime assesses the personal toll the last battle has had on his troops and how things will never be the same.

Little does he know that up north, Jazz is cradling Wheeljack's seemingly lifeless body.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (3)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (4)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (5)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (8)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (12)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (13)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (14)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (15)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (16)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (17)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (18)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (19)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (22)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (24)
|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (23)
|c3=
* [[President of the United States]] (1)
* [[Dawson]] (2)
* [[Robert Hallo]] (20)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"So save your rambling Megatron and hope that your next blast kills me because if it doesn't I promise I'll tear you to pieces."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', hardcore

"I always dreamed of the day that I'd finally capture Megatron as my prisoner. Slight change of plans."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', even more hardcore

==Notes==
* After the [[Prime Directive issue 4|previous]] [[Prime Directive issue 5|two issues]] had only ranked second in Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts, this issue repeated the success of [[Prime Directive issue 1|the]] [[Prime Directive issue 2|first]] [[Prime Directive issue 3|three issues]], ranking #1 with 119,533 copies ordered for September 2002.<ref name="diamondjune">[http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1773.html ICv2 reporting on Diamond's charts for September 2002]</ref>
*The first panel on pages 9 is ''identical'' to the first panel on page 8, down to the cracks Optimus Prime is decked out with and the details in the dust cloud in the background.
*The fire engines that drive into the Decepticons don't just smack into them, they explode when they hit the ground with a loud BOOOOOM! sound. Why... why does San Francisco have explosive fire engines? That seems like poor design.
* The middle of the comic contains a two-page spread by [[James Raiz]] and [[Alan Wang]] with [[Kenny Li]] featuring ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' Transformers.
* Spike is shown being happy for the Autobots' victory and apparently oblivious to the damage to the city, while Prime observes the devastation with concern and grief. In issue 2, as Prime comments that the Autobots wouldn't cause this much destruction if they weren't being controlled, Spike replies that such damage is the usual result of Transformers' battles on Earth.
* Was it really necessary for Superion to fly into the missile, killing all five Aerialbots, when they could have just delegated the job to [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]? Or just shoot the bloody thing down over the sea.
* As a safety precaution, nuclear missiles can be deactivated while in-flight, yet it was allowed to continue on its merry way.

===Errors===
* "Defense Minister"? Uh... there is no such office in the United States government.

* Red Alert's presence was later explained as being an art error, for the second time in a row.

* In the panel of Cliffjumper and Canadian soldiers (who are escaping from their tank), Cliffjumper's legs appear to be buried in snow despite being snow-free a few pages earlier. Whatever the case, the snow disappears by the next panel.

* When Optimus Prime emerges from his unconsciousness we see him wake up from his own point of view. The background appears in a warped fish-eye perspective. However the foreground character, Spike Witwicky, isn't in this distorted perspective. When the camera view shifts to an objective point of view, the buildings in the background are still in the same fish-eye perspective. There's definitely something screwy going on there.

===Covers (2)===
—''All covers by [[Pat Lee]]''
* '''Cover A:''' Red Alert and Inferno
* '''Cover B:''' Menasor

<gallery>
Image:G1 Vol.1 Issue6 1.jpg|
Image:G1 Vol.1 Issue6 2.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[Titan Books]] G1 reprints
* ''Z.O.E.'' DVDs
* ''Sandscape'' #1
* [[The War Within issue 2|''The War Within'' #2]]
* [[Dreamwave Armada issue 5|''Armada'' #5]]
* [[Prime Directive|''Prime Directive'' TPB]]
* Devastator versus Superion poster
* G1 battle poster
* ''Arkanium'' #2 (back interior cover)
* ''Fate of the Blade'' #4 (back interior cover)
* ''Warlands'', Vol.3 #1 (back interior cover)
* ''Prime Directive'' TPB (back cover)

===Reprints===
{{issuestub}}

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 issues]]

Child's Play (episode)

2013-09-07T01:49:30Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|the episode of the Generation 1 cartoon|issue #35 of the Marvel US comic|Child's Play (issue)}}
{{episode
|image=Child's Play Aron Autobots telescope.jpg
|caption=Aron soon realised he was addicted to collecting Robot Heroes.
|series=G1toon
|ep=44
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=40
|prev2=Triple Takeover
|next2=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Child's Play"
|written by=[[Beth Bornstein]]
|production code=700-43
|airdate=[[November 7]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''The Transformers find themselves on an alien planet where they're no bigger than toys to the inhabitants!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Child's Play Decepticons catch.JPG|left|200px|thumb|There's nothing in the rule book that says a Decepticon can't pitch!]]

At a baseball stadium on [[Earth]], the [[Decepticon]]s are setting up a [[space bridge]], over the objections of the [[human]]s. [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] decides to let his troops have some fun: [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] fires baseballs at people from his cannons, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] play catch (using a human), [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] chases a player around the field, and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] starts grabbing people in [[Alternate mode|jet mode]]. The unwholesome family fun is ended when the [[Autobot]]s arrive. As [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots attack, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] tries to run a scan on the space bridge, but Megatron shoots the controls. However, Optimus Prime, Perceptor, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], Soundwave, Ravage, Thrust, and Starscream are within the space bridge's confines at the time, and they are sucked into a portal along with the [[energon cube]]s. As Megatron laments the loss of the energon (and fails to notice the bright side of Optimus and Starscream probably being dead), the space bridge self-destructs. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] leads the remaining Autobots back to the [[Ark (G1)|base]], hoping that [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] can figure out where the others were sent.

Meanwhile, the lost Transformers awaken to find themselves [[Brobdingnag|somewhere else]]. All of a sudden, a large sphere lands atop Starscream. Then a monster attacks, chasing Soundwave. Thrust tries to fly away, but lands in a body of water. Also, Ravage is caught by some plant life. Convinced the Decepticons are no longer a threat, Optimus has the Autobots load the energon into his trailer, and they roll out. They find a building made of relatively poor materials, only to discover something quite shocking: They're in the bedroom of a gargantuan alien child.

[[Image:Child's Play Aron Decepticons bowl.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"If you let us out, we'll give you free candy! Decepticon promise!"]]

The boy, [[Aron (G1)|Aron]], places Starscream, Soundwave, Ravage, and Thrust in a small bowl, while [[Nitro]] (his pet and the creature that was chasing Soundwave) smells the Autobots. As Aron tells him to stop, the Decepticons escape. Thrust is tied down with a piece of string, Ravage is chased down like a mouse and locked in a small cage with [[Booper|a rodent-like pet]] to run on a wheel (how embarrassing), and Soundwave is locked in a toy box. Starscream manages to hide in the small toy building and sees the Autobots. Naturally, Starscream fires his [[null-ray]] at the [[energon]], causing a fire. Starscream is quickly recaptured, and Inferno douses the fire. Optimus introduces the Autobots to Aron, when the boy's parents arrive. Hiding the Autobots in a desk drawer, Aron shows the Decepticons to his parents. However, Aron is also compelled to show the Autobots.

The Transformers are taken to a lab, where [[Brobdingnag scientist|scientists]] intend to dissect them (starting with the Decepticons). However, Aron steals the Autobots away, with the authorities in pursuit. Aron hides behind a trash can, dodging his pursuers, but a local bully named [[Marty]] comes along. The Autobots hide within a trashcan, and Marty wanders off. Meanwhile, Ravage has picked his locks and frees the other Decepticons. Aron is still being chased by the authorities, so he intends to hide the Autobots at his house. However, Optimus tells Aron that they have to return to Earth, a planet far from this one. Aron wonders if he could see it through his telescope, and Perceptor happens upon an idea. However, Soundwave has overheard them.

[[Image:Child's Play Autobots sewer ride.JPG|left|200px|thumb|''Mr. Toad's Wildrider''—er, ''Wild Ride'']]

The authorities spot Aron, so the Autobots decide to escape by traveling to Aron's house through the sewers. The Decepticons see the Autobots and follow them below. As the two groups fight it out within the sewer, a wave comes along. (Let's not ponder what the wave is made of.) The Decepticons hightail it out, while the Autobots ride the wave in a teacup. Escaping out through a drainage pipe, the Autobots head to Aron's house.

[[Image:Child's Play Starscream alligators.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Crikey! They're REALLY mad now!]]

Using Nitro as a way into Aron's room, Perceptor explains that they can use the energon, along with modifications to his [[light cannon]], to propel them to Earth through the telescope. Once he's ready, however, the Decepticons arrive and grab Bumblebee. Starscream orders Optimus to let them pass, and just as the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] is prepared to let them go, Nitro pounces, freeing Bumblebee but allowing the Decepticons to escape back to Earth...and land right in a lake filled with alligators.
Back on...whatever Aron's planet is called, Aron suggests using his toy rocket ship to go home. Perceptor is able to modify it for interstellar transport, and the Autobots depart, with Optimus telling Aron that whenever he looks into the sky, he'll be seeing them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (12)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (16)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (21)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (6)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (8)

|c3=
*Spectators (1)
*Baseball players (2)
*[[Chip Chase]] (25)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (26)
|c4=
*[[Nitro]] (17)
*[[Aron (G1)|Aron]] (19)
*[[Aron's parents]] (20)
*[[Brobdingnag scientist|Scientist]] (27)
*[[Marty]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"Skywarp, think fast!"
:—'''Soundwave''' playing catch with Skywarp...using a human.

"Strike three, Megatron. You're out."
:—'''Optimus Prime''', umpire.

"Alert, alert: Assistance required."
:—'''Soundwave''' running away from Nitro, alien kitty cat.

''[The Decepticons return to Earth, landing in a lake]'' 
'''Thrust''': This isn't the type of welcome I had in mind. 
'''Starscream''': Who cares, as long as there aren't any green monsters around. 
''[Alligators converge and attack the Decepticons]'' 
'''Starscream''': AHHH! GET THESE THINGS OFF OF ME! AHHHH! 
:—Starscream just can't win.

'''Smokescreen''': A rocket ship! 
'''Inferno''': A ''toy'' rocket ship. 
'''Perceptor''' Well, anything's worth a try. With some modifications to the propulsion core— 
'''Optimus''': Perceptor, just do it. 
:—Perceptor exhausts Optimus Prime's patience.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Megatron's opening lines ("Since the humans are so eager to play, this stadium will make a perfect space bridge. Why don't you accommodate them?") don't quite flow together, as if something got cut after the first part of the first sentence, or as if the first two clauses should be switched around.
* Thrust gets Optimus Prime's laser sound effect when he's firing baseballs from his arm guns.
* When Skywarp flies up to catch the human Soundwave just threw, he is colored like Starscream.
* Though both of the people Starscream picks up at the baseball game are male, one of the voices screaming for help is distinctly female.
* As Starscream is flying around, the stands keep switching back and forth from being completely full to completely empty.
* As Optimus arrives at the stadium and transforms, his trailer simply vanishes into thin air, with Inferno appearing in its place.
* When Optimus says, "Strike Two...", his raised right arm actually covers part of his head.
* Starscream's face is the same dark gray as his helmet after he's crushed by the giant ball, rather than its usual light gray.
* Thrust makes no transformation noise after he's swatted out of the air by the cat creature.
* The Autobots driving across Aron's floor are moving ''incredibly'' slowly.
* The Autobots make the "wrong" transformation noise (descending pitch) as they arrive at the "building" and convert to robot mode.
* As Inferno knocks on the "building"'s walls, the intended comedic effect of the wall falling and hitting him and Perceptor is animated as if it were a tidal wave bursting through the wall. After about 1/2 of the "metallic clang" sound effect, the scene instantly cuts to the Autobots walking along as if nothing happened.
* Starscream has Skywarp's colors when Aron drops him in the glass jar. And again when Soundwave joins him. And ''again'' as he and Soundwave break out.
* Starscream swats Ravage aside after Aron drops him in the jar, but Ravage just hangs in mid-air, unmoving.
* As Soundwave runs away from Nitro and says, "Get us out of here", he is colored red like Perceptor.
* As Soundwave is being dropped into the cylinder, some parts of his head are white when they should be dark blue.
* As the Decepticons fly over the city, Starscream's face is obscured by his left arm blaster. But since the view is from the right, the blaster should be ''behind'' his head. The layers are corrected when the shot is re-used a few scenes later, as the Decepticons hunt for Aron's house.
* Like Thrust before him, Starscream gets Prime's laser sound effect when he fires on the Autobots inside the building set.
* In fact, ''nobody'' gets the right sound effects. Ravage has the same 1950s-sounding blast effect used all over the place in "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]" (when he, uh, fires lasers out of his missiles.) So does Prime when he blasts the sewer rat. Inferno gets a Decepticon sound effect when he blasts Starscream in the sewer.
* The spinning animation of the razor the aliens try to dissect Ravage with is screwed up. While there are clear spinning effects on the side of the blade, the teeth around the edge remain motionless.
[[Image:ChildsPlay Starscream's magic leg.jpg|thumb|right|200px|I summon... Falcon kick!]]
* As Optimus reaches the sewer and finds Starscream standing atop the pipe he's coming out of, a number of odd things happen: his nose disappears for a moment. He grabs at Starscream, who stands motionless, and his hands disappear as though they're meant to be blocked by something. Then he starts falling spontaneously, and a moment later a giant half-drawn leg kicks him. It seems as though this shot was meant to be animated with a different background.
* As Perceptor is knocked down by Soundwave, the rim of his chest is grey instead of white.
* Bumblebee falls into a whirlpool and it stops moving towards the end of the shot.
* As Inferno rushes to save Bumblebee, the water has not been animated around the characters, thus making them look like half-robots floating in midair.
* Inferno's ladder changes from hollow bars to filled-in (all gray) as he lifts Bumblebee over.
* ''Flying Autobots:'' The Autobots emit a rocket sound effect as they leap from the tea cup, as if they had flight capabilities.
* As the Decepticons fly to Aron's house, Starscream is colored like Thundercracker.
* The Autobots are supposed to be running toward Nitro, but they aren't actually shown to be moving forward.
* Smokescreen is presented in Grimlock's colors when Perceptor starts talking about building a transportation beam.
* Smokescreen's head crest is colored blue instead of yellow as Bumblebee asks about the cubes.
* When Aron removes the energon cubes from his drawer, his head and left arm disappear.
* As Inferno blasts the energon cubes, his energy beam isn't given a proper glow effect; it's colored black instead.
* Bumblebee vanishes from the shot as the Decepticons flee from Nitro.
* Starscream is colored like Thundercracker (''again'') as they fly up to the light beam.
* As the alligators approach the Decepticons, the back of Starscream's head is the same light gray as his body, instead of its usual dark gray.
* The alligators of the lake the Decepticons landed in are unnaturally huge. They seem as big as Starscream, who is over twenty feet tall, mind you.
* As the Autobots board the rocket from Aron's hands, the cel layering is ''completely'' screwed up. The Autobots just appear out of nowhere in Aron's hands. Bumblebee appears to be growing right out of Aron's skin. Prime walks ''past'' the rocket rather than into it, then phases through its skin to enter it (there's no actual hatchway shown.) Nitro ''also'' phases through the rocket to lick Bumblebee, and both of them sit there, half-submerged in the rocket. Wow!
* The audio seems to slow down for a second as the rocket lifts off.

===Continuity errors===
* Although continuity sets this directly before "[[The Gambler]]", the next episode broadcast was "[[Quest for Survival]]". Strange, that is.
* Megatron's line, "...this stadium '''will''' make a perfect Space Bridge," along with the General Manager's request to let them play ball seem to suggest that the Decepticons have only just decided to build a Space Bridge here. However, even as the episode begins (and in fact as Megatron is ''delivering'' that line) the Decepticons are shown standing on the already completed Space Bridge. This means that either the Decepticons built the bridge while the game was ''in play'', or that none of the humans in the stadium noticed the giant robots and their Space Bridge as they came in.
* Nobody thinks to ''flee in a panic'' when the stadium is taken over by giant evil alien robots?
* Thrust confidently declares that "one of my missiles can stop anything!", while firing his... lasers.
* Aron's sock (shoe?) re-appears a few times on his foot after he's thrown it at Nitro.
* Awful convenient that the Transformers landed on a distant alien planet where the locals speak English. There's not the slightest attempt to explain how the two races can instantly communicate.
* Why doesn't Soundwave shrink when he transforms inside Aron's cylindrical box? He'd have been undetectable!
*The Aliens recognize the Autobots' alt-modes; strange that they have the same vehicles as we do. Aron even calls Inferno a "fire truck." (Then again, Cybertronian vehicles are usually recognisable as the same vehicle as their Earth counterparts, so maybe all intelligent races hit upon the same concepts when designing vehicles.)
* A representative of Aron's seemingly modestly-advanced civilization decides that, to figure out ''where'' the Transformers came from, they'll have to ''cut them open''? They thought of this before, say... ''asking them''?
* The physics of Perceptor's improvised space bridge seem a little dodgy. For one thing, shooting energon cubes usually causes them to ''blow up''; in fact, that's exactly what happens earlier in the episode. Second, there doesn't seem to be any mechanism for channeling their energy into the telescope, or for controlling when the beam launches. Third, could that dinky little telescope really be reliably sighted ''exactly'' on Earth, a small (and moving!) planet that's a minimum of several light years away?

===Continuity notes===
* [[Enter the Nightbird|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''': Round 5 goes to Brawn. Tally: Brawn 4, Soundwave 1. Final winner: the nigh-invulnerable Brawn!
* Perceptor demonstrates his rarely-used ability to roll along as a giant vehicular microscope.
* When the Decepticons are flying through the air, Ravage is shown to be "running" next to them. So cute.

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta di Gulliver'''" ("The Planet of Gulliver")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Giocattoli per bambini'''" ("Children's Toys")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Children Play'''" (チルドレン・プレイ)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 18]], [[1986]]
:*'''Cut:''' A good amount of the Decepticon horseplay on the baseball field was cut for time.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Detskiye igry'''" (Детские игры, "Child's Plays")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Other notes===
* Somebody ''must'' have been killed when Thrust knocks the huge and explosive scoreboard into the stands.
* Right before Brawn throws him, Soundwave appears to be... stomping on one of the bases?
* Optimus forgets to name Smokescreen when he introduces the Autobots to Aron. Smokescreen doesn't seem to mind. In fact, Smokescreen barely speaks in this episode and disappears at times. Perhaps the writers held him back in light of his upcoming starring role in "[[The Gambler]]"?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 12: Size Matters ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 5 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

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

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2013-09-07T01:26:26Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=9
|prev=Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?
|next=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|caption=
|image=MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (A Totally Epic Story Based On Real Events That Definitely Happened) Part 1: Post Hoc"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}

'''A group of Autobots are gathered by Rewind to tell a story of corruption, conspiracy and murder from long ago on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==

''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Quark]] meet outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] to discuss the increase of violence in the face of the [[Clampdown]] and the rise of the [[Decepticon]] movement. Nightbeat is sympathetic to the worker class cause, while the science-class Quark fears for the future... but their argument ends when a drop of [[energon]] lands in Quark's drink, and the pair look up to discover the dead body of [[Sherma|Senator Sherma]], suspended from the Interstate Bridge!''

In the present day, aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] in [[Swerve's]]: the archivist has called him, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] together (with [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as an audience) to help him tell a story that will aid in [[Rung]]'s mental recuperation. The true-life tale is set shortly after the instigation of the Clampdown, beginning with the assassination of Senator Sherma, and reveals how, thanks to one Autobot, all those present played a role in a greater story than they ever realized...

Chromedome begins the story by recalling how he and his partner in [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Mechaforensics]], [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]], were called in to investigate Sherma's murder, easily deducing the Decepticons as the culprits from the presence of their [[insignia]], graffitied on Sherma's back. Skids interrupts to ask for some clarification on Prowl, who he doesn't remember; Swerve has a few choice words to describe him, and Rewind tries to emulate his fondness for flipping tables over, but can't quite manage it. Drift, receiving some messages from [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], tries to hurry the story along, so Rewind turns narration over to him, asking about his time as a homeless [[circuit booster]] addict in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]. Drift recounts how he was attacked by [[Sonic (G1)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] and was saved by decorated police officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] and brought to a medical drop-in center run by [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]]. Ratchet takes issue with Drift's embellishment of the facts, as he jokingly claims the atheist medic was praising [[Adaptus]] and [[Primus]] as he worked, but what he begrudgingly is unable to deny is that he told Drift that he was special. Drift tells of how he lied to Ratchet about going to a local [[Relinquishment Clinic]], prompting Tailgate to ask exactly what the clinics were; Rewind plays an infomercial for one, which explains that they were used in the days of [[functionism]] to give 'bots the chance to experience life in bodies with other [[alternate mode]]s via Sparkswap technology. Never a fan of the clinics, Ratchet picks up the story, remembering the news broadcast that played immediately after he had repaired Drift: the broadcast that announced the death of [[Nominus Prime]], with its claim that he was the victim of a rust infection that Ratchet, having operated on Nominus following the attempt on his life, knew was a lie. His part in the story complete, Drift leaves to respond to an increasingly irate Rodimus, while Ratchet goes on to summarize how he accompanied Orion to a rendezvous with his [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|senator friend]]. The senator confirmed Orion's suspicions that Nominus was killed by the Senate after the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within his chest was revealed to be a fake, and revealed his fears that the Senate's head of security, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]], was planning something involving the Decepticons. For the sake of drama, Rewind has Ratchet stop there, turning things back over Chromedome to have him carry on with the story of Sherma's murder. Having discovered through autopsy that the senator was shot to death, Chromedome describes how he and Prowl traced fragments of [[cerulean glass]] found in Sherma's boots and treads back to the privileged community of [[Translucentica Heights]] and headed there on [[Skydart]]s. They discussed Prowl's upbringing in the strict town of [[Petrex]] and the existence or not of the [[Institute]] along the way, but upon their arrival, a corpse came flying out a high-rise window and landed in front of them, sporting another graffitied Decepticon symbol...

Meanwhile, down in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s oil reservoir, Drift arrives to answer Rodimus's call. The reason is anything but pleasant... dredged out of the oil by [[Grapple]], they have discovered the remains of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and Rodimus blames [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] for his death!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Rung]] (4)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] (20)
*[[Grapple]] (24)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (25)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (26)
|c4=
*''[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]'' (1)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (2)
*''[[Quark]]'' (3)
*''[[Sherma]]'' (5)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (10)
*''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (14)
*''[[Proteus]]'' (15)
*''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (16)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'' (17)
*''[[Boom]]'' (18)
*''[[Sonic (G1)|Sonic]]'' (19)
*''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (21)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (22)
*''[[Momus]]'' (23)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ratchet''': By the vaulted heights of— 
'''Drift''': You had him '''hidden behind the bar?!''' 
'''Chromedome''': So '''embarrassing'''. 
'''Skids''': —not '''seriously''' telling me that he's been here the '''whole time?!''' 
'''Whirl''': Cool.
:—Reactions to Rewind pulling Rung's catatonic body out from behind the bar in Swerve's.

"The Decepticons are behind this." 
"What makes you say that? Does the '''upside down corpse''' reference the Decepticons' plans to '''upend''' societal hierarchies? Is the position of the body such that at sunset, the shadow will point to the '''Functionalist council building''' where the first Decepticon activists were '''arrested?'''" 
"There's all that, '''obviously.''' But for me the real '''clincher''' is the '''massive Decepticon symbol''' graffitied on his back."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Prowl'''

"It's '''Prowl!''' 'Prowl the Pragmatist!' You know—'''Prowl!'''" 
"'''Oh!''' Turns into a Predabot? Posted at Delphi? Likes a hug?" 
"'''No!''' Prowl with the '''head spikes''' and the '''cruel mouth''' and the--'''cross''' all the time! '''Epically, pre-emptively, existentially''' cross. And cold! Supercilious and cold! Imagine '''Ultra Magnus''' without the '''warmth''' and '''people skills.'''"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Skids'''

"How many times has he flipped a table?" 
"Prowl? Ooh, four times." 
"Y'know, when we left his office for the ''Lost Light'' I '''swear''' I heard-" 
"You're '''right!''' Five times."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chromedome'''

"So I'm laying on a circuit slab in Ratchet's Dead End workshop—and he says: 'Primus guide me, Primus protect me, I beseech you, oh might Primus, please—' '''MMMPH!'''" 
"'''Unreliable narrator alert!''' Do '''not''', I repeat '''do not''' listen to what he says!"
:—'''Drift''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This story is essentially a direct sequel to Roberts's "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" [[Chaos Theory Part 2|two-parter]] from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], published a little over a year before this story began. It follows up on events established by that story, like the injury of Nominus Prime by a suicide bomber, the establishment of the [[Clampdown]], Orion Pax's reconstruction with a new chamber in his chest, and his dalliance with an enigmatic senator who conspicuously continues to go unnamed. The window of Maccadam's is even still cracked from where Rung collided with it in the first few pages of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
*Furthermore, the issue's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more violence?" is a call back and deliberate contrast to Chaos Theory's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more poetry?"
*This issue gives us our second mention of the [[Primal Vanguard]], the unit to which Tailgate was supposedly attached, as he mentioned back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]].
*Several references are made to "[[Proteus's Promise]]", an unspecified political promise made by [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] from "Chaos Theory". This was the title of the public information film shown by Rewind in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*A billboard reading "Everyone's Shape Serves A Purpose" can be spotted outside Maccadam's; this slogan was repeated by Rewind in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]].
*Ratchet comments that he spray-paints his hands red; and well he should, as they're replacements gained from [[Pharma]] in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]] which are actually blue. Some paint even transitions onto Drift's face when Ratchet tries to gag him during the storytelling.
*Red Alert's name is also present on Rewind's hotspot diagram, yet unlike the others, he is not present at the storytelling meeting. With the last page's cliffhanger, the reason for that becomes graphically clear.
*[[Sherma Bridge]] has cropped up in several places in Roberts's stories, starting with "Chaos Theory Part 1". Here we learn it was formerly the "Interstate Bridge", and was renamed (formally or colloquially, it's not specified) after the dead senator hung from it.
*Skids confuses Prowl with [[Dent]], who we met back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]], where it was explained that he ''used'' to be named "Prowl" as well. His suggested animalistic alternate mode is confirmed (as a "Predabot"), and humorously, the reason he was shambling towards [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in that issue despite being infected with [[Red Rust]] is because he "likes a hug".
*Drift's time as a homeless drifter (snort, giggle) was previously shown in [[Drift issue 2|issue #2 of his self-titled mini-series]].
*Sonic and Boom previously appeared in issues #4 and #5, where they were likewise enjoying the upper hand on would-be victims before getting quickly and thoroughly trounced by a new arrival.
*Mentioned several times but perennially silent and off-screen is an allegedly chatty, teasing cohort of Orion's named "Roller". If this is an earlier incarnation of Orion's [[Roller (G1)|future component]], or perhaps someone for whom that component would be named in honor, we don't know yet.
*We first got a glimpse of a Relinquishment Clinic in [[Interiors|issue #6]], where one was implied to have some link to Chromedome and Rewind's shared history. The images used in the clinic's infomercial are redrawn from the original Generation 1 toy [[instructions]] for the [[Zetar (G1)|Drill Powerdasher]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]].
*A few of the names on the memorial for the Ark-1 are obscured by Ratchet's hand. While "Cyclonus" can be easily figured out from what we can see of it, the final name, starting with "Hype...", raises more questions. Could this be a hint at a greater backstory for Roberts-original character [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]? A reference to the obscure Transformer seen only in [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake's]] Megavisor, [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]]?
*A name beginning with "Tail" is also on the memorial. [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|Issue #13]] reveals that this is ''not'' short for Tailgate.
*Pax's unnamed senator friend has had his color scheme tweaked a little in this issue compared to "Chaos Theory", with some more blue added to his chest.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s involvement in Nominus Prime's unfortunate fate was implied in a montage of images in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and made explicit here.
*The revelation that the Matrix within Nominus Prime was a fake ties in to Optimus Prime's discovery of the real talisman in the [[Undergrid]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. When and how the Matrix went missing is eventually revealed in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
*"Chaos Theory" and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' are bridged with the revelation that Megatron was shipped off-planet after the earlier story, to [[Messatine]], previously established to be home to [[nucleon]] mines and future home of both the [[Delphi]] medical facility and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. This presumably places [[Mining Outpost C-12]] from ''Megatron Origin'' on that planet too.
*In a big retcon, the Decepticons exist ''before'' the events of ''Megatron Origin'', inspired by the early datalogs published by Megatron.
*The mysterious "Institute" gets another mention this issue, one of several that have been peppered throughout Roberts's works.

===Transformers references===
*Roberts previously used "Quark" as the name for an Autobot in his ''Eugenesis'' fan-novel, but that's about as far as similarities between the two characters go. This Quark's head is based on [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]], as they both turn into microscopes.
*Speaking of ''Animated'', the luckless Scrounge makes a cameo in the first panel with an appearance based predominantly on his [[Scrounge (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], carrying a bundle of [[Conductor|energy conductors]] (though probably [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|not enough to last a quartex]]). Also visible is [[Rattrap|''Beast Machines'' Rattrap]].
*The model ship Rung is building on page 2 is the ''Lost Light'' itself, or at least a ship of the same class.
*A jug on the bar table has the same unique shape as the chemical flasks seen in the [[Lithone scientist|Lithone scientist's]] workshop at the beginning of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Chromedome is sporting a body based on his original Generation 1 toy in the flashback sequences. He notes that he was not ''called'' "Chromedome" at this point in his life, but for clarity's sake Rewind just has him use his current name while telling the story. His old name would be revealed in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], and was ''not'' some crazy secret conspiracy, thank you very much internet forums.

===Real-world references===
*[[Wikipedia:Post-hoc analysis|"Post hoc" analysis]], from the Latin meaning "after this", is the examination of data in search of patterns after the fact. As Rewind explains, this is the purpose of his story: to reveal to the gathered characters' how their exploits all crossed over with one another without any of them knowing.
*The Primal Vanguard shooting took place somewhere called "Apophenia." The word means the experience of seeing connections in meaningless or random data, a fitting title given what Rewind and this story are doing.

===Crew Manifest===
*Red Alert's headless corpse is recovered from the oil reservoir.
*6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders) since the launch.

===Errors===
*In the panel where Nightbeat and Quark first see Sherma's hanging, dead body, Sherma's hands are drawn backwards.
*On page 7, Prowl refers to "the Functionalist council"; the council's ad on the same page, and page 2 before it, says "Functionist" and that's what Quark called them on the second page. This was corrected for the TPB.
*On page 16, panel 3, "understanding" is misspelled as "undersanding", this was corrected for the TPB.
*On the same page, on a subsequent panel, "someone" is misspelled as "somone", this was corrected for the TPB.
*Mechaforensics recovers glass from Senator Sherma's traction treads, but his body is not depicted as actually having any treads. We can't even argue that they're folded on the inside when he's in robot mode because we don't see any at the autopsy either.
*On page 18, panel 3, assuming that the names on the Ark-1 memorial are all of Cybertronian polities already established in fiction, "[[Protihex]]" is misspelled as "Protohex".

===Soundtrack===
For the three-part "Shadowplay" story:
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnAt0xpO2HU Comforting Sounds]'' by [[Wikipedia:Mew (band)|Mew]]

For this issue:
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYY3GzENE58 Our Hearts Burn Like Damp Matches]'' by [[Wikipedia:The Leisure Society|The Leisure Society]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI-YR4LBzL0 Theme from ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]'' by [[Wikipedia:Jon Brion|Jon Brion]]

It's also worth noting that the title is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowplay_(song) also a song], by the 1980s English band Joy Division.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Many key characters in fractured panels that together make up a close-up of the Decepticon insignia, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Orion Pax in a shadowed alley, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
Image:MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg|
Image:MTMTE9_cvrB.jpg|
Image:MTMTE9_cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 3|#83]]
*Joe Kubert's ''Tarzan of the Apes'' Artist's Edition
*''[[Primus: All Good Things|Robots in Disguise Annual 2012]]''
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=13737 Preview]

Rock Bottom

2012-11-02T12:08:07Z

SuzyP: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 19
|prev=Metal Attraction
|next=Partners
|image=RockBottom-energonmine.jpg‎
|caption=That's Rock Bottom.
|title="Rock Bottom"
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Tim Jones]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Jack and Miko find themselves trapped inside a cave with Megatron and Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
Waiting outside [[Stripped energon mine|a mine]] opening, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] complains loudly to [[Jack Darby|Jack]] that she'd rather be at the [[Slash Monkey]] metal concert she's been looking forward to. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] emerge from the entrance, confused that the mine seems to be stripped, yet there's an [[energon]] signal coming from inside. While they're still discussing the conundrum, Miko runs into the mine to take a look, resulting in Bulkhead chasing her in and Jack persuading Arcee to let him go in as well. Moments after they step inside, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] land at the mine entrance. Starscream is confused as to why have they come to an exhausted mine, but Megatron leads the way inside.

Bulkhead finds Miko testing the acoustics in a cavern. While she's whooping and yelling, Bulkhead's detector bleeps, and he attempts to contact Arcee. The comms, however, are useless due to interference from the rock surrounding them. Bulkhead decides to get a sample for [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and begins breaking pieces off the rock he's found.

[[Image:RockBottom-Starscreamprays.jpg‎|250px|thumb|left|When this life makes you mad enough to kill.]]

Megatron and Starscream find [[Decepticon]] mining equipment. Starscream tries to blame its presence on an error by [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], but Megatron plucks a chunk of energon from the wall and explains that he's been keeping up with Starscream's many plottings, thanks to Soundwave's spying. He's let Starscream continue until now for his own amusement, but enough's enough. Starscream pleads for his life...and it's this scene that Jack and Arcee stumble on. Megatron begins firing on the two newcomers and Starscream sees his chance to try to escape. Enraged, Megatron fires after him. Arcee takes advantage of Megatron's distraction and fires, causing him to discharge his [[fusion cannon]] into the ceiling, which gives way. Massive rocks fall on Megatron, causing the floor to start caving in as well, and both Arcee and Jack fall into a swiftly widening hole.

[[Image:RockBottom-Bulkheadpassion.jpg‎|250px|thumb|When you want something bad enough to steal.]]

In the cavern, Bulkhead protects Miko from the falling rocks.

Starscream, speeding through the mine in his jet mode, is hit by rocks and can only cry out as the tunnel to the mine entrance collapses.

In the aftermath, Jack struggles up to find himself alone in the cave and goes searching for the others.

Miko likewise picks herself up to find Bulkhead holding up a huge chunk of the ceiling from caving in on them. They have no idea as to what caused the cave-in, but Miko starts trying to clear the rocks away so they can get out.

Starscream pulls himself free of the mine and into the open air. He experiences a brief moment of triumph before realizing that Megatron has survived worse and if he doesn't make some attempt to rescue his leader, the other Decepticons surely will, which will mean problems for Starscream in the long run. Besides, he can take the credit if he succeeds.

Still searching, Jack stumbles upon one of the Decepticon mining drills.

As night falls outside, Miko is tiring from her work. Bulkhead points out there's limited oxygen, and she's using it faster by exerting herself. Despite Miko saying she has to get Bulkhead out, he says he's fine, though his creaking servos tell a different story.

Jack gets the mining drill working and begins guiding it to find the others.

Bulkhead and Miko hear drilling. Miko yells out weakly, and Bulkhead tells her to hit his foot with a rock to make a noise.

[[Image:RockBottom-Megstrapped.jpg|thumb|250px|left|When you feel like you have had it up to here.]]

Elsewhere, Jack uses the drill to clear a path only to uncover Megatron's face, the rest of him still pinned by fallen rock. Megatron suggests that Jack use the drill to finish him, but Jack doesn't believe [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] would want Megatron finished that way and drills off in another direction.

[[Image:RockBottom-Mikocries.jpg‎|250px|thumb|'Cause you mad enough to scream but you sad enough to tear.]]

Miko continues banging Bulkhead's foot, but a noise stops her and Bulkhead has to admit that his arms are starting to fail. She hits him a couple more times before someone starts to break through the wall. Unfortunately, their joy is short-lived as it turns out to be Starscream. Bulkhead asks him to let Miko go, but Miko refuses to leave Bulkhead. Starscream menaces her until Bulkhead gives him a solid kick. Starscream recovers from that, only to be knocked down by Jack's drill as it comes through the wall. Miko is quickly persuaded to hop aboard the drill, which she does tearfully, and the two humans back out, leaving Bulkhead and Starscream alone. Jack and Miko start trying to dig their way out, but Jack suddenly stops the drill dead as a large foot comes down in front of them.

Starscream is pleased. Now not only will he be able to rescue Megatron, but he'll have Bulkhead as a gift. Unfortunately for him, Arcee appears with a gun pointed at his head and tells him to raise his hands.

The Autobots exit the mine with the kids and briefly discuss finishing off the Decepticons. When they decide that Optimus wouldn't do it, they go home instead.

Starscream strains to hold up the rock that Bulkhead had been supporting when he spots Megatron leaning through the nearby opening. Starscream is reduced to begging for mercy once more and the Decepticon leader responds with a menacing look.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (6)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see Slash Monkey?" 
"Uhh—" 
"''Forever!'' And it's their only U.S. date!" 
"Well, there's a shock. I mean, who doesn't love obscure Bulgarian shriek metal?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Jack''' discuss rock concerts.

"She went in. Unbelievable." 
"Really? Have you...met her?"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' watch Miko run into the cave.

"Do not take me for a fool, Starscream! I have been wise to your transgressions from the beginning. Not only did you pluck the Dark Energon from my chest in a failed attempt to snuff my spark, but you tried to raise your own undead warrior with it. It's no secret that you lost an arm in the process, which you've since had replaced." 
"You know about that?!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' discuss the latter's endeavors.

"Roll out."
:—'''Jack''' being genre savvy as he activates some Decepticon mining equipment.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Think of the glory—seize the day! Optimus would." 
"No, he wouldn't. Not like this." 
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversation with Optimus—the day I rip out his spark!"
:—A pinned '''Megatron''' is discovered by '''Jack''', who refuses to take advantage of the situation and kill him.

"Run Miko!" 
"Yes, run Miko! I would love to see you try! Really, I would!"
:—'''Starscream''' mocks '''Bulkhead''' before getting knocked down by a drill. Karma, baby.

"If you think I'm going to beg for mercy, Starscream, forget it!" 
"Er, yes, begging for mercy would be quite pathetic, wouldn't it?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' unintentionally insults '''Starscream'''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the cave-in begins, Bulkhead gets down on his hands and knees to shield Miko from the collapsing ceiling. In the next scene, however, he's standing upright and holding up a far larger piece of rock than he had been previously covered with.
*During Megatron's first rant at the beginning of the episode his optics are momentarily off-center. It appears as if he's gone wall-eyed.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead has Miko hit him with a rock to signal Jack. Either he's devoting ''all'' his energon to holding up the rock, or he's forgotten about his sound system.
* Not so much an error as a curiosity, but based on the day/night cycle shown outside the cave, at least 12 hours passed during the episode. In all that time, the other Autobots made no apparent effort to look for their lost comrades. Considering Miko's concert was supposed to happen two hours after the start of the episode, they should have noticed something was amiss when no one came back.
* Even though the sounds of robots stomping around and yelling should echo throughout the cave, Megatron and Starscream go completely unnoticed until Arcee and Jack stumble upon them by accident. Furthermore, Megatron and Starscream enter the cave mere minutes after Arcee and Jack, yet somehow manage to get ahead of them in the tunnels undetected.
* Bulkhead says that Autobots don't need to breathe, but when Starscream gets out of the cave, he coughs and gasps for air.

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron references the events of "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]" while discussing Starscream's previous failed attempts at treachery.
* Starscream also refers to the events of "Masters & Students" when he remembers that Megatron has survived far worse than a simple cave-in.
* Miko loosely references the space bridge battle from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]" when Bulkhead reminds her that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Transformers references===
*As Jack starts up the mining drill, he quietly says, "[[Roll out]]."

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's "Did I do that?" line is almost certainly a reference to Steve Urkel's catchphrase from ''Family Matters''.
*Starscream says "Rust in peace!" as in "Rest in peace".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Unter der Erde'''" ("Under the Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 27|27 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Omlás'''" ("Cave In")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 2|2 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Toccare il fondo'''" ("Touching the Bottom")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 27|27 November]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tansa Henkei! Chiteikara no Dasshutsu'''" (探査変形!地底からの脱出, "Exploration Transformation! Escape from the Underground")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 11|11 August]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gwangsan Maemol'''" (광산 매몰, "Buried in the Mine")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 31|31 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 29|29 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 12|12 March]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tocar fondo'''" ("Touch Bottom")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 23|23 June]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
* Megatron seems awfully surprised that Starscream would run at the first opportunity. Did he think Starscream wouldn't care about his earlier death threat?
* Ratchet probably never got that rock sample. Too bad.
* Miko exercises her right to charge into [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|situations]] that almost get her killed... [[Shadowzone (episode)|again]].

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Anatomic euphemism

2012-10-28T02:15:12Z

SuzyP: /* Tailpipe */

{{disambigr|"Lugnuts"|the Decepticon from ''Cybertron''|Lugnutz}}

Because most Transformers fiction is aimed at kids, and most Transformers don't have organic squishy bits, the fiction has introduced a lot of '''anatomic euphemisms''' for assorted bits of human anatomy, especially the one you sit on. Most are real mechanical or electronic terms, and also presumably real parts of [[:Category:Transformer anatomy| Transformer anatomy]]. A few are ''also'' the ''names'' of Transformers. Presumably, this is akin to being named [[wikipedia:Dick_Trickle|Dick Trickle]] or [[wikipedia:Alfred_Mosher_Butts|Alfred Butts]].

==Actuator==
"Blow it out your actuator, [[Blitzwing (Animated)|three-face]]."
:—'''[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]''', "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated cartoon]]''

"Collaborate, my actuator!"
:—'''[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]]''', "[[Decepticon Air]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Afterburner==
"Now, let's kick afterburners!"
:—'''[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]''', "[[Aerial Assault]]", [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]]

"Say uncle, or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!"
:—'''[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]''', "[[City of Steel]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"Kiss your afterburners goodbye, [[Decepticon]] slime!!"
:—'''[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]''', "[[The Rebirth, Part 3]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"If I take out Optimus Prime, even Starscream's gonna have to kiss my afterburners."
:—'''[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]''', ''unknown episode'', [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]]

''See also [[Afterburner (disambiguation)|any of the characters named Afterburner]].''

==Asynchronous transfer adapter==
"Aww! My asynchronous transfer adapter is killing me."
:—'''[[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]]''' as he rubbed his back, "[[Destructive Power]]", [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]

==Bearing==
"[[Dinobot (BW)|This guy]]'s got bearings of chrome steel."
:—'''[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]''', "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]", ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars cartoon]]''

"I can't believe that [[Grimlock (G1)|dino-dummy]] has got the bearings to show his backstabbing mug around here."
:—'''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]''', "[[New World Order]]", [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation 1'' comic]]

"What if there was ''one [[Insignia|badge]]'' for ''all of us''? And instead of fighting each other, we attack those that put us here... and we take what is ours! Would ''you'' have the ''bearings'' for that?"
:—'''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]],''' [[Megatron Origin issue 3|''Megatron Origin'' #3]]

"Starscream's the kind that would kill you in your sleep. At least Megatron has the ball bearings to do it to your face."
:—'''[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]''', ''[[Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers The Game]]''

"Pretty big bearings. For a human..."
:—'''[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]''' on Agent Fowler, "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]", [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'' cartoon]]

==Boron compressor==
"We were brilliant in battle, Megatron. The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] overwhelmed us with sheer brute force!" 
"Brilliant, my boron compressor!"
:—'''[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]''' and '''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]''', "[[War of the Dinobots]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Command module==
"Stick it in your command module, [[Tarantulas (BW)|eight-eyes]]."
:—'''[[Rattrap]]''', "[[Power Surge]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

==Crankcase==
"Sorry about yankin' your crankcase."
:—'''[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]''', "[[Total Meltdown]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

''See also [[Crankcase (disambiguation)|Crankcase]].''

==Diode==
"Aw, go ding your diodes and get defunct, Megatron. I'm not helping you do zilch."
:—'''[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]''', "[[Changing Gears]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"Me Grimlock here again, Optimus Prime, to pull your diodes out of laser fire."
:—'''[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]''', "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"[[Chumley]], you're one royal pain in the diode."
:—'''[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]''', "[[Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"I'll rip you to pieces with my ''bare claws,'' tear out your [[circuits]] with my ''teeth,'' and spit your diodes ''back'' at you!"
:—'''[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]''' (hopefully using a different definition of "diodes") to [[Unicron]], "[[On the Edge of Extinction!]]", [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''The Transformers'' comic]]

"Those bureaucratobots couldn't find their own diodes with a bitmap and a homing beacon."
:—'''[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]''' talks behind the council's back, "[[Decepticon Air]]", ''Animated'' cartoon.

"Have you blown a diode?! I'm trying to work here!!"
:—'''[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]]''', "[[Endgame, Part I]]", ''Animated'' cartoon.

==Drivetrain==
"All right, we're heading back to the plant. I'll alert Ratchet he's got some repairs to do. Including a full diagnostic on your drivetrain."
:—'''[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]''',<ref>Of course, since Bumblebee had just screeched to a halt in front of him, Optimus may have been speaking literally here.</ref> "[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Engine block==
"Woah, somebody's got a huge chip on his engine block"
:—'''[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]''' to [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|Dirt Boss]], "[[Three's a Crowd]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Exhaust port==
"Tell Megatron to blow it out his exhaust port. We're having a demolition derby."
:—'''[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]''' mouthing off, "[[Starscream's Brigade]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"Nothing, my exhaust port."
:—'''[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]''', "[[Mercenary Pursuits]]", [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'' cartoon]]

"Have [[Bumblebee (Animated)|you]] got your processor up your exhaust port?"
:—'''[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]''', "[[Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"You overgrown Autobot! I will scramble your circuits so bad you'll need a GPS scanner to find your own exhaust port—"
:—'''[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Hothead Blitzwing]]''' to [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Fan belt==
"[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]]! [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]]! Get your fan belts in gear!"
:—'''[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]''', "[[Along Came a Spider]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Fuel pump==
"[[Scrounge (G1) |Scrounge]] wasn't much of a warrior, but he had a fuel pump as big as a planet."
:—'''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]''', "[[Crater Critters]]", Marvel ''The Transformers'' comic

==Gearbox==
"What's with you two? ''[Gestures toward pants area.]'' Is my gearbox hangin' out or somethin'?"
:—'''Rattrap''', "[[Aftermath]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

==Hard drive==
"So, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], take your order, ''and'' your condescending attitude, and stick 'em in your hard drive! You're on ''my'' turf now!"
:—'''[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]''', "[[The Elite Guard]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Joystick==
"They're on my tail!" 
"Oh, [[Cheetor (BW)| pussycat]], you really know how to tickle my joystick."
:—'''[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]''' and '''[[Rattrap]]''', "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

==Lubricant==
{{main|Lubricant}}
"[[Mojo|He]]'s leaked lubricants all over my foot!"
:—'''[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]''', ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' film

"[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]! Stop lubricating [[Seymour Simmons|the man]]!"
:—'''[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]''', ''Transformers'' film

"Leaking lubricants!"
:—'''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]''', "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Lugnuts==
"The other equipment has been salvaged, but you took the [[Vok|alien]] [[Transmetal driver]]. Where is it?" 
"Gone. Ain't that a kick in the lugnuts?"
:—'''[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]''' and '''[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]''', "[[Feral Scream Part 2]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

''See also [[Lugnut (disambiguation)|Lugnut]].''

==Magna fuses==
"Kiss your magna fuses goodbye, Autobots!"
:—'''Megatron''', "[[Fire on the Mountain]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Manifold==
"I've got the plan, if all of you've got the cast-iron manifolds for it."
:—'''[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]''', "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"I don't like the idea of Megatron getting the [[antimatter]] formula. He can't be trusted!" 
"Sure can't, manifold-mouth!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]''', "[[Roll for It]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Motherboard==
"Let's go kick their motherboards."
:—'''[[Sari Sumdac]]''', "[[Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"Scruples? You'd sell your own motherboard to the highest bidder."
:—'''[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]''' sums up [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]], "[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"[[Bumblebee (Animated)|You]], sound-off. Why do you want to be here?" 
"To be an Elite Guard warrior and kick Decepticon [[#Skidplate|skidplate]], sir!" 
"You couldn't kick my motherboard if I held it in front of your foot."
:—'''[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Minor]]''', "[[Autoboot Camp]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Nodes==
"Way to go, numb nodes!"
:—'''[[Wasp]]''', "[[Autoboot Camp]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"Put me down you [[Jetfire (Animated)|numb]] [[Jetstorm (Animated)|nodes]]!"
:—'''[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]''', "[[Predacons Rising]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Piston==
"Give me that or I'll pulverize your pistons!"
:—'''[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]]''', "[[Megatron Rising - Part 1]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"Don't just stand around with your pistons in your servos!"
:—'''[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]''', "[[Predacons Rising]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Piston rod==
"We wanted to ''thank'' you for all that extra ''punishment,'' piston rod!"
:—'''[[Wasp]]''', "[[Autoboot Camp]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Reactor linkage==
"I repeat, Decepticons—surrender, or face the consequences!" 
"Yeah, and we repeat—''go stuff it up your reactor linkage!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]]''', "[[The Resurrection Gambit!]]", Marvel ''The Transformers'' comic

==Skidplate==
"Yeah? And you can just [[kiss]] my skidplate, [[Optimus Primal|fearless leader]]. 'Cause I ain't goin' out there and gettin' ''my'' pelt punctured!"
:—'''Rattrap''',<ref>We sure do get a lot of these from Rattrap, don't we?</ref> "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

"You know me, I can't resist the upgrades." 
"And you know me, Masterson. I can't resist kicking your skidplate!"
:—'''[[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]]''' and '''Optimus Prime''', "[[The Return of the Headmaster]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Solenoid==
"That's 'cause we kicked their sorry solenoids!"
:—'''[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]''', "[[The Elite Guard]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"The [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] has done nothing but bust our solenoids since they got here!"
:—'''Bumblebee''', "[[Mission Accomplished]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

==Sparkplug(s)==
"The Arctic? Great. Another chance to freeze our sparkplugs off."
:—'''[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]''', "[[Out of His Head]]", ''Prime'' cartoon

==Strut==
"Strutless cowards!"
:—'''[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]''', [[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]

==Tailpipe==
"Now they've got their tailpipes between their legs!"
:—'''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]''', "[[Quest for Survival]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"Hey, if [[Silverbolt (BW)|you]] took that broomstick out of your tailpipe every once in a while, you might have some ''fun'' for a change!"
:—'''Rattrap''', "[[The Agenda (Part 1)]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

"Whoa! What crawled up ''[[Ratchet (Animated)|your]]'' tailpipe?"
:—'''Bumblebee''', "[[The Thrill of the Hunt]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"Come back here so that I can pull your pistons out through ''[[Autobot|your]]'' tailpipes!"
:—'''Hothead Blitzwing''', "[[Sari, No One's Home]]", ''Animated'' cartoon

"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?"
:—'''Miko''', "[[Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration]]", ''Transformers: Prime'' cartoon

==Thruster==
"Fine. Whatever makes you a happy Decepticon. Just watch your rear thruster."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''', "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Transistor==
"If you guys don't give me my circuit back, I'm gonna start kickin' transistor!"
:—'''Gears''', "Changing Gears", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

"We are in deep transistor parts!"
:—'''[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]''', "[[Day of the Machines]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Turbocharger==
"I'm goin', too. I'm gonna boot some Decepticon right in his turbocharger."
:—'''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]''', "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", ''The Transformers'' cartoon

==Waste-disposal unit==
"Waspinator find [[Tarantulas (BW)|Spider-bot]] and tear him a new waste-disposal unit!"
:—'''[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]''', "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]", ''Beast Wars'' cartoon

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Curses]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Regeneration (Prime)

2012-10-28T00:36:52Z

SuzyP: /* Notes */ Maybe not an error, but worth noting since that's definitely not what happens on screen nor is accounted for.

{{disambig2|the episode from ''Prime''|the episode from Armada|Regeneration (Armada)}}

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 51
|prev=Patch (episode)
|next= Darkest Hour (episode)
|image=RegenerationOmegaKeysHologram.jpg
|caption=This is ''totally'' not gonna be epic.
|title="Regeneration"
|airdate=[[October 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''The quest for the Omega Lock takes the Autobots and the Decepticons to Cybertron for a battle.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is already making plans to move in with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] while [[Jack Darby|Jack]] is feeling left out of the loop. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] points out they no longer have the [[Omega Key]]s, let alone any way to get to Cybertron. They speculate that [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] has used the keys to bargain his way back with the [[Decepticon]]s. While they're wondering why Starscream didn't just try to sell the keys to the highest bidder, they are contacted by [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], who requests a meeting. [[GroundBridge|Bridging]] out to a remote location, they find Dreadwing, who presents them with the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. Disillusioned by the fate of [[Skyquake (Prime)|his brother]], Dreadwing no longer believes in the Decepticon cause, though he's not interested in joining the Autobots either.

Back at base, the Autobots wonder what [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] will do with the Omega Keys, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] believes he will use them to restore Cybertron for political points. Optimus is aware that Megatron doesn't know of the existence of the [[Omega Lock]], which is needed to use the keys. He reveals to the others that [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] entrusted him with knowledge of the Lock and its location on Cybertron during the message stored in the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. Optimus starts using the Forge to modify the GroundBridge.

Dreadwing returns to the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' where Megatron encounters him in a corridor and makes sure to stress that the Decepticons must be united to restore Cybertron. For his part, Dreadwing intends to personally reach out to [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. In the medical bay, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] has just finished restoring Starscream's [[Transformation cog|T-Cog]] when Dreadwing arrives and immediately attempts to kill Starscream. As Knock Out flees, Dreadwing advances on the patient with his sword, but as he raises his sword, Megatron arrived and demands he stand down. Dreadwing refuses, and Megatron is forced to blast a hole through him with Dreadwing's own cannon.

The Autobots wonder why Optimus has been hiding things from them. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] points out that Megatron would have learned about the Omega Lock by now if Optimus had been more open.

Knock Out and Starscream work on studying the Omega Keys in an attempt to discover how they work. Starscream resorts to hitting one against the table, and then against Knock Out, and they inadvertently discover that the keys lock together. By combining all four, they reveal a holographic map of Cybertron with a location marker on it. Pleased, Megatron orders the [[space bridge]] fired up.

Optimus finishes turning the GroundBridge into a space bridge. The base sensors detect the Decepticon space bridge firing up, and the Autobots realize that time is short. Optimus believes they still have the element of surprise. The Autobots pull the various Iacon relics they possess from storage. Meanwhile, Megatron leaves Starscream in command of the ship and takes a platoon of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] with the Omega Keys through the space bridge. As the Autobots likewise fire up their space bridge, Optimus uses the Forge to recreate the Star Saber, and they too head through. Megatron and his men soon stand at the edge of the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]].

Jack gives Ratchet a call, as school's out and he, Miko and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] haven't been picked up by the Autobots yet. Ratchet merely tells them the others are busy and hangs up.

As Megatron and his men walk through the Sea of Rust, Smokescreen rises out of the ground and attacks them from behind. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] drops scrap on them using the [[polarity gauntlet]], Bulkhead zaps them with the [[Immobilizer]], and Arcee smashes through them while wearing the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]]. Megatron himself faces Optimus and the Star Saber, and while the pair fight, the other Autobots take back the Omega Keys. With a swipe of his blade, Optimus sends Megatron flying so the Autobots can retreat. As Megatron orders his men to follow, Smokescreen phases out of some nearby scenery and drops the [[spark extractor]] before disappearing again. The device obliterates the Vehicons before Megatron hurls the [[Dark Star Saber]], impaling it. Megatron orders Starscream to send reinforcements, but Starscream and Soundwave have an even better idea.

[[Image:RegenerationOmegaLockExpanded.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Pure. Epicness.]]
The Autobots reach the Omega Lock, an unassuming dimple on the landscape. The Keys glow, and the location transforms, creating a huge ring over their heads that fills with a shimmering energy field. Megatron arrives and demands they hand over the Keys. While the Autobots are wondering what motivation Megatron could give them for doing that, a space bridge opens and Starscream, Knock Out and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] step out, carrying the three kids in airtight containers. Megatron threatens to expose all three to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere unless they return the Keys to him.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (2)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (10)
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (12)
* [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (13)
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (15)
|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
* [[Jack Darby]] (3)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Rise and shine! Your T-Cog transplant was a success! Yes, I am just that good."
:—'''Knock Out''' being modest about his surgery skills for a change.

"I said stand down! That is an order." 
"One which I cannot follow."
:—'''Megatron''' gives his last orders to '''Dreadwing''' as he gives his last words.

"Oh gee, why didn't ''I'' think of that?"
:—'''Knock Out''' lamenting '''Starscream's''' intelligence as he bashes an Omega Key against the table.

"Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' makes the obligatory [[The Transformers: The Movie|G1 shoutout]].

"I will have those keys or I will have your sparks!" 
"I can help with the last part."
:—'''Smokescreen''' verbally beats '''Megatron''' one more time.

"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?"
:—'''Miko''' on [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]'s curt reply.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As in "[[Inside Job]]", Megatron still has his fusion cannon when he transforms into vehicle mode, despite the arm it was attached to being removed.
* The Star Saber and Dark Star Saber vanish when their owners transform, even though both weapons are nearly as tall as their owners and shouldn't fit within their vehicle modes.
* When the Polarity Gauntlet saw action on Earth for the first time in "[[Metal Attraction]]", it affected both the bots around and the metal in the environment. When Bumblebee used it to pull the Omega Keys from the Vehicons, none of the bots around were affected, not even the reinforced Arcee.

===Continuity errors===

===Continuity notes===
* Dreadwing gives the Autobots the [[Forge of Solus Prime]], last seen being used to forge Megatron's Dark Star Saber in "[[Alpha/Omega]]". Optimus uses it to convert the GroundBridge into a space bridge and reforge the Star Saber, the latter of which was destroyed in that episode. Megatron himself references the event in battle with Optimus.
* Dreadwing attempts to kill Starscream for desecrating his twin's body in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", which he learned about in the previous episode.
* Every relic which has been collected by the Autobots thus far sees action. This is also the first use of the spark extractor.
* The research on the Autobots' human allies, first mentioned in "[[Hard Knocks]]", sees fruition in this episode.
* At the base, Optimus explains that the plan is to first secure the [[Omega Lock]] on Cybertron, and then go after the [[Omega Key]]s. The Autobots wind up doing the exact opposite; they attack the Decepticons, acquire the keys, then travel to the coordinates of the Lock.

===Transformers references===
* The Omega Lock was previously seen in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' cartoon, where it was also used to restore life to Cybertron.
* Optimus declares "[[The Transformers: The Movie|Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost!]]"

===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
* Jack, Miko, and Raf appear after a four-episode absence.
* Dreadwing's loyalty to the Decepticon cause finally proves weaker than his loyalty to his twin [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]].
* Despite the rather high stakes, no one on Team Prime thinks to contact [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] or the [[Rescue Bot]]s.
* So, if the containers ''are'' airtight, how are the kids breathing?
* Ratchet mentions that they have detected the activation of '''another''' Spacebridge. This means that with the Groundbridge upgraded to a Spacebridge, its systems can detect other portals in range. It can also be observed that the display of the Groundbridge is of a green tint. After the upgrade it is blue-grey.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Regeneration (Prime)

2012-10-27T23:06:11Z

SuzyP: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the episode from ''Prime''|the episode from Armada|Regeneration (Armada)}}

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 51
|prev=Patch (episode)
|next= Darkest Hour (episode)
|image=RegenerationOmegaKeysHologram.jpg
|caption=This is ''totally'' not gonna be epic.
|title="Regeneration"
|airdate=[[October 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''The quest for the Omega Lock takes the Autobots and the Decepticons to Cybertron for a battle.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is already making plans to move in with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] while [[Jack Darby|Jack]] is feeling left out of the loop. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] points out they no longer have the [[Omega Key]]s, let alone any way to get to Cybertron. They speculate that [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] has used the keys to bargain his way back with the [[Decepticon]]s. While they're wondering why Starscream didn't just try to sell the keys to the highest bidder, they are contacted by [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], who requests a meeting. [[GroundBridge|Bridging]] out to a remote location, they find Dreadwing, who presents them with the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. Disillusioned by the fate of [[Skyquake (Prime)|his brother]], Dreadwing no longer believes in the Decepticon cause, though he's not interested in joining the Autobots either.

Back at base, the Autobots wonder what [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] will do with the Omega Keys, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] believes he will use them to restore Cybertron for political points. Optimus is aware that Megatron doesn't know of the existence of the [[Omega Lock]], which is needed to use the keys. He reveals to the others that [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] entrusted him with knowledge of the Lock and its location on Cybertron during the message stored in the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. Optimus starts using the Forge to modify the GroundBridge.

Dreadwing returns to the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' where Megatron encounters him in a corridor and makes sure to stress that the Decepticons must be united to restore Cybertron. For his part, Dreadwing intends to personally reach out to [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. In the medical bay, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] has just finished restoring Starscream's [[Transformation cog|T-Cog]] when Dreadwing arrives and immediately attempts to kill Starscream. As Knock Out flees, Dreadwing advances on the patient with his sword, but as he raises his sword, Megatron arrived and demands he stand down. Dreadwing refuses, and Megatron is forced to blast a hole through him with Dreadwing's own cannon.

The Autobots wonder why Optimus has been hiding things from them. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] points out that Megatron would have learned about the Omega Lock by now if Optimus had been more open.

Knock Out and Starscream work on studying the Omega Keys in an attempt to discover how they work. Starscream resorts to hitting one against the table, and then against Knock Out, and they inadvertently discover that the keys lock together. By combining all four, they reveal a holographic map of Cybertron with a location marker on it. Pleased, Megatron orders the [[space bridge]] fired up.

Optimus finishes turning the GroundBridge into a space bridge. The base sensors detect the Decepticon space bridge firing up, and the Autobots realize that time is short. Optimus believes they still have the element of surprise. The Autobots pull the various Iacon relics they possess from storage. Meanwhile, Megatron leaves Starscream in command of the ship and takes a platoon of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] with the Omega Keys through the space bridge. As the Autobots likewise fire up their space bridge, Optimus uses the Forge to recreate the Star Saber, and they too head through. Megatron and his men soon stand at the edge of the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]].

Jack gives Ratchet a call, as school's out and he, Miko and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] haven't been picked up by the Autobots yet. Ratchet merely tells them the others are busy and hangs up.

As Megatron and his men walk through the Sea of Rust, Smokescreen rises out of the ground and attacks them from behind. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] drops scrap on them using the [[polarity gauntlet]], Bulkhead zaps them with the [[Immobilizer]], and Arcee smashes through them while wearing the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]]. Megatron himself faces Optimus and the Star Saber, and while the pair fight, the other Autobots take back the Omega Keys. With a swipe of his blade, Optimus sends Megatron flying so the Autobots can retreat. As Megatron orders his men to follow, Smokescreen phases out of some nearby scenery and drops the [[spark extractor]] before disappearing again. The device obliterates the Vehicons before Megatron hurls the [[Dark Star Saber]], impaling it. Megatron orders Starscream to send reinforcements, but Starscream and Soundwave have an even better idea.

[[Image:RegenerationOmegaLockExpanded.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Pure. Epicness.]]
The Autobots reach the Omega Lock, an unassuming dimple on the landscape. The Keys glow, and the location transforms, creating a huge ring over their heads that fills with a shimmering energy field. Megatron arrives and demands they hand over the Keys. While the Autobots are wondering what motivation Megatron could give them for doing that, a space bridge opens and Starscream, Knock Out and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] step out, carrying the three kids in airtight containers. Megatron threatens to expose all three to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere unless they return the Keys to him.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (2)
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (10)
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (12)
* [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (13)
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (15)
|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
* [[Jack Darby]] (3)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"I said stand down! That is an order." 
"One which I cannot follow."
:—'''Megatron''' gives his last orders to '''Dreadwing''' as he gives his last words.

"Oh gee, why didn't ''I'' think of that?"
:—'''Knock Out''' as Starscream bashes an Omega Key against the table.

"Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' makes the obligatory [[The Transformers: The Movie|G1 shoutout]].

"I will have those keys or I will have your sparks!" 
"I can help with the last part."
:—'''Smokescreen''' verbally beats '''Megatron''' one more time.

"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?"
:—'''Miko''' on [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]'s curt reply.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As in "[[Inside Job]]", Megatron still has his fusion cannon when he transforms into vehicle mode, despite the arm it was attached to being removed.
* The Star Saber and Dark Star Saber vanish when their owners transform, even though both weapons are nearly as tall as their owners and shouldn't fit within their vehicle modes.
* When the Polarity Gauntlet saw action on Earth for the first time in "[[Metal Attraction]]", it affected both the bots around and the metal in the environment. When Bumblebee used it to pull the Omega Keys from the Vehicons, none of the bots around were affected, not even the reinforced Arcee.

===Continuity errors===
* At the base, Optimus explains that the plan is to first secure the [[Omega Lock]] on Cybertron, and then go after the [[Omega Key]]s. The Autobots wind up doing the exact opposite; they attack the Decepticons, acquire the keys and then they travel to the coordinates of the Lock.

===Continuity notes===
* Dreadwing gives the Autobots the [[Forge of Solus Prime]], last seen being used to forge Megatron's Dark Star Saber in "[[Alpha/Omega]]". Optimus uses it to convert the GroundBridge into a space bridge and reforge the Star Saber, the latter of which was destroyed in that episode. Megatron himself references the event in battle with Optimus.
* Dreadwing attempts to kill Starscream for desecrating his twin's body in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", which he learned about in the previous episode.
* Every relic which has been collected thus far sees action. This is also the first use of the spark extractor.
* The research on the Autobots' human allies, first mentioned in "[[Hard Knocks]]", sees fruition in this episode.

===Transformers references===
* The Omega Lock was previously seen in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' cartoon, where it was also used to restore life to Cybertron.
* Optimus declares "[[The Transformers: The Movie|Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost!]]"

===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
* Jack, Miko, and Raf appear after a four-episode absence.
* Dreadwing's loyalty to the Decepticon cause finally proves weaker than his loyalty to his twin [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]].
* Despite the rather high stakes, no one on Team Prime thinks to contact [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] or the [[Rescue Bot]]s.
* So, if the containers ''are'' airtight, how are the kids breathing?
* Ratchet mentions that they have detected the activation of '''another''' Spacebridge. This means that with the Groundbridge upgraded to a Spacebridge, its systems can detect other portals in range. It can also be observed that the display of the Groundbridge is of a green tint. After the upgrade it is blue-grey.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Assault

2012-10-23T03:25:32Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=28
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=29
|title="Assault"
|japanese=宇宙から来たスゴイ奴
|romaji=Uchū kara Kita Sugoi Yatsu
|translation=The Amazing Guy from Outer Space
|image=Cyb_ep28_thumbsup.jpg
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Hiro Masaki]]
|director=[[Masashi Nagao]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[July 23]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[March 18]], [[2006]] (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In the midst of a battle royale on Starscream's island base, Autobot outsider Wing Saber joins the fray!'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Cyb_ep28_override_rides.jpg|left|thumb|220px|[[Pit|Pits]] Angel.]]

At [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]'s instruction, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], [[Lori]] and the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] return to the [[Autobot]]s' base and reactivate its systems, putting them under their control. They observe the three great challenges that lie ahead of the Autobots: containing [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and the Decepticons within the camouflage shield at [[Niagara Falls]], recovering the stolen [[Omega Lock]] and [[Cyber Planet Key]]s from [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and bringing the Lock and Keys to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. With the main body of the Autobot forces dealing with Megatron, the kids decide to focus their efforts helping [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] and [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] on their mission to Starscream's island base.

As Optimus Prime's team closes on Starscream's island, the kids make contact with them and scan the island for life signs. They detect the presence of [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] and [[Lugnutz]], who immediately attack the three Autobots, but Evac and Override keep the pair busy while Optimus ploughs on ahead towards the volcano itself. Within the caldera, Sideways observes Optimus's approach and sends the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s to stop him, but Prime greets their arrival with a barrage of cannon fire. Soon, [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] arrives on the scene to take over the fight, freeing up Optimus to carry on with his mission. Before too long, the great Autobot Monster Hunter has re-sealed all the Ancient Decepticons in his traps.

[[Image:Cyb_ep28_great_balls_of_fire.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]

At Niagara Falls, the battle between the Decepticons is proceeding apace until [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] tries to help Megatron and gets sent spiralling through the air by a strike from [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]]'s whip. Thundercracker decides to pull back, enraging [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], who accuses Thundercracker of having no honor and teaches him a lesson by blasting him with his flames. Thundercracker is set alight, and is then kicked through the sky by [[Vector Prime]]. While everyone's eyes are on this ridiculous display, Megatron seizes the opportunity to open a [[dimension gate]], through which he and his Decepticons are able to escape in short order. Realizing that there is only one place they could possible be going, Vector Prime opens a gate of his own to Starscream's island, and the Autobots give chase.

[[Image:Cyb_ep28_vector_takes_the_hit.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

As the Decepticons and Autobots appear on the island and the battle there escalates, Coby contacts Optimus Prime with yet more distressing news: an unidentified ball of fire has entered the solar system at great speed, and is heading straight for Earth! Prime has no time to worry about that right now, however, as he and Vector Prime pursue Megatron into the mouth of the volcano, only for them to run afoul of a trap set by Sideways that bars their way with blasts of flame and lava. Vector Prime attempts to challenge Megatron, but is too weak from opening the dimension gate to put up a fight. Not one to waste an opportunity, Megatron aims his machine gun at Optimus Prime instead, but Vector Prime throws himself into the path of the blast. This is a temporary reprieve at best, as Megatron simply re-aims at Optimus after Vector Prime collapses, but before he can pull the trigger, the ball of fire comes streaking down from the sky, straight into the mouth of the volcano, and collides with Megatron, knocking him off the ledge they are standing on. As the heat of re-entry fades, the so-called "ball of fire" suddenly becomes very familiar to Optimus Prime: it is his old Autobot comrade, [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]! Having gained the upper hand in the battle outside, the other Autobots follow the fireball into the volcano, where [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] proves less than pleased to see Wing Saber. It turns out this ace from outer space has a long history of insubordination and even once took a swing at Optimus. After explaining that he was brought back to Earth by the signal from the [[Omega Lock]] and scanning a vehicle from Jetfire's databanks, Wing Saber starts criticizing Optimus's tactics. When [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] objects to this bossy newcomer's attitude, Wing Saber starts shooting at him.

[[Image:Cyb ep28 megs vs wingsaber.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]

Further down the volcano, [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] offers his crane to Megatron as an aid in climbing back up the rock wall. Megatron smacks it away, refusing any help, and drags himself back up to the ledge from which he fell, where the assembled Autobots are still standing. Enraged, Megatron transforms to jet mode and engages into a dogfight with Wing Saber that carries them back outside the volcano. No sooner has one threat been drawn away than another emerges, however, as Coby reports from the Autobot base that the core of the black hole is growing even more unstable. Vector Prime suggests sending an advance team to Cybertron to clear the way for the return of the Omega Lock and Keys, and Prime agrees, sending Hot Shot, Scattorshot and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] to carry out the task. Coby creates a space bridge for the trio that will transport them to Cybertron, and they set off at once.

Meanwhile, frustrated at the loss of all his opponents, [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] ascends the volcano and leaps into its mouth, hot on Starscream's trail, with Leobreaker in pursuit...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (4)
*[[Six-Speed]] (5)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (6)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (7)
*[[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] (8)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (11)
*[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] (16)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (18)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (20)
*[[Vector Prime]] (21)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (23)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (25)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (26)
*[[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] (29)

|c2=
*[[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] (12)
*[[Lugnutz]] (13)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (14)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (19)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (22)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (24)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (27)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (28)
*Hundreds of [[Ancient Decepticon]]s

|c3=
*[[Coby Hansen]] (1)
*[[Lori]] (2)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (15)

}}

==Quotes==

"Awww ''man'', these guys are gonna harsh my mellow. I was just getting my groove on too, I mean I know my thing, Starscream's doing his thing, so it's like what's the problem, man?"
:—'''Lugnutz'''

"For a two-wheeler, he handles pretty well!"
:—'''Override''' finds Lugnutz an easy rider.

"Do you not have a shred of honor? What kind of warrior are you? One does not run in the face of adversity... unless you're running from me!" 
''[Scouge flame-blasts Thundercracker]'' 
"Ow! What was that for? OW! Holy campfire! Mah biscuits are burnin'! Hot hot hot! Put me out!"
:—'''Scourge''' is not impressed with '''Thundercracker'''

'''Ransack:''' "Sayonara, suckers!" 
'''Crumplezone:''' "Yeah, synarora!"
:—Oh, Crumplezone!

'''Jolt:''' "It even says he tried to attack Optimus once!" 
'''Lori:''' "Is that true?!" 
'''Wing Saber:''' "Well, hey, the big guy had it comin'."

"More and more Autobots seemingly appear from out of nowhere, no matter. I'll show them how I deal with those who oppose me!"
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*In ''Cybertron'', Bud's "mission three" is to help the Autobots track down Starscream by using the Autobot base computer to scan for lifeforms. In ''Galaxy Force'', the plan is to not let Megatron get through the camouflage shield... but the kids never actually do anything relating to that, while in the very next scene, they are indeed scanning the island.
*''Galaxy Force'' claims that Lugnutz and Thunderblast are on a small island to the left of the main volcano. ''Cybertron'' changes this to them being on the north side of the volcano, because... well, they're quite clearly not on a different island at all.
*''Galaxy Force'' has a narrator who often sums up current events, in the style of several other Japanese ''Transformers'' cartoons. ''Cybertron'' consistently omits this narrator, often giving variations on his lines to other characters to get the information across. This episode features one of the only truly notable instances of this practise, with Jolt detecting Wing Saber's approach, and Coby then radioing Optimus Prime to let him know about it, neither of which occurred in ''Galaxy Force''.
*The signal that summoned Wing Saber back to Earth was produced when the Velocitron Cyber Planet Key was added to the Omega Lock in ''Galaxy Force'', but in ''Cybertron'', it was the product of the addition of the Earth Key.

===Animation or technical errors===
*As with the original broadcast version of "[[Trap]]" and "[[Invasion (episode)|Invasion]]", the earliest recorded version of this episode sees Crosswise referred to with his pre-production name of "[[Smokescreen (disambiguation)|Smokescreen]]". The Cartoon Network premiere of the episode, however, features the corrected dialogue, but the version seen on the Malaysian DVD set of the series does not.
*Footage of Optimus opening fire on the Ancient Decepticons is reused from "[[Retreat]]".
*Crosswise and Thunderblast's voices are more heavily-amplified than usual this episode, Crosswise's in particular.
*''Cybertron'' usually keeps characters reasonably in-scale with each other, but the scene where Override (a large sports car) rides Lugnutz (a normal motorcycle) is a farcical exception.

===Continuity errors===
*Hot Shot doesn't know who Wing Saber is, despite them both being part of the Autobots in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon'']].

===Transformers references===
*Bud refers to the ''[[Galactic Guardians]]'', a TV show that he previously mentioned enjoying in "[[Haven]]".
*In the course of the battle, Crumplezone is run over by Snarl, riding Lugnutz, and left paper thin. In ''Galaxy Force'', Crumplezone specifically recalls the last time this happened to him, in "[[Race]]".

===Real-world references===
*As the Autobot base powers up, Lori takes a leaf out of [[Spider-Man]]'s book, declaring that "With great power comes great responsibility!"
*Bud channels ''[[Wikipedia: Mission: Impossible|Mission: Impossible]]'' when he lists off his first mission, adding "Should we choose to accept it!"
*Lori refers to Bud as "Boy Blunder," riffing on the traditional nickname of [[Wikipedia: Batman|Batman]]'s sidekick, [[wikipedia:Robin (comics)|Robin]] the Boy Wonder.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 08 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Critical

2012-10-23T03:22:39Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=27
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=28
|title="Critical"
|japanese=転生!バンガードチーム
|romaji=Tensei! Vanguard Team
|translation=Reincarnation! Vanguard Team
|image=Cyb_ep27_birth_of_def_team.jpg
|caption=Arise, Cybertron Defense Team
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Kenji Sugihara]]
|director=[[Matsuo Asami]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[July 16]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[March 11]], [[2006]] (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Just as things look their darkest, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot get a new lease on life!'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Cyb_ep27_megs_vs_planet_leaders.jpg|left|thumb|220px|"It's... a wheel on a stick. I see."]]

Horrified at the sight of [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] being cut down by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]'s new [[Cyber Key]] power, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] charges at his old enemy, but finds his way barred by [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]]. Prime and [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] quickly merge into Savage Claw Mode and dispose of Scourge, but Megatron then uses his new machine gun to collapse a cliff in Prime's path, buying more time to finish off the three wounded Autobots. [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] come to their rescue, occupying Megatron long enough for [[Vector Prime]] to carry the three injured warriors away to safety through a [[dimension gate]]. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], [[Lori]], [[Lucy Suzuki]] and [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]] meet Vector Prime as he emerges, and Coby immediately tries to repair the Autobots himself, until Franklin stops him and suggests taking them to an air force base for expert mechanical care.

[[Image:Cyb_ep27_parts_delivery.jpg|right|thumb|220px|You don't take care of your toys, this happens.]]

On the volcanic island serving as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]'s headquarters, the 'bot himself is in the process of absorbing the power of [[Primus]] through the [[Omega Lock]]. As all the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s watch and cheer, [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] grows bored and goes outside to look for some fun. She spots a navy ship and taunts it wickedly, ducking in and out of the [[Camouflage Shield]] surrounding the island to make it appear that she is appearing and disappearing, until it turns tail.

Back at the battle, Evac and Override continue to get Megatron a run for his money, so he attempts to cut and run through a dimension gate. Optimus Prime refuses to let him escape, and douses the flaming portal with his water cannons, causing it to fade out. As the fight between the two continues, Vector Prime returns, and reports that things do not look good for Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot. Optimus Prime, however, does not believe that three of his best soldiers would give up so easily!

[[Image:Cyb_ep27_downer_red.jpg|left|thumb|220px|"I'll beeee bckkk---"]]

Transported to an air force base by a larger cargo plane, Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot undergo extensive "surgery" at the hands of the base mechanics, under the direction of Coby. As they work, however, Red Alert regains consciousness, and tells them that it is pointless: as a doctor, he knows they are too badly damaged to repair. Scattorshot is equally pessimistic, bringing Bud to tears, but when Hot Shot wakes up, he is much more optimistic than his two comrades, even when he realizes that he has been blinded and his engine won't run. Spurred on by Hot Shot's never-say-die attitude, Coby dives back into his work, even as Red Alert insists that it is pointless. Lori refuses to take any more of the medi-bot's guff, accusing him of giving up in the face of a challenge. As Scattorshot and Hot Shot proudly announce their desire to survive and fight another day, Red Alert realises that he too has much left to fight for.

[[Image:Cyb_ep27_burning_justice.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]

Their hearts burning as one, all three Autobots begin to glow red as the sound of the [[Omega Frequency]] rips through the air, and energy snakes from their bodies to a satellite dish on a nearby building. The dish fires a bolt of energy through the [[space bridge]] in the sky above, straight to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself. The planet in turn shoots a beam back to Earth, right at the Omega Lock, which surges with power, much to the shock of Starscream. Finally, the Lock launches one final beam into the sky, which loops the planet and strikes the damaged forms of Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot, filling them with life and energy once more. Restored and empowered by the energy of Primus himself, the trio scan three new alternate modes from nearby military vehicles as the overjoyed kids watch.

[[Image:Cyb_ep27_cyb_def_team.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Cybertron Second Amendment Team.]]

Simultaneously, Megatron is able to break through Evac and Override's defense and strike down Optimus Prime with a blast of energy. As Megatron and Scourge bear down on the Autobots, however, a warp gate appears overhead courtesy of [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]], through which the all-new, all-different Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot appear. Shocking their teammates with their new forms and new Cyber Key powers, the new-born "[[Cybertron Defense Team]]" keep the Decepticons at bay while Optimus receives a communique from Jolt: the Air Force base has been able to track the location of the energy surge that revived the three Autobots, pinpointing the location of Starscream and the Omega Lock! Vector Prime opens a dimension gate to Starscream's island base, and Optimus, Evac and Override leap through as Red Alert covers their escape.

On Starscream's island, nonchalant Ancient Decepticon hipster [[Lugnutz]] is driving around feeling bored when he observes the opening of a dimension gate overheard. As Optimus, Evac and Override emerge and descend towards the island, Thunderblast arrives at Lugnutz's side, sure that the Autobots' arrival will herald a lot more fun...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (1)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (2)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (3)
*[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] (4)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (5)
*[[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] (7)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (12)
*[[Vector Prime]] (14)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (17)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (18)
*[[Six-Speed]] (20)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (25)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (27)

|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (6)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (8)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (11)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] (24)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (26)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (28)
*[[Lugnutz]] (29)
*Hundreds of [[Ancient Decepticon]]s

|c3=
*[[Bud Hansen]] (14)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (15)
*[[Lori]] (16)
*[[Mike Franklin]] (19)
*[[Lucy Suzuki]] (21)

|c4=
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (23)

}}

==Quotes==

'''Starscream:''' It's incredible! I've never felt so much power! And I'm only getting a ''portion'' of the power of Primus! Once I have all four Cyber Planet Keys, I'll be unstoppable! Soon, I will rule the ENTIRE UNIVERSE! With this power, and my army, NO-ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP ME! 
'''Sideways:''' Uhhh... 
'''Thunderblast:''' Hmph. 
''[Thunderblast turns to leave.]'' 
'''Sideways:''' Where are ''you'' going? 
'''Thunderblast:''' It's getting stuffy in here 'cause of all the hot air... and I'm not talking about the volcano!

'''Hot Shot:''' Well, I've been better but I'll make it. 
'''Lori:''' All right, Hot Shot! That's what we like to hear! 
'''Coby:''' That's Hot Shot for ya! He never gives up, no matter what! 
'''Hot Shot:''' Got ''that'' right. But I do have a question: where are we, anyway? And why is it so ''dark'' in here? 
'''Coby:''' ... I-it's your eyes, Hot Shot. 
'''Lori:''' They suffered some damage. 
'''Hot Shot:''' Oh, that's no big deal. I'll just fire up my engine and run a repair program to fix the problem. *revs, fails* That's funny, I can't seem to get it going.
:—You cried. Admit it.

'''Lori:''' You can't just give up! 
'''Red Alert:''' I'm not. I'm just giving an objective analysis of the facts. 
'''Lori:''' You're not being objective, you're being negative!

"We owe some payback, Megatron. No, I take that back: we owe you a ''lot'' of payback!"
:—''You're'' going home in a '''Red Alert'''!

"Aw, man, this place is totally dullsville."
:—'''Lugnutz''' has been watching too much Unicron Trilogy.

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===

*''Galaxy Force'' features a "previously on" segment that sums up the final minutes of "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]".
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Thunderblast sings as she taunts the navy ship, causing one of the sailors to think that she is [[wikipedia:Lorelei|Lorelei]], a [[wikipedia:Siren|siren]] from German myth. Thunderblast giggles that she has been called that name before, indicating that her mischief in ancient times was responsible for originating the myth of Lorelei in the first place. In ''Cybertron'', this is replaced with the navy personnel marvelling at the technology on display, and Thunderblast commenting how much fun she is having.
*Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot's situation is, generally speaking, treated as being a lot more hopeless in ''Galaxy Force'', with talk of how they will only regain 50% of their functionality at best. Although both shows do make it clear that the trio are in dire straits, ''Cybertron'' gently touches up the kids' dialogue so they switch from being downcast to enthusiastic to try anything that will help. Most notably, as Coby surges back to work, ''Cybertron'' replaces the wistful, teary background music that has been playing throughout the scene with some "determined" music to bring the mood up.
*As ever, ''Cybertron'' adds the [[Omega Frequency]] as the Omega Lock powers up the Cybertron Defense Team.
*As usual, ''Cybertron'' adds dialogue to stock footage. This especially works in its favour with the Cybertron Defence Team's debut: where ''Galaxy Force'' had them announce "[name] TRANSFORM!", ''Cybertron'' has them making promises of retribution over the guy that almost killed them.

===Animation or technical errors===
[[Image:Cyb_ep27_giant_vector.jpg|right|thumb|It does not help that you can see most of Vector Prime's body...]]
* While [[scale]] problems are hardly remarkable in Transformers fiction by this point, ''Cybertron'' frequently shows a penchant for oversized robot modes, with your average human frequently shown to be barely the size of your average robot mode car-bot's wheel. It's best seen in this episode, with the humans helping to repair the future [[Cybertron Defense Team]] shown as practically insect-sized compared to the Autobots. In the inverse is also on fine display, too, as Vector Prime is able to carry the suddenly-tiny Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot, all lying in a line, on his nosecone in vehicle mode.

===Continuity notes===
*Bud recalls when he and Scattorshot travelled into space, in the appropriately-named episode, "[[Space (episode)|Space]]".

===Transformers references===
*When Scourge activates his Cyber-Key, you can hear the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|classic]] [[Transformation]] Sound. This is also a [[To sell toys|reference]] to Scourge's [[Toy]], which makes the same sound when you plug in his [[Cyber Key]], and is referenced in other episodes.

===Real-world references===
*As he unveils his new cannon, Red Alert invites the Decepticons to "Say hello to my little friend!", a famous quote from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:Scarface_(1983_film)|Scarface]]''.

===Trivia===
* ''Galaxy Force'' introduces its fourth [[title sequence|opening sequence]] with this episode, accompanied by the debut of its second opening song, "[[Ignition!]]". The opening remains almost entirely composed of clips from the show itself (taken almost exclusively from the preceding four episodes, plus a tantalizing glimpse of the birth of the Cybertron Defense Team from this episode itself) and features no new original animation, save for the reuse of the new scenes created for the show's [[Ice|third opening]].
* Also introduced is ''Galaxy Force'''s second ending sequence, along with the new ending song "[[Growing Up!!]]". The sequence depicts various Transformers grouped together within their factions, some groupings representing the relationship between each other (such as Megatron and Starscream). Several characters are blacked out, due to them not having appeared yet.
* This was the first new ''Cybertron'' episode of 2006, after a five-month gap between the airing of the preceding episode in October 2005. It also marked the return of new ''Cybertron'' episodes to [[Cartoon Network]], where the remainder of the series would consistently premiere.
* This episode is a sparing instance of ''Cybertron'' failing to logically justify the [[burning justice]] of ''Galaxy Force''. Sure, the power that reformats the team comes from Primus and the Omega Lock, but what's the deal with them glowing red, bleeding energy into a satellite dish and beaming it into space? Burning Justice at its finest, folks.
*As Optimus calls out the names of his fallen men at the start of this episode, he says [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]'s name again when the camera switches to [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]]. Guess no-one cares about Red Alert.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 07 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Revelation (episode)

2012-10-23T03:19:12Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Revelation}}
{{episode|
|series=Cybertron
|ep=26
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=27
|title="Revelation"
|japanese=宇宙滅亡へのカウントダウン
|romaji=Uchū Metsubō he no Countdown
|translation=Countdown to Universal Destruction
|image=Cyb ep26 death machine gun.jpg
|caption=Oh. They ''weren't'' lucky.
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Hiro Masaki]]
|director=[[Atsushi Nakayama]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[July 9]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 24]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''As if searching for Starscream and decoding a mysterious message from Cybertron wasn't trouble enough for the Autobots, Megatron and the Decepticons are free and back on Earth!'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Cyb_ep26_you_shall_not_pass.jpg|left|thumb|220px|I think the giant alien robots can handle ''one'' shady government agent just fine, Bud.]]

Out in space, riding atop an asteroid, [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] leads [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] to the sphere holding [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and the other [[Decepticon]]s prisoner. Scourge's flame breath and axe fail to even make a dent in the globe, but Megatron knows that it is only a matter of time until he is free.

On [[Earth]], the [[Autobot]]s are confronted by [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]], who tells them his story. As a child, he fell into the [[Green River Rapids]], and was rescued by a shadowy figure that changed shape into a helicopter. Nobody ever believed his story, but he knew what he had seen was real, and dedicated himself to finding other such stories. As he grew older, he joined the military to further his search for the truth, and now, it's standing right in front of him. It even turns out that his rescuer was [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]]! Now that everyone at last realizes that Colonel Franklin is on the side of the angels, he offers up all his military resources to help the Autobots find [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and the stolen [[Omega Lock]] and [[Cyber Planet Key]]s.

[[Image:Cyb_ep26_starscream_with_key.jpg|right|thumb|220px|"And now to spend episode after episode standing around this thing glowing!"]]

In the seas of the South Pacific, one of the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s awakened by Starscream, the wily [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], is out looking for some fun, and scans a human speedboat for an [[alternate mode]]. As she is enjoying the sun and surf, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] appears in the sky overhead. They fight briefly, before Thunderblast suddenly vanishes into thin air. Jetfire transmits the info to the Autobot base, where [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] deduces that Thunderblast has disappeared into a [[Camouflage Shield]] that is hiding something in the middle of the ocean. That something, as we soon learn, is a volcanic island that Starscream is using as a staging base, to which Thunderblast returns, arriving just in time to witness Starscream adding the Earth's Cyber Planet Key to the Omega Lock. As in the past, the addition of the key causes the lock to open a [[space bridge]], launching a beam of energy into space, and into the heart of the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]]. Across the galaxy, on [[Velocitron]], on [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] and on Earth, a space bridge portal hangs in the sky, displaying the terrifying image of the black hole to all onlookers. Concerns over the secrecy of the Autobots' mission have to be put on the back burner, however, when a strange energy burst is detected by the Autobots' computers. Despite fears that it has come from the black hole or the space bridge, it turns out that it is a encrypted signal sent back from Cybertron itself, a response to the original signal the Omega Lock sent out in the past.

In space, Scourge and Megatron combine their power, striking the sphere from within and without simultaneously. The tactic succeeds in shattering the sphere, freeing the Decepticons within, and Megatron immediately plans to head for Earth and revenge himself upon Starscream. Scourge requests that he be allowed to join Megatron, as he hungers to visit new worlds and experience new challenges. Megatron permits it, and the group leaves through a [[dimension gate]].

[[Image: Cyb_ep26_message.jpg|left|thumb|220px|The Autobots were prepared for Decepticon hacks but 4chan's DDoS attack was beyond their ken.]]

Back on Earth, while [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] randomly reveals he's ''not'' from Cybertron after all, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Vector Prime]] have decrypted all they can of the signal from Cybertron, which seems to be telling the Autobots to bring the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys back to the planet. Of course, they have to get them back from Starscream, first...but before they can start making plans to do so, Megatron's dimension gate appears in the sky above [[Niagara Falls]]. Acting quickly, Prime's team calls upon the help of several refugee Autobots to evacuate the humans out of the surrounding area with warnings of a tornado, after which Scattorshot surrounds it with a camouflage shield to hide what is about to transpire. The Autobots roll out for Niagara Falls and meet Megatron's forces there, but when both sides admit that there are more pressing concerns at hand, the Decepticons attempt to depart. As letting them go is not an option, Optimus Prime opens fire on their dimension gate, collapsing it, and starting off a major battle. As [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] and [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] deal with Crumplezone and [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], and [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] clash with Scourge, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] is confronted by [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] and almost paralyzed with shock. Vector Prime comes to his aid, and Landmine reveals that he practically raised Mudflap back on Cybertron.

[[Image:Cyb ep26 machine gunned.jpg|right|thumb|220px|"Thanks Megs, we wanted some new toys!" "No problem, guys!"]]

Megatron and Prime go head-to-head, meanwhile, but their battle is interrupted by Red Alert, Scattorshot and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], who entreat their leader to help Leobreaker and Snarl, who have been trapped by Scourge's flame, while they hold off Megatron. Prime does so, and the three Autobot troops give a surprisingly good account of themselves against the much more powerful Decepticon leader. As his rage at being thwarted by weaker warriors boils over, Megatron taps into the power of the Omega Lock and Earth's Cyber Planet Key. The Lock fires a beam of energy around the planet, which strikes Megatron and unlocks in him a new [[Cyber Key]] Power: a powerful machine gun that he uses to mow down Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot in one deadly volley. Optimus Prime turns in time to see his warriors fall, and charges at Megatron with a howl of fury...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Six-Speed]] (7)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (8)
*[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise ]] (12)
*[[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] (13)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (18)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (19)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (20)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl ]] (22)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (23)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (24)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (25)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override ]] (26)
*[[Vector Prime]] (30)
*[[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop ]] (31)
*[[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] (32)
*[[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker ]] (33)
*Payphone Autobot (34)
*Trash bin Autobot (35)
*[[Motorcycle refugee]] (36)
*[[Signal Lancer]] (37)
*Sports car Autobots (38-40)

|c2=
* [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (1)
* [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (4)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (5)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack ]] (6)
* [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] (27)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream ]] (28)
*Hundreds of [[Ancient Decepticon]]s

|c3=
*[[Bud Hansen]] (9)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (10)
* [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]] (11)
*[[Lori]] (15)
* [[Lucy Suzuki]] (17)
*Franklin's father (21, flashback)

|c4=
* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Jetfire:''' No sign of Starscream...but most speedboats on Earth don't come with missile launchers! 
''[Jetfire's shadow appears over Thunderblast]'' 
'''Thunderblast:''' Hey! Where's my sun? 
'''Jetfire:''' Ahoy there! I haven't seen you around here before! 
'''Thunderblast:''' Quit blocking my sun, you big goon! 
'''Jetfire:''' Well, excuse me! 
'''Thunderblast:''' You spend thirty years in an ice cave and see how friendly you are! 
'''Jetfire:''' You mean you're one of those escaped monsters? 
'''Thunderblast:''' HEY! Who are you calling a monster?! 
'''Jetfire:''' But that's... I didn't mean...! 
''[Thunderblast shoots Jetfire down]'' 
'''Thunderblast:''' Sayonara, Mister Buzz-Kill! 
'''Jetfire:''' No doubt about it... she really is a monster! 
:—Croikey! She's a feisty Sheila!

'''Crumplezone:''' I missed you, Ransack! *sobbing* 
'''Ransack:''' Hey, hey - ''hey!'' No hugging! 

"So you're pretty sure the black hole isn't going to turn us all into a cosmic smoothie?" 
"Oh, come on, Lori, now you're just being silly! We'd look more like root beer, anyways."
:—'''Lori''' discusses astrophysics with '''Bud''' in his own inimitable fashion.

'''Landmine:''' What ''happened'' to you? Mudflap, you're no Decepticon! 
'''Mudflap:''' Landmine, listen, I... you know you and me go way back. I don't want to hurt you, but I gotta do what I gotta do! ''Cyber Key Power!'' Walk away, Landmine. Just walk away! 
'''Landmine:''' Mudflap! Look at what you're ''doing here''! 
'''Mudflap:''' ''I said walk away!''

"Nice moves." 
"I know."
:—'''Override''' and the ever-humble '''Crosswise'''

"Gee, Megatron, who's the pathetic one now?" 
"Insolent...worms. You will ''PAAAAAY''!!!"
:—'''Hot Shot''''s taunts drive '''Megatron''' into a rage. This is not going to end well.

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*As ever, ''Cybertron'' adds the customary reference to the [[Omega Frequency]] when the Omega Lock is fired up.
*''Galaxy Force'' sees Bud see a lot of rather uncharacteristic scientific observations, as he tells Lori that a normal black hole could never expand, and that it wouldn't return anything sent into it. ''Cybertron'' just replaces it with him making jokes (mostly about brownies). In large part, this change is also necessitated by the fact that in ''Galaxy Force'', it's a lead-in to the shocking discovery that Cybertron is still intact within the black hole. Since ''Cybertron'' changed things so that the planet was never consumed in the first place, this lead-in is entirely unnecessary, and excised.
*When the battle starts, Crumplezone and Ransack transform and...just drive off. ''Galaxy Force'' gives no reason for this odd "tactic", least of all why Override should bother following a fleeing enemy, so ''Cybertron'' adds the explanation that they are attempting to exit the camouflage shield.
*In ''Cybertron'', Mudflap is much more apologetic to Landmine, and would rather not fight him if he could avoid it. In ''Galaxy Force'', he's terribly righteous. Jerk.

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*When the Autobots confront Megatron, a dubbing error sees Optimus Prime deliver a prolonged speech while Vector Prime's mouth is moving, carrying on directly into when his own mouth starts moving. Presumably, the first part of Optimus' speech was intended for Vector Prime, with Optimus carrying on afterwards as in the final dub.

===Continuity errors===
*''Cybertron'' has Thunderblast intimate that Crosswise only sealed her away thirty years ago. This doesn't jibe with Lucy Suzuki's remark upon first finding Crosswise in the ice that he had been frozen for a thousand years. Maybe she's trying to lie about her age?
*The sphere containing Megatron and the Decepticons has changed from an opaque metallic globe to a translucent purple shimmering one. This may have been an intentional choice to better show Megatron's interactions with Scourge.
*Vector Prime claims that a signal was sent into space "each time" a Cyber Planet Key was placed into the Omega Lock, when it only happened with the Velocitron Key. The error is not present in ''Galaxy Force'', where Vector Prime only mentions the Velocitron Key incident.

===Transformers references===
* When faced with Leobreaker and Snarl, Scourge transforms to beast mode himself, with the promise of giving them a "[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast War]]".
* A black tanker truck resembling ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] can be seen in the traffic jam created by the Autobot refugees after Scattorshot tries to stop Megatron's warp gate.

===Real-world references===
* In response to the sight of Scourge unleashing his fire breath, Crumplezone gasps "Woah, flame on!", quoting the catchphrase of superhero Johnny Storm (aka the [[Human Torch]]), a member of the [[Fantastic Four]].

===Trivia===
* "Revelation" was the last episode of the series to premiere on [[Kids' WB]], and the final new episode to air in 2005. When the series returned in 2006, it was back on [[Cartoon Network]]. This was... upsetting to Cybertron fans without cable, many of whom had to wait years to see the rest of the series.
* Scourge is voiced by [[Colin Murdoch]], instead of [[Trevor Devall]] in this episode. This is fairly noticeable, as Murdoch's Scourge voice is significantly deeper than Devall's.
* As in "[[Retreat]]", actress [[Chiara Zanni]] stands in for [[Sarah Edmondson]] as Lori for this episode. She will do so once more, in "[[Inferno (episode)|Inferno]]".
*When the Decepticons arrive on Earth, Crumplezone gets the planet's name wrong, calling it "Dirt". The same joke would later be made in the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' movie by [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 07 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Retreat

2012-10-23T03:16:39Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=25
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=26
|title="Retreat"
|japanese=3つ目のプラネットフォース
|romaji=Mittsu Me no Planet Force
|translation=The Third Planet Force
|image=Cyb_ep25_starscream_victorious.jpg
|caption="Can't move...too much...kibble!"
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Hiro Masaki]]
|director=[[Mitsuru Kawasaki]], [[Manabu Ono]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[July 2]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 21]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''With the kids held captive by the government, Starscream's forces closing in and the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys on the line, the Autobots have only one desperate choice left...'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Cyb_ep25_tim_meets_autobots.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

As [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]'s [[Ancient Decepticon]]s continue to swarm across the [[Earth]] in search of the third [[Cyber Planet Key]], [[Tim Hansen]] returns home to check on his family, only to find their house empty. He calls on Mr. [[Stanton]] (who is taking the whole "alien invasion" thing with great calmness), who offers to help him look for them.

In the [[Autobot]] base, the Autobots are trying to pull a plan of action together, starting with the shutting down of all radio communications to keep their location secret. [[Overhaul (G1)|Leobreaker]] connects a cable from the base into a human telephone tower, and the Autobots use this system to keep in contact with the panicking Autobot refugees to keep them calm. After [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] departs to recover Earth's Cyber Planet Key from the hiding place in which he has stored it, [[Vector Prime]] voices his concern over the fact that he is unable to contact the kids or the [[Mini-Con]]s. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] is way ahead of him, and has already sent [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] to search for them. While on their search, the two Autobots nearly get into an accident with Tim, who runs his car off the road. When the distressed elder Hansen cries his brothers' names to the heavens, Hot Shot and Landmine realize who he is, and assure him that they'll find his brothers.

[[Image: Cyb_ep25_jolt_rescue.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]

Little does anyone realise that the kids, their families and the Mini-Cons have been taken into custody [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]]. Despite Franklin's claims that he genuinely wants to help the Autobots, and with photographic proof of their covert activities laid out on the table in front of them, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]], [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]] continue to play dumb. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the complex, [[Lucy Suzuki]] approaches the vehicle-mode Mini-Cons and helps them to escape, shocking the engineers and scientists examining them when the three driver-less vehicles move under their own power. [[Six-Speed]] and [[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] drive through the corridors of the building and burst into the room where Franklin is holding the kids, while [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] flies outside and opens a warp in the wall of the building. Coby leaps through the warp to join Lucy in Jolt's cockpit while Bud and Lori board the other Mini-Cons, and they depart with great speed, promising their parents that they will explain everything later. Not long after making good their escape, Jolt decides to radio ahead to the Autobot base and inform them of the government's knowledge, unaware of the communications blackout. Unfortunately, [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] picks up his transmission and pinpoints the location of the Autobots' headquarters! The humans and Mini-Cons return to the Autobot base with all due speed, arriving just as the Decepticons begin to close on its position. The Autobots are shocked that Coby has brought Lucy, an "outsider", into their base, but with more pressing matters at hand, the issue is tabled as Optimus hands down a grave order: to protect the humans and their city, the Autobots must leave Earth!

[[Image:Cyb_ep25_starscream_ransom.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

As the Decepticons approach the Autobot base, Starscream and Sideways spot Evac returning from his trip to the North Pole to collect the Cyber Planet Key. Starscream accosts him and spots the Key in his hand, but Evac is able to get away by bamboozling the Decepticons with a battery of homing missiles. The other Autobots, meanwhile, are ascending a [[space bridge]] to [[Velocitron]] when they spot Evac approaching, with the two Decepticons on his tail. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] rushes to his aid and holds the villains off, allowing Evac to join up with the other Autobots, but then, as Jetfire attempts to withdraw, Starscream seizes him and hurls him to the ground, right by the kids and Lucy. Starscream lands beside them and aims his blaster at the group, ransoming them for the Cyber Planet Key, but Jolt quickly uses his warping ability to teleport them all to safety. With the humans and Jetfire out of danger, Optimus Prime shifts to [[Super Mode]] to open fire on the Ancient Decepticons, blasting many of them out of the sky. Starscream, meanwhile, boards the space bridge, and a colossal battle royale of epic proportions ensues, as he slashes, blasts and bludgeons his way through the entire Autobot army.

[[Image:Cyb_ep25_god_mode.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Starscream is here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and, yes, ''he brought enough for everybody.'']]

Hot Shot and [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] are the first to fall to Starscream's blades, quickly followed by [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] and [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]]. Landmine and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] fire their attacks at the same time, but Starscream rides the currents of Landmine's Cyber Tempest to strike them down from above. Jetfire scores a direct hit with his cannons, leaving Starscream's body blackened and sparking, but is so amazed to see the Decepticons survive the attack that he is caught off guard by a volley from Starscream's chest blasters. Leobreaker and [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] are next into action, and actually manage to break off one of Starscream's swords before they are taken down, leaving only Evac and Vector Prime. Starscream takes a direct route with Evac, simply kicking him off the space bridge and picking up the dropped Cyber Planet Key. With the last of his strength, he beats Vector Prime into unconsciousness and takes the Omega Lock and the two other Keys.

[[Image:Cyb_ep25_starscream_vs_prime.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Maybe Optimus was too tough for him, or maybe 'Scream was just getting bored of beating Autobots like cheap drums.]]

Starscream thinks his objective is complete...until Optimus Prime lands in front of him, declaring that he will not allow the Lock and Keys to fall into [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]'s hands. Starscream laughs, telling Prime that he has no intention of giving this power to anyone other than himself. Prime is intent on teaching Starscream that living for only yourself will never lead to success, as he merges with the recovered Leobreaker and takes Starscream on in Savage Claw Mode. Starscream is no match for Prime's power, and both he and the Lock and Keys are sent tumbling off the space bridge. Prime dives after the Lock and Keys, but Starscream recovers mid-fall and makes one final gamble, launching a missile at the watching humans below. Prime is forced to break off his pursuit of the Lock and offer himself as a human shield against the missile, but this gives Starscream the time to grab the Lock and Keys and make his escape through a [[dimension gate]].

With the Lock and Keys lost to them, the Autobots regroup, and the kids apologize, blaming themselves for being the cause of Starscream's success. The Autobots tell them not to worry about it: Starscream stole the Keys, so they'll just steal them right back, but they'll need their help to do it! However, as everyone's spirits start to rise and they psyche themselves up for the coming battle, Colonel Franklin appears from the shadow of the nearby forest, and declares that it is finally time for them to talk...
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (3)
*[[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] (4)
*[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] (5)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (6)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Vector Prime]] (8)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (10)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (11)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (12)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (13)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (14)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (23)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (24)
*[[Six-Speed]] (25)
*Payphone Autobot (30)
*[[Motorcycle refugee]] (31)
*Excavator Autobot (32)
*Dump truck Autobot (33)
*[[Signal Lancer]] (34)
*Bus Autobot (35)
*Submarine Autobot (36)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (27)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (37)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (38)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (39)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (40)
*Hundreds of [[Ancient Decepticon]]s
|c3=
*Mr. [[Stanton]] (1)
*[[Tim Hansen]] (2)
*[[Mike Franklin]] (15)
*Lori's mother (16)
*[[Ernesto]] (17)
*Mrs. Hansen (18)
*[[Robert Hansen]] (19)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (20)
*[[Lori]] (21)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (22)
*[[Lucy Suzuki]] (26)
*Tim's girlfriend (29)

|c4=
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==

'''Franklin:''' The time has come for you to lead me to the Autobots' base. 
'''Lori:''' But sir, what is a "Botanot" anyway? 
'''Coby:''' I just don't understand the point of all this! 
'''Bud:''' No habla Ingles, Senor Franklin!
:—The kids play dumb. Bud's loving it.

"It's raining Decepticons... and you don't have an umbrella!"
:—'''Starscream''''s gonna let himself get absolutely soaking wet.

"Right. Looks like you've lost your only bargaining chip, Starscream—so ''now'', I'm not holding anything back!!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' begins the smackdown

"I ''love'' Autobot Bowling!" 
"Well, this pin strikes back!"
:—'''Starscream''' shouts his enjoyment at defeating Hot Shot and Override, and '''Crosswise''' tries to put him in his place.

"Heheheheheh... You think I've gone through all ''this''... for an arrogant fool like Megatron? This power is ''mine!''"
:—'''Starscream'''

"You see, Starscream, when you betray those around you, you've got no one you can rely on!" 
"But when you're part of a team, you never stand alone!" 
"It really is a valuable lesson-but some people have to learn the hard way!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Leobreaker''', preparing to show Starscream the power of teamwork-via a Savage Claw Mode beatdown.

"Your team is your strength, Optimus... but it's also your one weakness!"
:—'''Starscream''', as he reveals just how far he's willing to go to get the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys by firing a missile at the humans.

==Notes==

===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
[[Image:cyb_ep25_gigiddy.jpg|right|thumb|Gigiddy-''gigiddy-GIG-I-DEE''.]]
*When Sideways returns to Starscream's side, ''Galaxy Force'' indicates that he is only just now getting back after his pursuit of Crosswise, as seen in "[[Trap]]" and "[[Invasion (episode)|Invasion]]". This is a bit out of whack, chronologically speaking, so ''Cybertron'' changes the dialogue so that Sideways is returning from searching for the Autobots' base.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', when the kids discuss how humans will react to Transformers, Lori brings up the time that Landmine's footprints were found. This occurred in the chronologically earlier episode "[[Inferno (episode)|Inferno]]", but because that episode hadn't been dubbed yet for ''Cybertron'', it's changed to a more generic remark for the dub.
*After Coby makes the leap to Jolt's cockpit, his face is red and flushed. In ''Cybertron'', this is exhilaration at having made the jump; in ''Galaxy Force'', it's blushing embarrassment at sharing the cramped confines of Jolt's cockpit with a hot older lady, who has her arms wrapped around him. ''Allllll right.''
*After Optimus tells the kids the Autobots must leave Earth, ''Galaxy Force'' has Lori tell Coby that it must be. In ''Cybertron'', she tells Coby to convince Optimus to stay.
*When Starscream has Jetfire on the ground at gun point he looks up. In ''Galaxy Force'' he's looking up at Optimus and directly demands the Cyber Keys and the Lock. In ''Cybertron'' he's looking up at his troops and gloats "It's raining Decepticons," only implying the use of Jetfire for bargaining a moment later.
** During this same scene in ''Galaxy Force'' Optimus makes a concerned grunt. In ''Cybertron'' he instead says Jolt's name, implicitly cueing him to warp down and save Jetfire (with Vector Prime then more directly ordering Jolt to do it).
**Also during this scene ''Galaxy Force'' has the Ancient Decepticons roaring and moaning, which they don't in ''Cybertron.

===Animation or technical errors===
*All the footage of civilian Autobots in this episode is recycled from "[[Search]]". As such, it makes it seems like [[Signal Lancer]] has moved out of the city (where he was seen last episode) and back to his usual spot in the desert in a very short amount of time. That, or there's more than one traffic light Autobot around!
*After Starscream takes down Jetfire, Optimus says "Jolt!" in a concerned voice. He should probably be saying Jetfire's name instead, as Vector Prime directs Jolt to help Starscream's prisoners seconds later.
*When Starscream attacks Optimus on the Space Bridge, his chest cannons appear to be firing rapidly, machine gun-style. However, only a single blue beam (similar to Starscream's regular shots) flies past Optimus when the scene cuts to him.
*When Jetfire notes that aircraft are approaching, [[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] is visible.

===Continuity errors===
* When the kids bring Lucy to the Autobot base, the Autobots are all shocked that the kids have brought in an outsider. While this is an understandable reaction for most of them, it makes no sense for Scattorshot to react this way, as he was formally introduced to her back in "[[Ice]]". Maybe he just wasn't expecting her to be led straight to their base?

===Continuity notes===
*The photos Franklin shows the kids depict events from "[[Race]]" and "[[Ice]]".
*We briefly glimpse Megatron and the other Decepticons in their metal sphere in space, where they have been imprisoned since "[[Trap]]".

===Transformers references===
*Nobody is aware of the Transformers - except, according to [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], some [[Fandom|people on the Internet]] who are getting suspicious.

===Trivia===
*The ''Galaxy Force'' version of this episode finally gives a name to the small town in which Coby and company live: [[Rockville]].
*Starscream defeats ''eleven'' members of Optimus Prime's team in a row. ''By himself''. '''''Wow'''''.
** He then successfully distracts Optimus and gets away with the prize, free and clear. This is arguably the best day ''any'' Starscream has had, ''ever.''
*For the duration of this episode, actress [[Chiara Zanni]] stands in for [[Sarah Edmondson]] as Lori. She continues to do so in the following episode, "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", and returns to do so in "[[Inferno (episode)|Inferno]]".
*Additionally, this episode provides a rare moment of [[burning justice]] unexplained by the dub, when Starscream surrounds himself with a blazing purple aura for his final attack on Optimus Prime. Later episodes would attempt to explain this phenomenon as an Energon aura produced by sheer willpower.
*Starscream is able to move fast enough to grab Jetfire AFTER he's started flying back. He's also strong enough to throw Jetfire in the other direction with just ONE hand. Later he's even strong enough to send Evac flying with just one KICK.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 07 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

2012-10-22T03:35:25Z

SuzyP: Speculation doesn't really fit.

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=94
|ep2=31
|prev2=The Desperate Struggle of Justice
|next2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime1 Optimus lives.JPG
|caption=And there was much rejoicing (yay).
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"
|production code=700-115
|airdate=[[February 24]], 1987
|written by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''An embittered scientist uses the body of Optimus Prime to unleash a dangerous plague on the Autobots and, ultimately, the universe.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート1 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 1'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 1")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 1''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Prime rescue.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"You're right, it is athlete's foot."]]

While on a deep-space mission in the ''[[Solaris]]'' to test a new [[Impervious alloy|heat-and-radiation-resistant alloy]] that they have developed, scientists [[Jessica Morgan]] and [[Gregory Swofford]] detect a ship carrying Optimus Prime's body {{storylink|Dark Awakening}} on a collision course with a planetoid orbiting a star they are researching nearby. Despite Gregory's reservations (his face was scarred in a previous scuffle between [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], which he blames on Optimus), he is talked into helping Jessica rescue Prime's body before the ship collides with the planetoid, the impact of which also sets off the star into a supernova and coating their ship with unusual spores.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Scattershot rescues Jessica.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't worry, I'll help you rescue your daug-OOH LOOK, A BUNNY!]]

Upon return to Earth, Jessica's father studies the spores and learns that they are not only alive, but are an [[Hate Plague|incredibly contagious viral agent]] that induces hatred and destructive urges into whoever they contaminate. After a new scuffle between the Technobots and Terrorcons over the new alloy gravely injures Jessica, her father is convinced by Gregory to try and resurrect Prime's body as a carrier of the spores against the Autobots, a sentiment exacerbated when it's learned Jessica was paralyzed from the waist down in the accident and now needs a special exosuit to walk. However, when reviving Prime's body turns out to be impossible for them, Gregory and Jessica's father decide to use it as bait for the other Autobots. Dr. Morgan forces Jessica to lure them into a spore trap at the lab.

The trap goes off without a hitch, mostly due to Rodimus' reckless haste in recovering his predecessor's corpse in lieu of caution, and several Autobots—including Superion and Defensor, two of the most powerful Autobot gestalts—are infected. The Decepticons have learned about Optimus Prime's recovery as well, and have shown up to terminate the former Autobot leader permanently, but are instead infected themselves. Fortunately, Rodimus, Jessica, and Galvatron manage to escape unharmed, the former two with Optimus' body; a few other Autobots manage to escape infection as well, but are badly wounded while attempting to subdue a sickened and crazed Superion.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Magnus sneaks up.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rodimus has [[Energy vampire|no reflection]]?]]

Back at Autobot City, Rodimus pleads to Wreck-Gar to try and repair Prime, but Prime is too far gone even for Junkion medical experience. Desperate, Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and orders him to locate and bring back a Quintesson, remembering that they had [[Dark Awakening|once before restored Optimus to life]]. He then sets about disconnecting Metroplex to keep the city-former from becoming infected. However, just as he finishes the final steps to do so, an infected Ultra Magnus appears. He gives chase to Rodimus before he's temporarily subdued by Wreck-Gar...who ends up becoming infected, and infecting Rodimus in return.

[[Image:ReturnofOptimus1 Quintesson fixing Prime.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You put your right arm in. You put your right arm out.]]

With the Hate Plague, as it's now called, rampaging even to the ends of the galaxy, Sky Lynx finds an uninfected Quintesson who he saves from infected Sharkticons in exchange for reviving Optimus. The Quintesson warns that—should anything go too awry during the process — there's a good chance that Optimus will never live again. It's touch-and-go for a while, but eventually, the Quintesson manages to pull through and Optimus is restored to full life, declaring that "no force in the Universe can stop me."

[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|To be continued]]...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (10)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (11)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (12)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (13)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (14)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (16)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (17)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (18)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (19)
* [[Wide Load]] (20)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (21)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (23)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (25)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (26)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (27)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (28)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (29)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (30)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (31)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (32)
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (33)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (34)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (35)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (36)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (37)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (38)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (39)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (50)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (51)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (52)
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (53)
|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4; flashback)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (5)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (6)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (7)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (8)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (9)
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (15)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (24)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (40)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (41)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (42)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (43)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (44)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (45)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (46)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (47)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (48)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (49)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (54)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (55)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (56)
|c3=
* [[Gregory Swofford]] (1)
* [[Jessica Morgan]] (2)
* [[Mark Morgan]] (3)
* [[Bonnie Carlson]] ()
|c4=
* [[Quintesson]]s (57)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (58)
}}

==Notable quotes==
"Computron think too much!"
:—'''Abominus''', who subsequently shoots Computron

"Why do I keep seeing you in my dreams, Optimus? Are you telling me I'm not the leader ''you'' were? I already know that, Optimus. I always have."
:—'''Rodimus''' ponders in front of [[Optimus Prime memorial|Optimus's memorial statue]] in Metroplex.

"Where's that punk Rodimus Prime?! I want him!" 
"There you are, you puny wimp!" 
"You can't escape, Rodimus! I can track your gas fumes anywhere!"
:—Several lines from infected '''Ultra Magnus''' as he tracks down Rodimus Prime. ''In virus veritas,'' indeed.

"The Autobots are acting like madmen!" 
"It's a madness plague, Galvatron. If one of those Transformers touches you, you're infected." 
"You're lying!" 
"Fine. Whatever makes you a happy Decepticon. Just watch your rear thruster."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" 
"His engines, they cannae take the strain!" 
"He's dead, Jim." 
:—'''Wreck-Gar'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s inspired medical descriptions of Optimus Prime's condition

"It's over, kid. I've won!" 
"Don't believe it, old friend!"
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' blocks '''Rodimus Prime''', who evades him.

"Like I said before, kid. It's all over. What...? ARGH!" 
"And as ''I'' said before: Don't believe it."
:—Infected '''Ultra Magnus''' corners '''Rodimus Prime''', only to be lassoed by Wreck-Gar.

"I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?"
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' merrily spreads the infection.

"They've all gone mad. This is no place for me!"
:—The irony is lost on '''Galvatron.'''

"The world needs a leader now!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' on the reactivation of Optimus Prime

"I've done it! Optimus Prime lives!" 
"It's true. Our leader is back." 
"Yes, Sky Lynx, and this time, no force in the universe can stop me."
:—'''Quintesson''' and '''Sky Lynx''' as the decidedly confident '''Optimus Prime''' is revived

==Notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[Image:Swindle TROOP.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"So we bought your daughter's exosuit from a Decepticon...what's so bad about that?"]]
* The first shot of Prime's ship shows it colored in orange. In all other shots, it's white with orange landing gear. And it looks totally different from its [[Dark Awakening|last appearance]].
*The first shot of Optimus Prime on Gregory's display shows him sitting in a red chair. It's yellow in other shots.
* As the duo first come upon Prime's body, he's missing the vertical line on his abs/grille.
* As Jessica is being loaded into First Aid, Gregory and Mark are wearing smocks, not the suits and ties they wear in other shots.
* When Gregory and Jessica's father rush at the hospital and find the Autobots, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] is amongst them. This does at least explain why Hot Spot is standing around in a ''hospital'' with a gun in his hand.
* Jessica grabs tops of Optimus' arm to try and save him from the incinerator. The next shot shows it towering over her.
* As he drives Jessica into Autobot City, Ultra Magnus is shown driving into a tunnel in one shot, but in the next he's in open air.
*Optimus' statue is missing the smoke stacks on its arms.
*The depressions on Rodimus' shoulders are white again in this episode. They were burgundy in the previous one.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Rodimus is done talking to Optimus' statue, his head slides backwards. Twice.
*Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line in this episode.
*When Defensor is shown after the Protectobots combine, his left arm is missing.
*Steeljaw just pops into the frame during the Autobot rollcall.
*When Soundwave looks down after having Ratbat inserted into him, his faceplate stays in its old position of looking upwards.
**Also, when Ratbat enters Soundwave's tape compartment, he slides on top of the open compartment door before vanishing (obviously a layering issue)
*When Ratbat is inserted into Soundwave, he is white instead of a purplish-magenta colour.
*Also pertaining to Soundwave, when he says "Ratbat has returned. Ratbat, report!", the vocoded voice processing provided by [[Scott Brownlee]] sounds higher pitched than usual.
*When Galvatron says, "So Optimus Prime may yet live." For a second his chin turns black.
*When Rodimus dispatches some of the Autobots to watch the area around the lab, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*Before entering the lab to retrieve Prime's body, Rodimus gives orders to Defensor...though Defensor is shown as the one mouthing all of those orders.
*In the same scene as above, Goldbug is somehow right in front of Defensor, but Bumblebee wasn't rebuilt into him yet.
*Quite often, the red aura around infected Transformers are out of step with the animation or visible through objects in front of them.
*When the Autobots get infected, several are shown clipping through each other.
*Superion shoots a gun with the sound effect of Galvatron's cannon. Defensor fires back with a gun that sounds like Rodimus Prime's gun.
*Galvatron's chin is gray in some shots, dark gray in others.
*In one scene, Bruticus is the same size as all the regular Decepticons.
*Sky Lynx is shown flying out of the solar system past Saturn, but it's colored white instead of yellow.
*Magnus' gun uses the sound effect from Galvatron's cannon as he blasts into the Autobot lab.
*When Rodimus notices Magnus behind him, his eyes are lined thicker than usual.
*When Wreck-Gar is about to infect Rodimus, Rodimus is all red before he's been infected.
*During Brawl's rampage, he somehow manages to infect an inanimate truck.
*As an unconscious man leans against this truck, a pair of infected people fight over both him and the truck, overlapping them as if it they weren't there.
*When Defensor picks up a stone monument to throw, the monument gains a red aura around it, but does not become red. The red aura disappears when the monument is thrown.
*Before being picked up by Sky Lynx, one of the Quintesson's faces flashes red for a moment.
*The Quintesson's Egyptian-styled head is facing Optimus at the end, but one shot shows it facing backwards.
*During his famous line at the end of the episode, Optimus Prime's mouthplate isn't moving.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Retcon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Someone fixed Prime's body, but no one can fix the story.]]
*More or less this entire episode is a massive continuity error, as it purports to pick up at the end of Optimus Prime's last prior appearance in "[[Dark Awakening]]", yet actually presents entirely different conditions. In the prior episode, Optimus Prime lost an arm and half of his face (on top of his longstanding physical damage still left from the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]]), but was still alive as he managed to steer his ship at high speed through the heavy fire of a massed Quintesson spacefleet, deliberately ramming a detonator that caused a binary supernova and obliterated the ship and the entire solar system around it. Yet in this new episode, Optimus Prime is shown completely intact and pristine, albeit dead, as his (completely different) ship drifts, slowly and alone, through a system in which the sun is about to go nova from natural causes.
*Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford detect life-signs aboard Optimus Prime's ship, but the Autobot is dead.
*Why didn't any of the Autobots notice Optimus Prime's body when they were loading Jessica into the Ambulance? Sure he was half buried under rubble, but a truck-sized leader of your own faction shouldn't be ''that'' hard to notice?
*Where did the Throttlebots come from?
*Why is Steeljaw part of the Autobot roll call when Blaster is not?
*Even though Ratbat's reconnaissance recording consists of nothing more than an ambiguous, one-line statement by Jessica Morgan - "My father has his body in the lab." - Galvatron immediately knows that she's referring to Optimus Prime.
*Rodimus informs the others to "not touch any red dust", even though Jessica hasn't told him about the Spores (except maybe on the drive over?).
*Doctor Morgan throws spores at Rodimus, apparently not noticing that ''his own daughter'' is inside him, even though we see her clearly through his windows in several other shots.
*Why is Rodimus so desperate to bring Optimus back from the dead even after he's aware of the much more pressing concern of the Hate Plague?
*Rodimus contacts Sky Lynx and gets an exterior visual of him somehow.
*Rodimus decides to deactivate Metroplex to stop him from catching the plague, but Magnus is infected and already walking around on him well before Rodimus pushes the last switch.
*If the Quintessons really are "in hiding in the far reaches of the galaxy" as Sky Lynx claims, then how did any of the at-the-time-still-Earthbound Hate Plague carriers manage to find them, much less get all the way out there to infect them in the first place?
*For that matter, how the hell did these theoretical Hate Plague carriers manage to ''beat Sky Lynx to the Quintessons''?
*How are Sky Lynx and the Quintesson able to take the time to revive Optimus Prime without being attacked? Did all the other Autobots and humans leave Autobot City?
*And how does Sky Lynx know the Quintesson is repairing Prime back to the way he was before he died, rather than the brainwashed version from "Dark Awakening"? It's possible he stood and watched as they worked to ensure they didn't do just that.

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar's line: "Lucy, Lucy, what have you done now?" Is a reference to [[wikipedia:I Love Lucy|I Love Lucy]].
*Wreck-Gar's lines: "I'm a doctor, not a forklift!" and "He's dead, Jim," reference popular quotes from ''Star Trek'' medic [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Leonard_H._McCoy/ Dr. Leonard H. McCoy].
*Similarly "His engines, they cannae take the strain!" comes from another ''Star Trek'' character, namely [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Montgomery_Scott Montgomery Scott] (AKA Scotty), though this is often claimed to not be attributed to the character except for its use in parodies.
*Wreck-Gar's comment: "I'm a pepper! Wouldn't you like to be a pepper, too?" is a reference to an old [[wikipedia:Dr_Pepper|Dr Pepper]] ad campaign in the late '70s to early '80s.

===Trivia===
* The [[Hate Plague]] appears to affect Sharkticons differently from how it affects Transformers and humans. While other organisms become incredibly aggressive, Sharkticons seem to become obsessed with infecting everyone else. Strangely enough, by the next episode, that seems to have become the aim of everyone else as well.
* When Jessica Morgan asks who built Optimus Prime in the first place, Rodimus Prime responds by saying the Quintessons did so, yet Optimus was modified from Orion Pax, who was repaired by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], though he might have meant who built Optimus in his original form.
* Jessica Morgan and Gregory Swofford are able to lift, push and pull Optimus Prime's massive body out of his chair and onto their ship without any mechanical assistance or devices except a rope. There's no gravity in space, but objects still have mass and therefore inertia.
* The Hate Plague can apparently infect any creature, both purely mechanical and biological.
* Even though it occurs in a flashback, this is ''technically'' the last appearance of Megatron in the original American series.
* The resurrection of Optimus Prime in the show was a direct result of children's reactions to his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and subsequent letters, as acknowledged by a Hasbro exec in a 1986 newspaper article. He didn't even have a toy on the shelves! 
* The Autobots are implied to have created the exosuit for Jessica so she can walk again. Hmm, one wonders if this technology could have been [[Chip Chase|useful before now]]...
* When Rodimus wants to put together a team to pick up a dead body from a couple of humans, he doesn't mess around, does he?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Erster Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_1.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Soundwave (WFC)

2012-10-21T00:07:14Z

SuzyP: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:Soundwave Prime.jpg|thumb|300px||Despite appearances, that is not a [[mouthplate]].]]
'''Soundwave''' is the spy master of the Decepticons. One of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s earliest followers, and, many believe, instrumental to his rise, he uses his tentacles and a veritable army of [[Mini-Con|Minicon]] [[Deployer (Prime)|Deployer]]s to learn everything there is to know about his allies and his enemies. He was never very chatty, but these days, on Earth, he's become near silent, communicating by playing back recordings of other people's conversations. He just sneaks about, patiently looking for Autobot transmissions and creeping [[Starscream (Prime)|you]] out. Since the incapacitation of Megatron, Soundwave acts as a restraint on [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], reining in his rather volatile emotions, and ensuring that Starscream's less than subtle ambitions are held in check.

Soundwave has the ability to receive transmissions from anywhere on the planet, bar the shielded Autobot Base. This allows him to spy on every being on the planet in the hopes of picking up Autobot-related communications.

{{quote|Watch out for the quiet ones.|[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]|"[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
Soundwave was a gladiator from [[Kaon]] who almost bested [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] in combat, an act that created mutual respect between the two. Soundwave saw in Megatron a desire to return to the swashbuckling spirit of the [[Golden Age]] of Cybertron, when Cybertronians emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]] having to escape from the [[Underworld]]'s monsters rather than being put into a [[caste system|caste]]. He was appointed Megatron's lieutenant with [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]]. Though Megatron despised Minicons, Soundwave insisted on having them around to spy on their gladiators, including the time when Megatron's librarian friend [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]] came to visit. He was suspicious of Orion and even asked permission from Megatron to tail him as he returned to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]].

After [[Decepticon]]s bombed Cybertron in Megatron's name, Soundwave sent [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] to search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in [[Crystal City]] (a place which design he always found self indulgent). Soundwave was not sure whether he should have bothered, as he was not superstitious and wondered what use a piece of a [[Star Saber (Prima)|broken sword]] could be. Instead he got chilling indications Crystal City's scientists were planning to revive [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

[[Image:WFCcomicDecepticons.jpg|thumb|250px|"Yeah, this look is cool now, but I don't think I'll have it ''forever'': I mean, who'd like to [[GEEWUN|see things looking the same for over twenty five years]], right guys? ...guys?"]]

Soundwave attended Orion and Megatron's hearing before the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. During this meeting, Soundwave helped to sow discord and tension by loudly shouting his complaints over security breaches that, in truth, he himself had caused. The Council noted that they were aware someone had tried to find the Matrix, and they appointed Orion [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] and requested he find it. This tore Orion and Megatron's movement in two.

During the final days of the war, Soundwave and his minions' research changed the fate of Cybertron. It was they who found the areas of the [[DataNet]] that [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] had overlooked and not deleted, revealing the existence of [[Dark Energon]] on [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] Station. It was he who remembered the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] below Crystal City that allowed for the mass transportation of Dark Energon between Cybertron and Trypticon. And it was the evidence he got from Rumble and Frenzy when they infiltrated Crystal City that revealed the existence of the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] and its two [[Code Key]]s, which enabled Megatron to poison the [[Core]] of Cybertron.

When Optimus removed the Chamber from the Core, beginning the planet's slow healing process, Soundwave boarded the ''Nemesis'' with Megatron, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] and [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] to pursue the Autobot ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' into the unknown reaches of space. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

Soundwave regained consciousness onboard the ''Nemesis'' after emerging from the energy field created by the Space Bridge explosion over Cybertron. While Megatron demanded a status report, Soundwave was already deep at work in a console attempting to determine the answer. Along with Starscream and Megatron, Soundwave examined the tracking reports and confirmed Starscream's assumption that the ''Ark'' was likely not too far away. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
When a gladiator calling himself Megatronus vowed to challenge Cybertron's leadership, Soundwave was his first follower and chief amongst them. Soundwave remained at Megatronus' side, now Megatron, as the conflict escalated into a war. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Following the [[Great Exodus]], when the Decepticons were trying to decrypt an encoded Autobot transmission, Soundwave suggested they should let [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] have a shot at interrogating [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. {{storylink|Out of the Past}}

The Decepticons later arrived on [[Earth]]. During a Decepticon attack on Cliffjumper, Soundwave intercepted Arcee's comms talk. He later played it back to Starscream, prompting the Decepticon leader to send the drones after her. He later detected transmissions coming from deep space, that prompted the Decepticons to fire up the [[space bridge]], allowing Megatron to return. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Soundwaveturn.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He's not shuttershy. He's also not Fluttershy.]]
Shortly after Megatron left the ship on a mission, Starscream wondered aloud if Megatron had a touch of space madness, and Soundwave reminded him that their absent leader was still in charge. Starscream told him to step up global surveillance. Soundwave subsequently intercepted a transmission from [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] and, on Starscream's order, dispatched [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] to capture the agent to learn the location of the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} When the Autobots attacked the ''Nemesis'' to retrieve Fowler, slaughtering dozens of their soldiers, Soundwave hid. He simply watched when Megatron returned and took his fury out on Starscream on the bridge for not waiting on his command. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

Starscream sent Soundwave to the [[Giant Sized Array]] radio telescope in [[Texas]] as they needed to use the array to target the space bridge at [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Soundwave hacked into the computer network at the site, but after he had lined up the dishes, someone realigned them. In response to Starscream's demands as to what was happening, he tapped into the base's security system and discovered that the Autobots' three human friends were in a nearby room, similarly accessing the computer. He extended a tentacle into the room they were in and attacked them. When [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] tried to chop the tentacle with an ax, Soundwave took it from her and used it to sever the computer system's hardline, locking the dishes on Cybertron. The three kids entered the room in time to see him leaving, and Miko and Soundwave snapped photos of each other.

[[Image:MastersStudents-Soundwavesradar.jpg|thumb|left|200px|See how much more convincing I am as a [[:Image:Cybertronsoundwave.jpg|communications tower]] with this look?]]

Because of Soundwave's success, the Autobots resorted to sabotaging the space bridge, blowing it up and taking Megatron with it. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} At Starscream's order, Soundwave activated the comm system so Starscream could give a speech to the troops, declaring himself leader. Failing to impress the Vehicons, Starscream pressed Soundwave's sensors into locating [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], a Decepticon secreted in a pod in the desert. Starscream and Soundwave reactivated Skyquake, only to find he wasn't receptive to Starscream's leadership, and instead set about fighting [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]. Soundwave detected a Decepticon signal from the site where the space bridge exploded, and when Starscream went to investigate, Soundwave sent Laserbeak to keep Starscream honest while he himself filmed the battle between Skyquake and Optimus and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]. Though the outcome of the fight was not favorable to the Decepticon cause, Soundwave was able to ensure that Starscream returned Megatron's barely-functioning body to the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

Soundwave intercepted a transmission from [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] who was heading for Earth. At Starscream's order, he downloaded the necessary information to [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], who took on Wheeljack's form and infiltrated the Autobot base. As Starscream and Soundwave paid a visit to the captive Wheeljack, Soundwave prevented his leader from terminating their prisoner, as he might be of use later. The two 'Cons retired to the ship's top deck to wait for Makeshift to activate the [[GroundBridge]], however Wheeljack broke free and started trashing the Vehicons. When Wheeljack escaped through the ground bridge and sent back Makeshift with his grenade activated, Soundwave and Starscream made sure to get well clear before he exploded. {{storylink|Con Job}} During another Autobot operation, Soundwave listened in on their comm chatter, prompting Starscream to send some Vehicons to attack. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}

[[Image:Deusex-Soundwavecrouching.jpg|thumb|250px|And that's why there's no [[Ratbat (WFC)|Ratbat]].]]

When [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] mentioned seeing an [[Energon Harvester]] in a fresco in [[Greece]], Soundwave was able to track the device's location to a museum. Breakdown and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] kept the Autobots busy in front of the museum while Soundwave sneaked in the back. He ran into Raf and Jack, who were already in the process of stealing the Harvester, and grabbed it from them before making a getaway in his vehicle mode. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}

[[Image:SickMind-Soundwaveobjects.jpg|thumb|250px|left|"Let me see some tenderness connected with a death, or that dark chamber, Spirit, which we left just now, will be forever present to me."]]

Starscream and Knock Out made a concerted attempt to convince Soundwave that Megatron was beyond saving, and that the only option left to them was euthanasia. Soundwave remained skeptical, and pointed out the patch cable that Arcee and Bumblebee was using to access Megatron's brain. Megatron's life support was damaged during the ensuing confusion, and though it seemed Starscream and Knock Out were content to leave Megatron flat-lining, Soundwave pressured them into reconnecting the cable sustaining their master. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

After Megatron's resurrection, Soundwave kept him informed regarding Starscream's activities, including his attempt to resurrect Skyquake with the Dark Energon shard ripped from Megatron's chest, and the loss of his arm. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}} Soundwave watched as Breakdown was captured by [[MECH]], and reported back to Starscream. He was on the bridge of the ''Nemesis'' when Starscream passed the news on to Megatron, who was less than impressed that Breakdown had been taken by a bunch of humans. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} He detected the magnetic anomaly caused by the [[polarity gauntlet]], causing Megatron to send Breakdown to go look for it. {{storylink|Metal Attraction}}

Megatron and Starscream headed to a stripped Energon Mine to discover mining drills still there. Starscream attempted to blame this on Soundwave. Megatron told Starscream that Soundwave had been filling him in on the second-in-command's activities. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}} Soundwave listened to Starscream's confessions after Megatron nearly terminated the second-in-command. {{storylink|Partners}}

When the new Decepticon space bridge was nearing completion, Soundwave supplied a diagram of the last component they needed. After they obtained said component, Megatron left the ship on a mission of his own. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] began searching the ship for the Decepticon leader and Megatron instructed Soundwave to send Prime to him. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}

[[Image:SoundwavePlayingSparkbeat..jpg‎|thumb|200px|He's playing Dubstep.]]

Soundwave translated tremors coming from the Earth's core into sound, revealing it to be a heartbeat. Megatron did not appreciate this, as it was making his head hurt. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

After Megatron left the ship to talk to [[Unicron]], Soundwave monitored the comms channels for his master's return. When [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] suggested considering a future without Megatron, Soundwave ominously looked at her. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}}

[[Image:Soundwavelayingdownthelaw.jpg‎|thumb|200px|left|YOU! SHALL NOT! PASS!]]
Soundwave continued to try to find some sign of Megatron. When Airachnid announced Megatron wasn't coming back and ordered the ship to [[Regulon Four]], Soundwave decided it was time to lay down the law. He defied Airachnid, who angrily attacked him, but the Decepticon spy master quickly proceeded to <strike>defeat</strike> <strike>demolish</strike> humiliate Airachnid. Upon Unicron's defeat, Soundwave detected Megatron's signal and activated the GroundBridge, bowing in respect with the other Decepticons as Megatron entered the bridge of the ship. He had to hold Breakdown back when they saw that Megatron was accompanied by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

With Optimus amnesiac and believing himself to be archivist Orion Pax, Soundwave made sure the ship's [[data core]] was clear of any incriminating evidence so Orion could be put to work decrypting information they'd stolen from the Iacon archives. When Arcee managed to get on board the ship to look for the lost Autobot leader, Soundwave made deft use of the GroundBridge to get her back off before Orion could see her. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} When Orion eventually learned the truth, Soundwave relayed the news to Megatron. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} He also notified Megatron when activity was detected on Cybertron, indicating that the Autobots had gone there in an attempt to help Optimus. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

When Megatron was angry after having had the [[spark extractor|latest find]] snatched from his hands, Soundwave reminded him there were still two more sets of coordinates to investigate. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} Soundwave was present when Megatron unsuccessfully tested the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}} He played back footage of Skyquake's demise for [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

Soundwave continued to try to decode more data from the Iacon archives, in a continuation of Orion Pax's work. When Airachnid requested Megatron's approval to take point in the hunt for the relics, Megatron requested that Soundwave remind him of her previous words when she planned to abandon him. Later, after Dreadwing and Breakdown's failure to execute her, Soundwave began tracing Airachnid's location during her communication to the ''Nemesis'' for Megatron. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

After the ''Nemesis'' crashed, Soundwave reviewed security footage and discovered that Bulkhead had been the one to cause it. Megatron brought it back online using Dark Energon, though the ship's guiding intelligence proved uncontrollable by the Decepticons. Soundwave plugged himself into the flight console in an attempt to regain control, but was zapped into stasis. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

He was on the ''Nemesis'' bridge when Knock Out left to find the first of the four relics decoded by the ship. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} Dispatched to find the third relic, Soundwave encountered the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'' and used Laserbeak as a distraction. He soon uncovered the [[Resonance Blaster]], only to be attacked by [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. Though the Autobot managed to crack his visor, Soundwave triumphed, and was only stopped from dispatching Wheeljack by an SOS from Laserbeak. He picked up Laserbeak and returned to the ''Nemesis'', where Knock Out discovered a grenade implanted in the deployer. Once the offending item was removed, Soundwave returned to his work decrypting the Iacon database, unaware that the Autobots had also implanted a virus in Laserbeak, which passed into the computer and began transmitting the database to the Autobots' mainframe. {{storylink|Triage}} He returned to the bridge to listen to Megatron complain about how ineffective everyone else was, and watched [[Hardshell]] and Knock Out argue. {{storylink|Hurt}}

When [[Silas|Cylas]] came to the Decepticons with the offer of a [[Project Damocles]] satellite, Soundwave was sent to a military base in [[Colorado]] to get the codes so they could control the satellite from the ''Nemesis''. He hacked into the computer, giving him the ability to use the satellite even as he was downloading the codes for it, but failed to stop Raf from knocking the satellite out of orbit. He retreated as the Autobots reached his position. {{storylink|The Human Factor}}

With new information about where the Autobots' human friends lived, Soundwave had Laserbeak patrol the area around [[Jasper]]. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} Soundwave succeeded in decoding another set of coordinates, and Megatron sent him with a decoy Iacon relic to draw the Autobots off. While he managed to keep Optimus Prime's team occupied for a lengthy period of time, it was not long enough, and by the time he returned to the ''Nemesis'', Optimus had gotten hold of the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Legacy}} Continuing his work, Soundwave decoded more coordinates and reported them to Megatron while the latter forged the [[Dark Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}

When Megatron returned from victory, he told Soundwave, in great detail, how he had destroyed the Star Saber with his own blade. He soon had two more sets of coordinates downloaded, resulting in Knock Out securing an [[Omega Key]]. When the final set decoded into an image of [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], Soundwave joined Laserbeak in the field to capture the Autobot rookie. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} He was on hand to show the image he'd decoded to Smokescreen. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
[[Image:Titan4.2 Soundwave listen.jpg|thumb|right|200px| You look different, Soundwave. Did you do something different with your entire face?]]
During the war, Soundwave took part in a mission led by Megatron to invade [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and destroy the [[Iacon Energon Refinery]]. The team had barely made it in before Soundwave detected that they'd been spotted and the five Decepticons had to take cover. Following a failed gambit which expended the other three team members, Megatron gave Soundwave a bomb. While his leader caused a distraction, Soundwave ran to plant the bomb, only to be struck by blasts from [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|one of the defenders]]. Megatron picked up his wounded second-in-command and helped him to safety, along with the other three Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.2|War Story}}

Megatron and Soundwave somehow slipped some code into ''[[Invasionauts II]]'' to hypnotise Raf into opening the GroundBridge so they could send Vehicons through. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}}

{{spoiler|Transformers Comic issue 4.12|November 11, 2012}}
When Soundwave's plan to ambush the Autobots in [[The Wave]] went badly, he fired his remote-controlled hand at [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]. The hand lodged in the scout's chest and later emerged when Bumblebee and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] were asleep. Despite trying its best to kill Bumblebee, Soundwave's hand was strapped to a firework and shot high into the air. Starscream and Soundwave later scoured the desert for the missing hand and managed to find at least one finger. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.12|The Evil Shred}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
{{voiceactor|[[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)|[[Claudio Moneta]] (Italian)}}
[[Image:Soundwave WfC GameInformer Concept Art.jpg|300px|Fans loved this but apparently Soundwave wasn't a G1 fan. |thumb|right]]
Soundwave took control of the orbital station [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] was posted at, helping [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] to reach the [[Dark Energon]] by establishing a forward base within the station. He then directed Megatron to a Data Matrix Center in order to find a route to the Dark Energon that had not been blocked by Starscream.

Later, Soundwave notified Megatron that access to the core was impossible, as it was guarded by the Omega Gate. He and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] accompanied Megatron as they led the assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], through which they would find and take the [[Omega Key]], opening the Omega Gate and allowing the core to be infused with Dark Energon. On their way to the [[Stellar Galleries]], Soundwave reported [[sniper (WFC)|sniper]]s, and after taking them down, Megatron infused the entrance with Dark Energon and took his team into the security station. Soundwave noticed that the batteries fed the security grid, and the trio infused each of them with Dark Energon, deactivating the security measures. Soundwave then detected the Omega Key behind their next door, and after opening it, the Decepticons arrived at the Stellar Galleries. They opened the container, finding not the key, but a message from [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]], who announced that he had taken the Omega Key, anticipating Megatron's plan. Zeta sent Autobot attack forces against them, but they were swiftly taken down. Megatron ordered Soundwave to trace Zeta Prime's broadcast, and Soundwave found it came from 12.7 cycles ahead. He then noted a weak wall, and the Decepticons broke it down and entered the cities' subsystems, providing a direct route to Zeta, and the Omega Key.

The group descended down a shaft and went through a tunnel, avoiding trains on the way, and after breaking down a door in a ventilation area, they were ambushed by Autobot cloakers. Soundwave dispatched them and infused Dark Energon into the batteries. Megatron congratulated him, and then ordered him to unlock the exit. Soundwave obliged, and the trio found themselves in another tunnel. Breakdown challenged Soundwave to a race, to which the Decepticon responded, in his trademark monotone, "Negative." Tough crowd. Rushing through the tunnel, this time full of moving trains, the group came to a station where they infiltrated Iacon's lower levels. Soundwave detected the Omega Key at last, and suggested proceeding through the logistics station. Roughing it through the Autobot attackers, Soundwave finally determined that the key was beyond the train tunnels.

Soundwave and his teammates arrived at Iacon's main streets, where they met up with [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] outside of Zeta Prime's vaults, which were impervious to the small amount of Dark Energon Megatron was capable of channeling. After Megatron's squad helped Brawl clear the area, Brawl called in the Dark Energon bombers, but they were spectacularly shot down by the planetary guns. Brawl suggested disabling them, and Soundwave assisted in carrying out the plan. Autobots advanced all around, but Soundwave and the others managed to hold them off until the next wave of bombers arrived, clearing the street and destroying the Vault doors. Soundwave joined the others on their way to the entrance, but the squad was intercepted by a [[Destroyer (WFC)|Destroyer]]. Soundwave and Breakdown split from Megatron to flank him, and eventually they rendered him non-functional. Inside the vault, they avoided Zeta's traps and finally reached the Omega Key—but it too was a trap. Zeta then attacked them, using a giant hologram and controlling the chamber to his advantage, dropping the ceiling and sending holographic brutes to attack for him while safe within an impenetrable energy shield. (Even during the battle, Soundwave was impressed by the creation of endless energon clones, to which Breakdown responded, roughly, "NERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD!") Soundwave's dorkiness proved useful in discerning the weakness of Zeta's machines—that the core rapidly overheated after prolonged use, and needed to open up in order to cool, rendering it vulnerable to attack. After the battle, Megatron plucked from Zeta's hand the "key"...which started to blink its lights and chirp. Zeta Prime informed them that the "key" he was actually a device that activated the real key: [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

As the three Decepticons flew away to track Omega, Soundwave noticed that the "key" was coming for them. Omega Supreme attacked, and thrust the Decepticons' star cruiser into a wall. Crash-landing, Megatron had a change of plans; force Omega Supreme to open the Omega Gate. Soundwave noticed a [[Decepticon Drop Ship]] across the bridge, but when the squad went to investigate, Omega Supreme intercepted them. Soundwave reported that his weapons were ineffective; Megatron told his soldiers to destroy the bridge supports, causing Omega Supreme's vast bulk to collapse it. But he transformed to his ship mode, flew back up, and forced the Decepticons to retreat inside. In a frenzy, Breakdown noted that the next door was locked, and Soundwave proposed that Dark Energon could open the door, which it did. Inside, Soundwave picked up a transmission from Starscream, who announced that he would be replacing the "deceased" Megatron as Decepticon leader. Enraged, Megatron threatened Starscream, but Soundwave informed his leader that communication to the surface had been cut off, so Starscream could not hear him.

The trio arrived at the lift, but found it to be locked down. Breaking the locks got the lift back to working condition, but on their way up, Omega Supreme returned and blasted it, forcing the Decepticons down the shaft at breakneck speed. Omega was still out there, so the emergency brakes' destruction was the Decepticons' only hope. At the bottom, they continued their journey to find a way to fight Omega Supreme—Soundwave noted that at the top of the tower were several heavy weapons emplacements which could at least theoretically damage Omega—but Omega Supreme didn't know the meaning of the word quit. (He really doesn't; not much in the processor department.) He grabbed the Decepticons, but Soundwave helped out in shooting Omega Supreme's hand, forcing him relinquishing the three from his grasp. They retreated inside a fortified Autobot position, and in order to prevent detection, Soundwave jammed their signals. Slaying the Autobots inside who dared attempt to counterattack, Soundwave unlocked the exit, which only let in more Autobots. They too, met their demise, but as Soundwave and his comrades escaped, he noticed that the Autobots' security was countering the effects of Dark Energon. Destroying the sentries turned to be a worthwhile solution, but then the Decepticons had to deal with Omega Supreme mining road. Soundwave's sensors indicated the presence of a bridge nearby, and though Breakdown was unsure, Megatron was willing to follow Soundwave's advice. Once again, Omega Supreme continued to stalk them, but Soundwave led his group to an alternate route...a dead end, to be precise, which Megatron was irritated with. Soundwave revealed that breaking a structurally-weak sealed doorway nearby took them to Iacon maintenance tunnels leading straight to the bridge terminal. When they arrived through the power conduits, Soundwave and the others fought through more Autobots and finally activated the bridge.

Racing across the bridge, they barely avoided Omega Supreme's pursuit, and Soundwave located another cargo lift that would transport them straight to the heavy ion turrets. On the lift he picked up several Autobot/Decepticon signals, a sign they were approaching the battle on the surface. Soundwave participated in the slugfest, and his analysis proved that the turrets nearby had enough firepower to legitimately damage Omega Supreme. Then, he showed no mercy using the turrets to breach Omega's armour and finally topple him to the ground below.

Soundwave, Breakdown, and Megatron followed Omega, and at the bottom, they were surprised to see him survive and transform into his mighty robot mode. Soundwave noted that energon batteries produced from within Cybertron were the source of Omega's limitless endurance, and further advised the team on battling Omega; avoiding his tractor beams would allow them to live, and his turrets were vulnerable, making them the prime target. When the turrets were blown, Soundwave saw that the batteries were being used to repair them, and so it became an objective to corrupt them with Dark Energon. When Omega Supreme used the batteries to heal himself, he was instead weakened, allowing the Decepticons to critically injure him. Omega Supreme was still alive even after all of that, but much weaker. Soundwave observed that his chest plating had been damaged, and Megatron ordered Soundwave and Breakdown to blast it, and Omega Supreme fell at last. Soundwave advised Megatron that now would be a good time to corrupt Omega with Dark Energon, but Megatron told Captain Obvious to shut up and did as he would have done even if Soundwave hadn't brought it up, laughing all the way.

After Cybertron's Core had been infected with Dark Energon, Soundwave was reassigned as head of [[Kaon]]'s prison, and watched over (i.e., tortured) Zeta Prime in his spare time. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] and [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] led an Autobot breakout and battled Soundwave's minions [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]], [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] and [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]]. Soundwave himself sustained heavy damage leaving the safety of his position to revive and retrieve each Minicon, showing uncharaceristic concern for other living beings. Eventually, defeated and critically damaged, Soundwave desperately attempted to restore himself by absorbing life force from Zeta's very own spark. His attempt to fully heal was halted by Optimus, who even took a shot from the Decepticon intended to finish off Prime. Although Soundwave and his minions fled, the damage had already been done and Zeta Prime expired moments later. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)
Soundwave hacked into the Autobot mainframe and, while Megatron and some other Decepticons kept the Autobots distracted, downloaded intel indicating the location of the Trypticon space station. As they approached the station in Megatron's ship, Soundwave reported that the inhabitants were taking up defensive positions and docking would not be possible. Though Megatron was confident they could ram the station, Soundwave turned out to be right, and they could only get close enough to drop a small team off on the debris surrounding the station. When the station was conquered and Dark Energon in Megatron's hands, Soundwave suggested it might be a good idea to test the stuff prior to use. It turned out to be unstable, and he warned it could result in destruction of its host. The Decepticons set up Kaon Prison as a testing ground and, after eleven failures, established that the Dark Energon could be used. When Barricade asked what happened to the failures, Soundwave would only say that their remains laid in the prison and creepily ask Barricade to get in the chair so he too could be infused with Dark Energon.

Trypticon station required more power, so the Decepticons sent a team to Cybertron's core to reactivate the Energon Bridge. Soundwave did not anticipate the activation of latent defense systems, triggered by the Decepticon presence, because he hadn't studied the same ancient files as Starscream. Megatron ordered Soundwave to give Starscream whatever he needed, and they succeeded in activating the bridge. Soundwave reported that they were only at 37% power — the Autobots had severed the bridge's link to the core using the Omega Key. Lazerbeak intercepted an Autobot transmission indicating that Zeta Prime was hiding the Omega Key, and Megatron ordered Soundwave to assemble a strike force to obtain it. They managed to find and defeat the Autobot leader, but the Omega Key he had was only the key to awaken the real key — Omega Supreme. Once the Decepticons fought their way through the Autobot defenses, Soundwave reported they had reached Omega Supreme himself. The Decepticons defeated the giant, reestablished the link to the core and infused it with Dark Energon. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
{{voiceactor|[[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]] (English)|[[Claudio Moneta]] (Italian)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

===Transformers: Fall of Cybertron===
Soundwave was present when Optimus was brought to Megatron by Starscream and [[Onslaught (WFC)|Onslaught]]. He watched as [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]]''' pulverised''' Megatron. He was the only one who hesitated in following Starscream. He secretly salvaged and with the help of Laserbeak, Rumble and an [[E.D.K. TechVolt]], rebuilt his glorious leader, improving on his original design. He infused Megatron with Dark Energon, and pointed his leader in the direction of Starscream. He took part in the assault on the factory the Autobots had built in the crater where Trypticon crashed, and once Megatron had rebuilt the giant Decepticon, came to power up Trypticon's power core. On Megatron's orders, Soundwave rebuilt Trypticon into the ''Nemesis'', a ship strong enough to make it towards [[Earth|the planet]] [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] had chosen. When the Autobots launched the Ark, the ''Nemesis'' soon caught up, and Soundwave spearheaded the assault on the other ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron}}

===''Terrorcon Defense''===
[[Image:SoundwaveTerrorconDefense.jpg|300px|thumb|As awesome as he looks here, he's probably waltzing off after Bumblebee blasted him ''again''.]]
Soundwave attempts to retrieve Dark Energon from a mining area but despite his army of Vehicons and Terrorcons, Bumblebee manages to stop him. {{storylink|Transformers Prime: Terrorcon Defense}}
{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game ===
[[Image:TransformersPrimeTheGame Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Wait, I thought Daft Punk had two guys in it.]]
{{comingsoon|when=October 30, 2012}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[Image:WFC Gamestop Commercial.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The toy can do this if you try hard enough.]]
[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] arrived to a location where [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], and Soundwave were battling Autobots. Megatron left, leaving Shockwave in charge. Shockwave ordered Soundwave to [[Transformation|Transform]]. Soundwave changed into Cybertronian boombox mode and played [[The Touch]]. {{storylink|Commercial#War for Cybertron|GameSpot's commercial for their Shockwave multiplayer exclusive}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-CybertronianSoundwave.jpg|thumb|300px|No [[Soundwave (Animated)|giant guitar]] this time!]]
*'''Cybertronian Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2010)
:*''Accessories:'' two "weapons"

: Part of the third wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)#Toys|War for Cybertron]]'' Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronian SUV-type vehicle as seen in [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|the video game]]. He comes with his classic shoulder launcher and rifle, both of which can store inside his opening chest, (approximating the visual of cassette spools) and can also attach to either side of the vehicle mode. Soundwave's head features a [[light-piping]] gimmick, but the effect is largely neutered by his painted visor.

: This toy was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as [[Soundwave (G1)#Generations|''Generation 1'' Soundwave]] in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' comics.

: This mold was [[repaint]]ed into ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#United|Soundwave Cybertron Mode]].

{{-}}
{{anchor|GenerationsVoyager}}
[[Image:Generations-SoundwaveVoyager.jpg|thumb|300px|No [[Optimus Prime (G1)|prisoners]], only [[Ion blaster|trophies]].]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Voyager, 2012/13)
:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG13'''
:*''Accessories:'' Laserbeak/Data disk, shoulder cannon, blaster

: Part of the first wave of [[2012]] Voyager Class ''Generations'' toys, Soundwave is a larger mold, transforms into his ''War for Cybertron'' SUV-style vehicle mode, and comes with a blaster and shoulder cannon. He also comes with [[Laserbeak (Prime)#Generations|Laserbeak]], who transforms into a disk that stores in Soundwave's chest compartment. Other Mini-Cons, sold separately, are also designed to be stored inside him.

: Soundwave was [[retool]]ed into ''Generations'' [[Blaster (FOC)|Blaster]].

{{comingsoontoy}}

{{-}}{{anchor|GenerationsSoundblaster}}
*'''Soundblaster''' (Voyager, 2013)
:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG14'''
:*''Accessories:'' Buzzsaw/Data disk, shoulder cannon, blaster

: Soundblaster is a black and red [[redeco]] of Voyager Class Soundwave, as is the trend with [[Soundblaster (disambiguation)|Soundblasters]]. He comes with [[Buzzsaw (FOC)#Generations|Buzzsaw]], a redeco of Laserbeak.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

===Prime===
{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[Image:Primetoy-SoundwaveDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Toy doesn't talk, just like in the tv show!]]
[[Image:TakaraTomyPrimetoy-AMSoundwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Ooh, does this mean I'm [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] now?]]
*'''Soundwave''' (Deluxe, 2012)
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[April 28]], 2012'''
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 004'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''AM-09'''
**''Accessories'': [[Laserbeak (Prime)#Prime|Laserbeak]], [[Zori#Prime|Zori]] Arms Micron (TakaraTomy only)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Robots in Disguise (2012)|Prime: Robots in Disguise]]'' toys, Soundwave transforms from a UAV not unlike the [[Wikipedia:General_Atomics_MQ-9_Reaper|Predator B drone]] into an angular batlike robot mode. His transformation includes a spring-loaded head that deploys automatically when his tail and thrust bottle are folded up. His vehicle mode has a [[5mm post|5mm port]] on the top of its fuselage; the robot also has 5mm sockets passing entirely through his palms. Any of these holes can mount the included Laserbeak, or he can store inside Soundwave's chest in either mode.

: In wave six of the ''Prime'' toyline, Soundwave was put into new packaging, which came with a DVD featuring the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)| Prime]]'' episode "[[Loose Cannons]]".

: The [[TakaraTomy]] release of Soundwave has considerable differences from the [[Hasbro]] version. He comes with his own [[Arms Micron]], Zori, and cannons with 5mm ports and posts have been added to his wings (on his shoulders in robot mode) in order to accommodate said gimmick. Many of the Hasbro [[paint operation]]s have also been removed and replaced with numerous, small, customer-applied [[sticker]]s, including ones for his tiny sculpted kneecaps, which are practically guaranteed to peel off at the sides. In addition, the [[instructions]] for applying the stickers unfortunately contain an error, with the placement of stickers 14 and 15 being swapped around.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/Soundwave/soundwave.htm Hasbro Soundwave at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1501.html Arms Micron Soundwave gallery at Alfes's blog]''

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
*'''Soundwave & Ravage''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Accessories'': [[Ravage (Prime)#Beast Hunters|Ravage]], Thunder Talon
: ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime: Beast Hunters]]'' Soundwave is a redeco and extensive [[retool]] of the ''Robots in Disguise'' Soundwave mold.

{{comingsoontoy}}

==Notes==
[[Image:TfprimeSoundwavePredator.jpg|thumb|But can he replay footage of "[[Operation: Firestorm]]"?]]
[[Image:VectorSigmaBotBuilderSoundwave.jpg|thumb|Soundwave Desert Version.]]
* Soundwave transforms into a Cybertronian car during gameplay of ''War for Cybertron'', and his toy does the same, having only one alternate mode. However, in a ''War for Cybertron'' cutscene, the Gamestop commercial for Shockwave, and the end credits for ''War for Cybertron'', he is additionally shown to transform into a Cybertronian boombox, which the toy can technically do with some fiddling.
* Despite his toy and concept art appearance, Soundwave has a [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Generation 1|yellow]] visor in the War for Cybertron game. This was changed to red for the Fall of Cybertron sequel (perhaps displaying, in-universe, his furthered dedication to the Decepticon cause?).
* According to the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] biography, Soundwave [[Perceptor (Animated)|deleted his emotions to process information more quickly]], and is susceptible to [[Cyber Missions 1|too many sonic booms]].
* [[Duane Capizzi]] said Soundwave can speak, but just chooses not to. The decision was to contrast Soundwave with the overly talkative Starscream,<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/bonus-q--a-with-transformers-prime-creators---answered-171430/ TFW2005 Q&A January 2011]</ref> and at [[BotCon 2011]], the staff compared Soundwave to [[Boba Fett]]. Instead, he records what he overhears and replays it with a mechanical echo that is very similar to the echo of his G1 counterpart. Sorry, [[Frank Welker| Frank]], only [[Megatron (Prime)|one character]] for now...
* Soundwave's prehensile tentacles are reminiscent of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|another Soundwave]], although they are significantly less naughty.
* Soundwave's body parts are available to use in the Hub website's [[Vector Sigma Bot Builder]] online game. Normally, you cannot configure a generic 'bot using all Soundwave parts, but you can see what one would look like at right through the magic of Photoshop.

===Arms Up Modes===
In the Japanese ''Prime'' toyline, Soundwave has named powered-up modes when given various [[Arms Micron]]s in certain configurations:

*'''Night Attack Mode''' (ナイトアタックモード ''naitoatakkumōdo'')
**''Arms Microns'': Balo, Jida, Zori
: In this mode, shown on his box-back photo, Soundwave uses the two-Micron weapon [[Spike Hammer Rod]], while [[Jida]] in "Defense Shield" mode hangs on his left shoulder. What exactly makes all this ideal for nighttime attacks is anyone's guess.

*'''Jet Mode'''
**''Arms Microns'': Gora (x2), Zori
: Meant simply for flying in fast and blowing crap up, this ''HEAVILY'' modified version of Soundwave requires... some real work. Because of all the recycled non-''Transformers'' parts in this mode, TakaraTomy designer [[Takashi Nakase]] has nicknamed this version "Recycle Mode". Two jet thruster/fuel tanks are created using bottles from a Japanese "common yogurt drink" and a pair of [[Gora]]s painted up silver, with snipped Arms Micron sprues added on for detail. Soundwave also carries a large weapon made from Zori, a plastic fork, and more sprues. Yes, a plastic fork. You read that correctly.
: There is also a vehicle mode configuration for this Arms Up Mode, with the massive turbines on the end of Soundwave's wings and the weapon on top of the main body. The whole schebang can be seen [http://youtu.be/QJUMhgggH-Q in this TakaraTomy developer video on YouTube].

===Foreign names===
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (Бархан, "Dune")

==References==

<references/>

[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Prime Decepticons]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Decepticons]]
[[Category:Prime the Game Decepticons]]

Loose Ends, Part 3

2012-10-20T23:51:47Z

SuzyP: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' #83
|prev=Loose Ends, Part 2
|next=Loose Ends, Part 4
|title="Loose Ends" Part 3
|image=RG183 cvrA.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 5]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letterer=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The Wreckers join up with some old allies on Earth, while Optimus Prime and Bludgeon gather their forces.'''

==Synopsis==

In the [[Mojave Desert]] on [[Earth]], the cybernetic [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] attacks and fells [[Rack'n'Ruin|Rack 'n' Ruin]], and then turns on [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]. The [[Jumpstarter]] recognizes the human as former [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] Spike Witwicky, and keeps him talking long enough for the other [[Wrecker]]s to surround him. Topspin proposes an alliance, and Spike's friend [[Gordon Kent]] encourages him to agree. Spike leads the assembled group through the Argus mountains, angrily explaining how the current state of Earth is the Autobots' fault for leaving the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] behind on Earth. He and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] were initially able to protect it, but when a group of humans were able to penetrate the ship in 1994, Megatron was reactivated and began laying waste to the Earth. Humanity resorted to nuclear tactics, but Megatron was able to hack the missiles and use them to destroy major human population centers, after which he revived the various dead Transformers that had been kept in the Ark as a zombie army to eradicate what resistance remained. [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] wonders where Megatron got the tech and know-how to accomplish these many feats, but Spike has no answer, and at this stage, does not particularly care. Presently, the group arrive at [[Argus Base]], former headquarters of an ultra-secret government combat group which the rebels have taken as their own. Here, Spike introduces the Autobots to the man behind their organization, and the creator of Argus Base's tech: their old ally, [[G.B. Blackrock]]!

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] gives [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] a talk on making decisions and living with their consequences, admitting that he is probably trying too hard to cling to the current peace. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] then arrive with evidence that [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has gone to Earth, and two transmissions they have consequently picked up from the planet after turning their attention to it: the distress call sent by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], and a message that has been repeating for years, from [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], demanding Prime's presence. There can be no hesitating now—Prime orders the Autobots to Earth.

In Argus Base, Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] attend a meeting with Spike, Blackrock and Kent via remote hologram projection to co-ordinate a strike against the Ark in order to take out Megatron's power base. Spike explains his transformation into Circuit Smasher: Fortress Maximus died in the conflict with Megatron, leaving Spike's mind and nervous system shut down, but his body alive. Reminded of a [[Circuit Breaker|former employee]] with a similar condition, Blackrock used a cybernetic process she had developed to revive Spike. As the discussion continues, a message arrives from Megatron in [[Washington, D.C.]], demanding the Wreckers leave the planet or be hunted down. Before leaving, however, they must collect Kup, in Megatron's clutches and infected with [[Scraplet]]s—an obvious trap, but one that means Megatron's attention will be focused away from the Ark, giving Springer an idea...

As an Autobot battle unit boards a shuttle bound for Earth, Optimus Prime instructs Hot Rod to stay behind, sensing in him a greatness that must be protected. Prime and Magnus are the last to board, and as the ship leaves, Hot Rod turns to go, and bumps into [[Dirtbag]]. Excusing himself, the young Autobot leaves... and Dirtbag radios [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] that the Autobots have left. In turn, Soundwave makes contact with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], whose forces are busy razing the planet [[Torkulon]], informing him that Cybertron is now under-protected... and the opportunity to rescue the remains of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] has arisen!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (2)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (3)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin|Rack 'n' Ruin]] (4)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (5)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (6)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (7)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (8)
*[[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (12)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*''[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'' (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]? (22)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]? (23)
*? (24)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]? (25)
*? (26)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]? (27)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*''[[Hun-Gurrr]]'' (15)
*''[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'' (16)
*''[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'' (17)
*[[Dirtbag]] (28)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (29)
*[[Weirdwolf]] (30)
*[[Stranglehold]] (31)
*[[Skullcruncher]] (32)
*[[Squeezeplay]] (33)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (34)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (35)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] (1)
*[[Gordon Kent]] (9)
*''[[Circuit Breaker]]'' (18)
*[[G.B. Blackrock]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
*The idea of Megatron taking the nuclear weapons fired by the world and using it against them is eerily similar to Galvatron's plan in the classic story "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]". Also, that idea, combined with machines seeking out the remaining human resistance, is very similar to the ''Terminator'' franchise, which Furman has also written for.
*Unnamed and not drawn in detail for fear of legal terrors, Circuit Breaker can be spotted flying into battle alongside Fortress Maximus on page 9.
*The former owners of Argus Base were an "ultra-secret" cover team who "went up against your lot [Transformers] way back when". While not explicitly named, this and the large eagle-head sigil on the conference desk seems to implicitly identify the team as [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], who gained a similar avian symbol with [[2009]]'s ''Rise of Cobra'' series and did indeed fight the Transformers during Marvel's run. (It's unlikely to be [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] as they were a public team)
*On a similar note, while they go unnamed, the yellow costumes and implicit motivation of the group who inadvertently revive Megatron bear a distinct resemblance to the Marvel Comics terrorist group AIM (arch-enemies of [[Nicholas Fury|Nick Fury]] and [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], who appeared in [[Prisoner of War!|issue 3]] of the Marvel ''Transformers'' (US) series). But this might just be coincidence; the characters are just wearing yellow hazmat suits, complete with backpacks and hazard markings, rather than the distinctive "beekeeper" AIM outfits.
*The robotic battlesuits lined up in Argus Base are based on [[Buster's battlesuit]] from the Marvel UK story, "[[Robot Buster!]]".
*The Ark's computer is referred to with its original name, [[Aunty|Auntie]], for the first time in Marvel US continuity since its [[The Transformers (issue)|very first issue]]. It was otherwise only referred to by this name in the UK continuity's stories "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]" and "[[In the Beginning...]]".
*The planet [[Torkulon]] originated with the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]", but, aside from having vaguely spidery-looking native lifeforms that have something to do with brains, this depiction of the world seems to owe virtually nothing to its cartoon predecessor.
*The term "[[Scramble City (disambiguation)|Scramble City]]" has been used for a bunch of things in its time, but with this issue, it is the first use as the name of a city on Cybertron.
*Bludgeon's forces appear to be travelling aboard the [[Warworld]], just as in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]''.

===Errors===
*On page 2 Circuit Smasher tells Topspin that badge he's sporting counts for nothing no more. Neither he or Rack'n'Ruin are drawn with Autobot symbols. It is also a double negative.
*The Decepticon zombies are all [[Underbase Saga]] casualties who were salvaged from the Ark. However, the Saga ended with both factions claiming they would be collecting their own fallen.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Circuit Smasher zaps the Wreckers, by Andrew Wildman and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''Cover B:''' The Ex-Bots (featuring [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]) loom over Kup, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Zombie Starscream, Razorclaw and Blitzwing stomp through Washington, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
<gallery>
Image:RG183 cvrA.jpg|
Image:RG1 83 cvrB.jpg|
Image:RG1 83 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' #84
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #9
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation — Hive''
*''Rocketeer: Cargo of the Doom''
*''Robots in Disguise'' Annual
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic (back cover)

[[Category:Regeneration One issues]]

Patch (episode)

2012-10-20T23:31:47Z

SuzyP: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig2|the episode from ''Prime''|the dog from Generation 1|Patch (dog)}}

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 50
|prev=Inside Job
|next=Regeneration (Prime)
|image=PatchMegatronStarscream.JPG
|caption=Because we've never seen this before.
|title="Patch"
|airdate=[[October 19]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Starscream proposes a truce with Megatron, but the Decepticon leader remains suspicious.'''

==Synopsis==
Atop the Decepticon warship, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] asks [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] what he seeks in return for the [[Omega Keys]], his answer being that he wishes to once more become a [[Decepticon]]. While Megatron points out that [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] is now his second-in-command, Starscream insists he will keep to his place. Skeptical, Megatron has [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] extracted from the wall so that he can connect Megatron and Starscream with a [[cortical psychic patch]]. [[Image:PatchKnockOut.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Don't get so cocky, Knock Out.]]

By rummaging through Starscream's memories, Megatron intends to find what really drives him, and first reviews the events surrounding the [[space bridge]] explosion. Knock Out monitors the mental images with interest... especially when he sees Starscream does a victory jig. Megatron watches various instances of Starscream insisting on his leadership: the time he made a bunch of clones to assassinate Megatron; and when he tried to make a deal with Airachnid to terminate Megatron. Starscream claims he was half-crazed with energon deficiency at the time, but Megatron is unconvinced. Starscream insists he always had Megatron's best interests at heart, like removing the [[Dark Energon]] from his body so his mind did not become corrupted by it. Replaying Starscream's monologue during the time when Megatron was trapped underground, Megatron suggests Starscream refrain from thinking out loud in the future. He also drops the hint that if Starscream fails to be convincing, it'll likely end in Starscream's termination.

Starscream claims being beaten is enough to bring him back into line and tries to play up his own generosity by recalling the time when he provided Megatron with [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'s corpse for experimentation, and his use of his wits in dealing with the Autobots. Megatron points out his wits are usually insufficient to compensate for his arrogance: when he faced [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] while charged up on Dark Energon; or when he tried to use the [[Energon Harvester]] on [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. The revelation that [[MECH]] took Starscream's [[transformation cog|T-Cog]] greatly amuses Megatron, though Starscream is hoping that that might be restored to him in exchange for the Omega Keys—after all, he usually transforms with such style. He points out that at the time he deserted the Decepticon cause, he was not being made to feel particularly welcome there, despite apparently learning his place. Megatron does not believe Starscream's change of heart at the time would have lasted, and replays a discussion between Starscream and Knock Out while Megatron was lying in a coma in the sick bay. In the real world, Knock Out starts to realize that Starscream's memories are going to be equally incriminating to himself. Panicking, he comes up with a plan to disconnect the patch, trapping Megatron in Starscream's mind.

[[Image:PatchKnockOutDreadwing.jpg|thumb|right|250px|That awkward moment when you find out that your thought-to-be-dead twin brother is a zombie.]]
As Knock Out goes to unplug Megatron, Dreadwing stops him and he is forced to make up an excuse. Megatron's psychic interrogation of Starscream continues, and while Starscream claims that not even Dreadwing may have been a "perfect" replacement as his second-in-command, Megatron points out at least Dreadwing and his departed brother [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] were loyal. Starscream's memories of Skyquake's death and revival through Dark Energon are replayed, and he recalls how Skyquake was left in an undead state in some dimensional nether-realm. This revelation comes as a shock to Dreadwing, who is still watching in the lab. Megatron announces that Starscream will be allowed to rejoin the Decepticon forces proper, as they ''must'' be working as one unit if Cybertron is to be properly restored, a fact also addressed to the watching Knock Out. Knock Out realizes that Dreadwing is no longer standing behind him. Dreadwing stands on the outer hull of the ''Nemesis'' and aims a scream of rage at the sky.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* ''[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'' (6)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]'' (12)
* ''[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]'' (13)
* ''[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'' (14)
* ''[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'' (15)
* ''[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]]''
|c2=
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
* [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (3)
* [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (4)
* ''[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]'' (5)
* ''[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]]'' (7)
* ''[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'' (8)
* ''[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clone]]s'' (9)
* ''[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]'' (10)
* ''[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]'' (11)
* ''[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]'' (17)
|c3=
* ''[[Silas]]'' (16)

}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>''Only appeared in flashback.''

==Quotes==
"Few things of value come without a price."
:—'''Megatron'''

"This is going to be juicy."
:—'''Knock Out''' will regret that prediction.

"A word of advice? Stop thinking aloud."
:—'''Megatron''' reckons Starscream talks too much.

"Uh oh...Does this thing have a fast forward button, or better yet erase?"
:—'''Knock Out''' really hoped Megatron didn't see that.

"Ah, I do transform with an exceptional sense of style... I said that out loud, didn't I?"
:—'''Starscream'''

"Awkward."
:—'''Knock Out''' aptly summarizes the general atmosphere of the episode.

"Megatron sure knows how to 'patch' things up, eh, Dreadwi-" 
''Knock Out turns around to see that Dreadwing has disappeared.'' 
"Dreadwing?"
:—'''Knock Out''' name drops the title of the episode before realizing that Dreadwing has already left.

==Notes==

===Animation and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
* Starscream was not present when Skyquake was trapped in an alternate dimension in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]", nor was that fact ever made clear to him or any other Decepticon. While it is obvious that Skyquake lost his arm (since it attacked Starscream), Starscream shouldn't have such precise knowledge of his fate (unless he read the script or something).

===Continuity notes===
* This is the first truly Decepticon-focused episode, with no Autobots appearing outside of flashbacks.
* This is also a clip show focusing on Starscream, so virtually every Starscream-relevant episode is revisited.
* Dreadwing learns of Starscream's attempt to revive Skyquake as a zombie minion in "Shadowzone", as well as his imprisonment in an alternate dimension at the end of that episode.
* Megatron tells Dreadwing to free Knock Out from the wall of the ''Nemesis'', which occurred in the [[Inside Job|previous episode]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
*When the Vehicons are hailing Starscream, he does a hilarious dance routine, with his final move being an impression of John Travolta in ''Saturday Night Fever''.

===Trivia===
* This is the second [[clip show|clip episode]], the first being "[[Grill]]". Interestingly enough, in both episodes only four characters appear outside of flashbacks.
* This is the first episode to feature humans after three episodes which didn't, albeit only in flashbacks. This is also the first episode to not feature any Autobots outside of flashbacks.
* Megatron's mental projection has his original arm, not the Prime arm, just like in the [[Inside Job|previous episode]].
* For being clever enough to engineer a plan to successfully steal all four Omega Keys, Starscream didn't really think through his plan to regain Megatron's favor. He went in with no insurance policy to make sure Megatron didn't just simply scrap him and take the keys instead.
* So, uh... how did they get Knock Out out of the wall?
* Starscream's got sweet dance moves!

[[Category:Prime episodes]]
[[Category:Clip shows]]

Primal (Cybertron)

2012-10-12T04:36:07Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Primal}}
{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=21
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=22
|title="Primal"
|japanese=ローリ魔獣の星へ
|romaji=Lori Majū no Hoshi e
|translation=Lori Goes to the Planet of Demon Beasts
|image=Cyb_ep21_punch_out.jpg
|caption="ROCKY III FREEZE-FRAME ENDING!"
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Manabu Ishikawa]]
|director=[[Masashi Nagao]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[June 4]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 17]], 2005 (2005)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron is determined to stop Optimus Prime and Scourge's duel, but the leader of Jungle Planet will not be denied!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Cyb_ep21_scourge_training.jpg|left|thumb|220px]]

On [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]], [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] undergoes rigorous training in preparation for his battle with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. Chained between two pillars, he fights off attacks from [[Brimstone (Cybertron)|Brimstone]] and [[Undermine (Cybertron)|Undermine]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] watches with disparaging silence. [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] discuss the possibility of Scourge losing, and the fate of the Jungle Planet's [[Cyber Planet Key]]...

Optimus Prime himself, meanwhile, has returned to [[Earth]] to get a tune-up from [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] before his duel with Scourge commences. He invites [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] to accompany him, hoping that two planet leaders together will be able to convince Scourge of their mission's importance, at which point [[Lori]] pushes [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] forward to argue the case for one of the kids going with them as a representative of Earth. Of course, she's the one who wants to go, and Override seconds the proposal, despite [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]]'s distressed protestations. The other Autobots pipe up, recalling how helpful Coby was on [[Velocitron]], and Optimus agrees, entrusting Lori's safety to Override. Coby gives Lori his safety helmet as a good luck charm.

[[Image:Cyb_ep21_net_trap.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Big-game hunting, Decepticon-style.]]

The Autobot team departs for Jungle Planet, and they are soon trekking through the wilderness on their way to Scourge's temple. Suddenly, the Autobots are attacked by Starscream, [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], who have been secretly dispatched by Megatron to delay the Autobots, thereby preventing Optimus and Scourge's battle. While [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]], [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]], [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] are caught in a net, Override is circled by the two Veloctronian goons, but manages to get the better of them by accusing them of being terrible racers. Their pride offended, the two twits insist on having a race right there, but as they speed off into the jungle, they fail to notice that Override hasn't left the starting line at all. With the Decepticons' numbers thus halved, the Autobots quickly overpower Starscream and Thundercracker, free their comrades, and carry on their way. Sideways observes the fracas from the jungle, grumbling about the Decepticons' ineptitude.

[[Image:Cyb_ep21_scourge_meets_lori.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Ten bucks says that Undermine is wondering what the fleshling tastes like.]]

The Autobots proceed to Scourge's temple, where they are met with anger for their lateness. Optimus Prime attempts to tell Scourge about the Decepticon attack, but Megatron brushes it off and makes himself scarce before Scourge can inquire too deeply. As it turns out, inquisition is the last thing Scourge cares about, as he adopts a battle stance and is about to begin the promised duel. Before the fight can start, however, Lori steps forward and tries to explain to Scourge that more can be accomplished through working together than by fighting. At first, the Jungle Planet natives are fascinated by the strange little creature before them, but Scourge's bewilderment soon devolves into fury when he interprets Lori's pleas as an insult against his laws and culture. All the Autobots leap to Lori's aid, illustrating her point perfectly, but Scourge is unmoved and insists that the duel begin. However, he does allow Optimus to choose one other Autobot to aid him (perhaps to prove the futility of teamwork against him).

Immediately, Prime merges with Leobreaker, but in the course of the battle, Scourge is able to damage their combination joint and force them to separate. The two Autobots are not dissuaded by this turn of events and simply combine again, only with Leobreaker as the left arm this time. The two opponents charge at each other full force, and swing their fists at the same time... and Prime's punch wins out, bringing Scourge to his knees.

[[Image:Cyb_ep21_jungle_planet_key.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Cue the "opening large treasure chest" theme from the ''Legend of Zelda'' series.]]

Bested by the Autobot leader, Scourge expects Prime to finish him, but Optimus refuses, and Scourge must accept his decision, since Prime's victory means he is now the planet's ruler. The humbled Scourge takes the Autobots into his temple and transforms the sacred [[Beast Totem]] into Jungle Planet's Cyber Planet Key, which he presents to Optimus Prime. Optimus accepts it, but informs Scourge that he has no desire to be the planet's ruler. Scourge departs, having been given a lot to think about...especially by Lori, who he smiles at and calls his "little sister". Outraged by Scourge's familiarity, Lori rages while the other Autobots just laugh.

In the heart of a nearby volcano, Megatron meets with the other Decepticons, howling in rage over the loss of another Cyber Planet Key to the Autobots. He declares the time for deception over, and for the Decepticons to prepare for a full-scale assault...an order that convinces Starscream it's time to step up ''his'' plan...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Vector Prime]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (13)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (14)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (15)
*[[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] (19)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (20)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (21)

|c2=
*[[Brimstone (Cybertron)|Brimstone]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (5)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (6)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (7)
*[[Undermine (Cybertron)|Undermine]] (8)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Coby Hansen]] (16)
*[[Lori]] (17)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (18)
|c4=
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus...? Um... I was wondering, if Override's going, shouldn't you bring a representative from Earth, too? I mean, if you don't want to, that's cool..." 
"Hey! Someone from Earth should have a say in saving the universe too!" 
"Aw, this is ridiculous! Lori is ''desperate'' to go to Jungle Planet!" 
"Co-''beeeeee''! You weren't supposed to say it like that!" 
:—'''Coby''' doesn't understand the subtle workings of '''Lori''''s mind.

'''Override:''' Hold on a second. Let's talk. 
'''Ransack:''' We got nothin' to talk about, Override! 
'''Crumplezone:''' Unless you...wanna say somethin' nice. 
:—Aw, Crumplezone just wants to be loved!

'''Override:''' "What's more impressive is you were able to get on Megatron's good side even though you're two of the worst racers I've ever seen." 
'''Crumplezone:''' "''That's'' not very nice."
:—Flattered AND burned in one sentence-now that's speed!

"Yes, I think I understand... You're saying that ''our way of life is completely worthless and wrong!"
:—'''Scourge''' is miffed by Lori's speech on the benefits of teamwork.

"Now you see what ''real'' strength is. Take on one of us, then you take on ''all'' of us."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' on the benefits of teamwork.

"Do we still get to pick on people we don't like?" 
"Be quiet..."
:—'''Undermine''' wasn't paying attention to '''Scourge's''' epiphany.

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*As Override and Lori drive through the wilds of Jungle Planet, ''Galaxy Force'' has them marvel at the natural beauty around them. ''Cybertron'' repurposes the exchange to be about the new sisterly relationship that is forming between the two characters. While the relationship does exist in ''Galaxy Force'', it does not reach the level that it does in ''Cybertron'', where Override's switched gender allowed the characters to be even closer, referring to each other as "big sister" and "little sister", rather than "little miss" or "lady", as Override calls Lori in ''Galaxy Force''. The "sister" aspect of their relationship in ''Cybertron'' is also extended to encompass Scourge, who emulates Override by also calling Lori his "little sister".
*It's supposed to be a one-on-one duel between Scourge and Optimus Prime, right? That's why ''Cybertron'' has to add in an extra line from Scourge boasting about his magnanimity in allowing Prime the aid of Leobreaker, cause it don't make much sense in ''Galaxy Force''!

===Animation or technical errors===
[[Image:Cyb ep21 scale issues.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
*Leobreaker and Snarl appear consistently ''very'' [[scale|small]] in beast mode, especially when compared to robot-mode Thundercracker.
*When Sideways peeps out from the depths of the jungle, he towers over the trees, appearing gargantuan.
*After his defeat, the purple bruising on Scourge's right eye changes size and shape frequently during the remaining scenes.
{{-}}

===Continuity and plotting errors===
[[Image:Cyb_ep21_shiner.jpg|right|thumb]]
* Scourge gets a black eye. How does a robot get a black eye?
* Although not technically an error, the final scene of the Decepticons inside the volcano can be confusing. The volcanic pit looks virtually identical to Megatron's [[Fire dimension]], and Mudflap (who hasn't been seen on Jungle Planet before) is present. A casual viewer could be confused into thinking the Decepticons' fiery base of operations was ''always'' in a volcano on Jungle Planet.

===Real-world references===
*Ransack informs Crumplezone that "this is another fine mess you've gotten us into," dropping the famous catchphrase of comedian Oliver Hardy, of [[wikipedia: Laurel and Hardy|Laurel and Hardy]] fame.

===Trivia===
*As insufferable as it is to see a large chunk of the Savage Claw Mode combination stock footage repeated within less than a two-minute span, a ''little'' bit of credit does have to go to the animators for not just mirror-flipping the footage: you can tell they didn't because Optimus' cannons are still on the correct sides!
*Also, when Leobreaker transforms to arm configuration again, he does so ''without'' stock footage.
*When the two combine the first time, the main part of Optimus Prime's trailer attaches to his back, and then ''immediately'' detaches to allow Leobreaker to link up. This is because the combination stock footage begins with Optimus in [[Super Mode|super mode]], and presumably would have looked scrappy if the first part of the sequence was simply chopped off.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 06 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Ice

2012-10-12T04:27:17Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig2|the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]] episode|H2O|Water}}
{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=19
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=20
|title="Ice"
|japanese=オーロラの彼方の死闘
|romaji=Aurora no Karata no Shitō
|translation=Deadly Battle at the Edge of the Aurora
|image=Cyb_ep19_suzuki_and_scattorshot.jpg
|caption="OK, now my hand's frozen to your finger."
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Gyō Yamatoya]]
|director=[[Atsushi Nakayama]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[May 21]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 13]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''On a mission to the North Pole, the kids once again encounter Lucy Suzuki and the truth about the Autobots comes out.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Cyb ep19 parkas.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Explain to us the teachings of keeping our hoods on indoors, ''sensei''.]]

The insertion of the [[Velocitron]] [[Cyber Planet Key]] of the [[Omega Lock]] has caused atmospheric disturbances on [[Earth]], centred on the [[Arctic]]. While [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Vector Prime]] and [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] head back to [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]], the rest of the [[Autobot]]s, along with the kids and the [[Mini-Con]]s head to the Arctic to search for the source of the trouble. Partway into the journey, the kids realize they'll need some heavy winter clothes, and stop in a small town to buy some. There, they cross paths with [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Lori]]'s old acquaintance Professor [[Lucy Suzuki]], who buys them some parkas, and then gives them a lift, telling them about her beliefs in the Hollow Earth theory, aliens, and how they may both be connected to the disturbances. [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] does not trust the scientist, but, unfazed by crazy ol' Lucy's bonkers ramblings, Lori asks her what she would do if she met an alien. After a tense moment that everyone feels, Lucy replies that she'd simply welcome the alien to Earth. Convinced of her good intentions, Lori asks if they can accompany her on her investigation, and she agrees.

On Jungle Planet, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] observe the arrival of Optimus Prime and his team through a [[dimension gate]] and dispatch [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] to confront them. The two goons are no match for the power of Savage Claw Mode, however, and are quickly taken out by Optimus Prime and Leobreaker.

[[Image: Cyb_ep19_scattorshotcicle.jpg|right|thumb|220px|He's looking to join the club of [[Jetfire (G1)|frozen]] [[Megatron (Movie)|mechs]].]]

As night falls, Lucy and the kids stop at a natural hot spring, where Lucy complains about her close-minded scientific colleagues and commends Lori for her and the boys' readiness to believe the unreal. Coby remains unconvinced of Lucy's trustworthiness, and when the group reaches their destination the next day, confers with Lori on the possibility of telling Lucy about the Autobots. Lori ignores Coby's warnings, claiming that "women's intuition" tells her she's a good egg, and she spills the whole story to the professor. The scientist's shock is quickly replaced with elation, as she believes every word of their story, and finally understands how all the strange artifacts and truths she has discovered in her research fit in. Thrilled as the group is, their elation is cut short by a literal bolt from the blue, as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] blow up Lucy's humvee and come swooping in to force information on the Autobots' activities out of the kids. [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] comes to their rescue, drawing the Decepticons' attention and disarming Mudflap, but Starscream takes advantage of the environment by tossing a sphere at Scattorshot that explodes and douses him with water. The soaked Autobot suddenly finds his gears freezing solid in the sub-zero temperatures, leaving him wide open to a pummeling from the Decepticons. Luckily forgotten, the humans, with a little help from the Mini-Cons, are able to take control of Mudflap's dropped blaster and point it into the sky, firing it like a flare to draw the other Autobots in. Vastly outnumbered, Starscream calls a retreat.

In the aftermath of the battle, the beaming Lucy Suzuki extends her hand and welcomes Scattorshot to planet Earth. Scattorshot is happy to meet their new human ally, but worries what Jetfire will think!

And, across the galaxy, Optimus Prime's team continues their trek through the wilds of Jungle Planet...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (1)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (2)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (6)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (7)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (8)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Vector Prime]] (10)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (11)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (12)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (13)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (14)
*[[Six-Speed]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (18)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (19)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (20)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (21)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Bud Hansen]] (3)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (4)
*[[Lori]] (5)
*[[Lucy Suzuki]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"Those brats are here somewhere...." 
"But why did you shoot the truck?" 
"They're the kids the Autobots have taken on like mascots." 
"Ohhh, I get it! You thought the truck was an Autobot!" 
"Forget the stupid truck!!" 
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Mudflap''' have different priorities

"Silence, lady! ''STOP BORING ME!''"
:—'''Starscream''' sums up the audience on Suzuki's Hollow Earth theory

"What are we doing to do, Starscream?" 
"I am going to act like a true leader!" 
"What?" 
"I'm going to make a ''tactical retreat''!" 
:—'''Mudflap''' finds out from '''Starscream''' that [[Starscream (G1)|nothing ever really changes]].

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*''Galaxy Force'' includes a "previously on" segment recapping the final moments of the previous episode.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Landmine suspects that the source of the disturbances may be a Cyber Planet Key. In ''Cybertron'', he's just eager to get going.
*''Cybertron'' inserts (pretty awkwardly, all told) a few line or two from Lucy Suzuki about the kids' parents' paying her back for their parkas and giving their permission for them to go with her. This would just appear to be a case of the English dub trying to be "responsible", 'cause in ''Galaxy Force'', she doesn't bring up parents at all. After all, it's really, ''really'' unlikely the kids' parents would be okay with any of this, just as it's unlikely the kids would let Lucy contact them to tell them. Nonetheless, ''Cybertron'' ploughs ahead with this unfeasible scenario, claiming that the parents do indeed say it's okay! ''Riiiight''.
*In the same scene, though, ''Cybertron'' fixes a little error in ''Galaxy Force'', namely: if Lori's got her credit card, why do the kids need Lucy to buy them parkas? To explain this, ''Cybertron'' has Lori remark with disbelief that the store won't take credit.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Suzuki lists off the scientists "Bernard, Symmes and Gardner". ''Cybertron'' replaces Bernard with "Dewey". Hardly earth-shattering, but see "real-life references", below.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Lucy actually doesn't seem to believe as much of the Hollow Earth theory as she appears to in ''Cybertron''. The thing is, in ''Galaxy Force'', she doesn't actually ''explain'' what the connection between the theory and atmospheric disturbances is, so ''Cybertron'' adds a lot of dialogue (wiffle balls, distorting the rotation of Earth, etc) in order to clearly draw the connection, but in the process, makes it seem that Lucy believes a lot more of the theory than ''Galaxy Force'' indicated she did.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Mudflap is asking if the Autobots are around the kids and Starscream says they're not. In ''Cybertron'', the dubbers decide to have fun and have Mudflap flag up that blowing up the truck made ''no sense''.

===Continuity errors===
[[Image:Cyb_ep19_mudflaps_new_guns.jpg|right|thumb|"Lose them, you're paying for them." *loses them* "Slaggit..."]]
*While Lucy may be smart enough to wear a heavy parka while in the frozen wastes of the Arctic, she doesn't think to put on a pair of freakin' slacks to cover her bare legs.
*In one of the show's occasional moments of culture-clash, the Japanese production staff forget that Lori, Coby and Bud, three kids from Colorado who aren't Asian, really shouldn't be ''bowing'' to express their thanks to Lucy.
*Mudflap is carrying two guns (see right) that have never been seen before, purely because the plot demands that he have a weapon he can drop.
*Rather than use his Cyber Key Power, or fire either of the giant honking missiles he's always carting around, or wield the gun that came with his toy, Scattorshot... shoots a bolt of energy [[Transformers: Go-Bots (franchise)|from his wrist]]?

===Transformers references===
*Bud and Lori met Lucy Suzuki back in "[[Race]]".
*In ''Galaxy Force'', Bud refers to Suzuki as a collector of "[[O-Part]]s". He's using the actual real-world archaeological term, rather than making a direct ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' reference, but, eh, close enough!
* Scattorshot drops the famous slogan of the ''Transformers'' brand when he tells Starscream: "You know there's more to me than meets the eye!"

===Real-world references===
[[Image:Cyb ep19 hollow earth.jpg|right|thumb|Makes you wonder if they ever thought whether the Earth would either implode or explode due to a sun in the center.]]

*The [[Wikipedia:Hollow Earth|Hollow Earth theory]] (Lucy's vision of which is pictured at right) is a real classical school of thought. The scientists that Suzuki lists off are all real life individuals associated with the idea: John Cleves Symmes Jr (most famous 19th century proponent of the idea), Martin Gardner (author of the [[1913]] book "A Journey to the Earth's Interior") and Raymond Bernard (author of [[1964]]'s "The Hollow Earth," actually a pseudonym of Dr. Walter Siegmeister). The scientist that ''Cybertron'' adds to the list, "Dewey", does not appear to be a real individual.
* "I think I can, I think I can," Crumplezone chants in vain as he tackles Savage Claw Mode Optimus Prime, the iconic quote from "[[wikipedia: The Little Engine That Could|The Little Engine That Could]]".

===Trivia===
*''Galaxy Force'' debuts its third [[title sequence|opening sequence]] with this episode, at last adding some new original animation to go along with the clips and stock footage that have made up the previous two. New footage includes: the kids sitting in a field; Lori dancing down a city street; Coby working on his bike when Bud jumps on his back, causing him to chase him; and Lori and Coby standing back to back, about to hold hands (the first real hint at the romance which will blossom between the characters later in the series) when Bud jumps into a shot and pulls a Naruto-style jutsu pose that turns everything chibi, at which point the Mini-Cons pop into shot one after the other. Stock footage of Savage Claw Mode is also added.
*For the first time in ''Cybertron'', Jungle Planet is referred to with the alternate name of "Beast Planet". Henceforth, the show will alternate back and forth between using these names right up until the end of the series.
*[[Ryan Hirakida]] returns to voice Bud, having been absent since "Race".

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 05 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Champion

2012-10-12T04:21:20Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=18
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=19
|title="Champion"
|japanese=栄光のプラネットカップ
|romaji=Eikō no Planet Cup
|translation=The Glorious Planet Cup
|image=Cyb ep18 champion.jpg
|caption=Spoilers.
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Kazuhiko Sōma]]
|director=[[Kei'ichirō Kawaguchi]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[May 14]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 12]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''It's Hot Shot and Coby versus Override in the final stage of the race for the Planet Cup!'''

==Synopsis==

[[Image:Cyb_ep18_woohoo.jpg|left|220px|thumb]]

On [[Velocitron]], [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] assemble before the [[Planet Cup]] shrine. All four racers begin to glow as the shrine recognizes them as participants in the final round of the great race, and a new subterranean course is unlocked on which the final race will take place. Hot Shot is excited at tackling the roller-coaster-esque track, but [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] gives him some grave news: injuries he has sustained throughout the course of the race have damaged the circuit pathways that deliver commands to his main engine. He will need a passenger to ride with him for the duration of the race and to constantly make corrections to his system. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], who has recently arrived from [[Earth]], suggests [[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] for the job, but the [[Mini-Con]]'s rotor blades make him too big to fit into Hot Shot's cockpit. Reminded of a time when he lost a moto-cross race in his younger years, and the importance of the lesson he learned on not giving up, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] volunteers for the task, and after clearing it with Override, the Autobots allow it.

[[Image:Cyb_ep18_stealing_the_cup.jpg|right|220px|thumb]]

The last race soon commences, and Override and Hot Shot quickly outstrip their two Decepticon opponents. Crumplezone and Ransack have not been resting on their laurels, however: they have installed several new gimmicks and gadgets into their systems, and begin their trickery by using springs to launch themselves across the raceway, quickly closing the gap between the racers. Hot Shot's speed begins to drop as the group nears a huge vertical loop, but Coby soon fixes the problem with a little prompting from [[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]]. Crumplezone and Ransack reveal their second modification, activating new nitrous boosters to speed them through the loop... except the two goons run out of nitrous at the top of the loop, and fall off the track, knocking themselves right out of the race. Abandoning any pretense of following the rules, the troublemaking pair then try to steal the Planet Cup outright, but they can't get through the forcefield protecting it. Override and Hot Shot break off the race long enough to send the partners in crime packing, but as he and Override laugh at the retreating Decepticons, a sudden twinge of pain shoots through Hot Shot...

[[Image:Cyb ep18 coby cable.jpg|left|220px|thumb]]

The race resumes, with the next obstacle on the course taking the form of dangerous high-speed 90° cornering. As the two Transformers tear up the track, Hot Shot's speed starts to drop once more, and the cause is soon traced to Hot Shot's fried main engine connector, a physical problem that Coby cannot fix through his computer. Risking his own safety by unlatching his harness, Coby opens an access panel in Hot Shot's cockpit and manually rewires his circuits. Holding the key cables together with his bare hands, Coby gives Hot Shot the power boost he needs, and the Autobot racer draws level with Override once again. For the final push, Hot Shot activates his [[Cyber Key]] power, and the two opponents tear through the goal in a photo finish! After a long, tense moment, the photo comes in... and Hot Shot is the winner! Though stunned at her loss, Override congratulates Hot Shot on his victory, and Hot Shot thanks Coby for all his help.

[[Image:Cyb_ep18_megs_cup.jpg|right|thumb|220px]]

With the race complete, the forcefield around the Planet Cup dissolves... at which point, a [[dimension gate]] materializes in the air above the track, and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his Decepticons arrive to steal the trophy! He has been followed, however, by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] and [[Vector Prime]], and a battle breaks out between the two sides as Megatron seizes the Planet Cup. Override and Hot Shot charge Megatron in vehicle mode, throwing him off balance, and Leobreaker and Optimus Prime combine into Savage Claw Mode to exploit this opening and take the Decepticon leader down. The Planet Cup goes flying, but Override nimbly snatches it out of the air. The battle and the prize lost to them, the Decepticons retreat, leaving Hot Shot to be crowned the new champion of Velocitron! After Override hands him the Planet Cup, she informs him that she wishes to join the Autobots and help save the universe. Optimus Prime happily accepts her into his team.

[[Image:Cyb ep18 adding the key.jpg|left|220px|thumb]]

The Autobots all return to their base on Earth, where Override is given the honor of adding the Planet Cup to the [[Omega Lock]]. As Override holds the cup up to the Lock, it dissolves into particles of light before reforming into the first [[Cyber Planet Key]]. Override inserts the key into the Lock, which begins to pulse with energy and fires a beam of light off into the depths of space. The energy wave is felt by Megatron in the [[fire dimension]], by Starscream out in space, and by [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] on [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]]. The Autobots' computers are activated by the wave, as the Omega Lock feeds them co-ordinates to a location somewhere on Earth. But where do these co-ordinates lead...?
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (4)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (5)
*[[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] (6)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (9)
*[[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] (10)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (11)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (12)
*[[Six-Speed]] (13)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (15)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (20)
*[[Vector Prime]] (21)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (2)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (18)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (25)
|c3=
*[[Coby Hansen]] (8)
*[[Robert Hansen]] (14, flashback)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (23)
*[[Lori]] (24)
|c4=
*"[[Buzzsaw (Cybertron)|Not Buzzsaw]]" (1)
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==

"You sure about this?" 
"*pauses hammering* Er.... ''yeah'', of course! Trust me, you're gonna be a sure winner after I give you this super duper tune-up!" 
"It's super ''duper''? Well, why didn't you say so?! Hit me again!"
:—'''Ransack''' and '''Crumplezone'''

''[Optimus strikes Megatron with his Savage Claw attack.]'' 
'''Megatron:''' This isn't over! 
'''Optimus Prime:''' Give it a second! 
''[Boom!]'' 
:—Take ''that'', drawn-out stock footage!

"This'll be great! Of course you'll have to learn to follow orders, Override." 
"Doubt it. I mean, you do just fine, and you never follow orders." 
"But...Hey!"
:—'''Hot Shot''' and '''Red Alert''' discuss Override joining the team.

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*''Galaxy Force'' features a short sequence before its title card that features a narrator summing up recent events, with footage of Red Alert working on Hot Shot.
*When Coby rewires Hot Shot's systems for the big finish, ''Galaxy Force'' starts playing the show's opening song, "[[Call You... Kimi to Boku no Mirai|CALL YOU... Kimi to Boku no Mirai]]". Rather than replace this with its own theme tune, the ''Cybertron'' dub substitutes in another piece of suitably dramatic music from the show's soundtrack.
*As in the previous episode, the Savage Claw Mode stock footage is cut short for ''Cybertron'' by having the final "pose against the insignia" shot removed.
*After Override is welcomed into the Autobots, in ''Cybertron'', Hot Shot says that she will have to learn to follow orders, and Red Alert jokes that Hot Shot gets along fine without doing that. In ''Galaxy Force'', on the other hand, Hot Shot is thinking about installing a race track in the Autobot base, and Red Alert chides him for even thinking about it given his condition, banning him from racing until he is fixed up.
*In ''Galaxy Force'', the Autobot computers are detecting something on Earth that is reacting to the activation of the Omega Lock, while in ''Cybertron'', the location of the object is ''provided'' by the Omega Lock.
*''Cybertron'' adds the customary reference to the [[Omega Frequency]] when Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key is added to the Omega Lock.

===Animation or technical errors===

*When Optimus Prime and Megatron stare each other down after Savage Claw Mode is formed, the Planet Cup has disappeared from Megatron's hands.
*As Megatron and the others escape, the portal closes before Sideways enters it.

===Transformers references===
[[Image:Cyb_ep18_buzzsaw.jpg|right|thumb]]

*In all past installments of the great race, the action has been narrated by a flying blue robot with a camera in his chest. For this final race, the announcer is replaced with a new robot based on the toy of the ''Cybertron'' Decepticon [[Buzzsaw (Cybertron)|Buzzsaw]], who spends the whole episode in his helicopter mode. However, this can't actually be ''the'' Buzzsaw, as other ''Cybertron'' fiction depicts Buzzsaw as being a native Cybertronian off doing other things with other Decepticons in the stories "[[Force of Habit]]" and "[[The Dark Heart of Sandokan]]". Even in Japan, where those stories weren't released, Buzzsaw's toy came with a Decepticon-branded Cybertron-styled Cyber Key, rather than the Velocitronian key that he should have if he was native to that planet. Notably, though, even though the 'bot onscreen changes, the announcer's voice is the same as the old one!

===Trivia===
*Numerous online sources list this episode with the title "Champion'''s'''". It doesn't appear to have ever aired under this title, however.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 05 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Roller (G1)

2012-09-30T02:57:33Z

SuzyP: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{picsneeded|Toys, including color variations of the original toy.}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 drone unit|the Dark of the Moon Autobot|Roller (DOTM)}}
:''Roller is a component of [[Autobot]] leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Roller .jpg|right|350px|thumb|Roller should not look this cool.]]
In robot mode, Optimus Prime splits into three components:

*A sentient robot module, the [[Brain Center]]
*A wheeled drone module known as '''Roller'''.
*A [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]].

Although Optimus Prime can function as three independent modules, injury to any one module is felt by the other two.

Roller is a small, cart-shaped device that Optimus Prime uses to slip unobtrusively behind enemy lines. He can maintain radio control over Roller at distances up to 1200 miles. Having Roller present somewhere is like being there himself.

Roller is a droid, able to function autonomously without Optimus's active oversight. But without Optimus, by far the most important of the three modules, Roller would not survive. Optimus shows great attachment and concern for Roller, who is left particularly vulnerable by the behind-the-scenes situations in which it specializes.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:Roller deploy.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Roller's one tough little Autobot.]]
When [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] were caught by [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], and with the clock ticking on the bomb they planted, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] sent Roller into the mine. When the bomb exploded, Optimus was nearly destroyed, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} but Roller emerged cheekily unscathed, prompting [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] to observe "Roller's one tough little Autobot!" {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

[[Image:Roller outsmart.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Roller exploits a tactical opening.]]

Another of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s schemes involved sabotaging the Autobots' recharging chamber with a personality destabilizer device, turning a good number of them, including Optimus Prime, "evil". When the unaffected Autobots attempted to restore Prime back to normal, he split into his three components. Both Roller and the Combat Deck attempted to take the Autobots out, but [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] was able to nail them both with attitude exchangers and stop their attacks. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

The Autobots were stuck in vehicle mode by the evil [[Transfixatron]]. With [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] in the claws of Megatron's car-crushing machine, only Roller could save the day! Roller led the Decepticons on a merry chase, allowing Optimus to rescue Ironhide from the jaws of undignified death! {{storylink|The Autobot Run}}

{{note|Megatron would later succeed in killing Ironhide in an undignified manner during [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]], when Roller was not around.}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====e-Hobby toy bio=====
Several million years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], when Optimus Prime was a mere transport and delivery worker known as Orion Pax, Roller was an industrial droid known as '''Barrelroller'''.<ref>The name "Barrelroller" only appears in the official English-language translations of Orion Pax's bio on Takara's e-Hobby site. In the Japanese-language version of the bio—both online and on the pack-in bio card from the toy—Barrelroller is called simply "Roller".</ref> He transformed into an electromagnetic lift handle that helped Orion in his warehouse work moving heavy cargo. When Orion was fatally wounded by Megatron and rebuilt by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] as Optimus Prime, Barrelroller was rebuilt into the Roller we all know and love.

=====''Return of Convoy''=====
When Optimus Prime was restored to life as Star Convoy, he was equipped with an upgraded version of Roller known as the '''Tread Unit'''.

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
====Generation 1====
''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] used his Roller unit to command a battle in [[Washington, D.C.]] while actually sneaking away from the action to find [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] swooped in and destroyed Roller, causing Optimus Prime to double over in pain, and ironically saving him from the Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s [[cerebro-shell]].'' {{storylink|Plague of the Insecticons!}}

[[Image:Roller g2.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Roller's extreme phase in the '90s.]]

====Generation 2====
Roller provided covering fire for Optimus Prime and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] as they fled the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian]] army. {{storylink|Total War!}}

{{-}}
===Ladybird continuity===
[[Image:MegatronsFightforPower_Roller.jpg|right|150px|thumb|They see me rollin', they hatin'.]]
[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]'s sally to sneakily sabotage the Solar Station was stymied by a sealed storage-door. Roller to the Rescue! Sent scuttling through the sage, secreted from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s sight, to supply a Cybertronian sonic multi-tool. Roller had saved the day!

''Spike's subsequent sabotage of the solar station and ensuing detonation of the [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] in it could be construed (in some small way) to save the day as well.''
{{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

{{-}}
===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:Escalation5 Roller.jpg|left|150px|thumb|You feelin' lucky, punk?]]
Roller was being considered for an exploring mission, but lost out to [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

Megatron ordered [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to wait for Optimus Prime to come into range before firing on him. Optimus discreetly sent Roller ahead to intercept Blitzwing, and at the last moment, Roller blew him up good. {{storylink|Escalation issue 4}} Unfortunately, the same trick didn't work on Megatron, who buried the poor guy under a pile of rocks. However, this bought Optimus Prime the time to transfer his consciousness to his trailer section. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5}}

{{note|Megatron said he remembered about the existence of Roller, but since he spoke of Prime as a pair, he is possibly unaware of the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]].}}

{{-}}

===''Wings Universe''===
[[Image:BattleLines1-DionOrionAriel.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Bad touch! Bad touch!]]
Nine million years ago, Barrelroller was carried around by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]], who worked at [[storage yard 67]] along with his friends [[Elita One|Ariel]] and [[Dion]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 1}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:Roller g1 toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Many colors: Roller has been released in dark blue (shown), light blue, purple, dark purple, silver, and black.]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (1984)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-01'''

: Roller was included with the original Optimus Prime toy (as well as its many rereleases). Roller is a small, six-wheeled vehicle that is stored in the trailer portion. The seats are scaled to allow Roller to carry [[Diaclone]] figures, due to its use in the prior toyline. The [[trailer]]/[[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] features a spring-loaded device that is capable of launching Roller out of the combat deck. Roller has a hole on top to hold the included oil pump or Optimus's gun. As a result of the original Optimus Prime's production variants (prior to rerelease), Roller was molded in silver plastic (the trailer's exterior color) as well as various shades of blue, indigo and purple (mold colors of the corresponding Optimus's fists/legs/Combat Deck unit).
: As an homage to the silver Roller pictured in the G1 cartoon, some 2000s re-issues of Optimus Prime/Convoy have included Roller molded in that Prime's blue color, only ''painted'' silver. (Only the ''New Year Special'' and 25th Anniversary Rollers have been left blue, and unpainted.)
: JAFCon 2000 Convoy's Roller was black, along with the rest of him.)

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Roller (with Optimus Prime) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
[[Image:Barrelroller g1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The joke "do a barrel roll" has been used so many times now it's lost meaning.]]
* '''Orion Pax''' (2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''67'''

: This Japanese e-Hobby exclusive was a redeco of [[Targetmaster]] [[Recoil]]. As Orion Pax is meant to represent an early version of Optimus Prime, his Targetmaster partner, Barrelroller, is meant to represent an early version of Roller. This is the first version of Roller actually to transform, from robot to an electromagnetic lift handle.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/OrionPax/orionpax.htm More information on Barrelroller (with Orion Pax) at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Return of Convoy===
* '''Star Convoy''' (Powered Master, 1991, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-372'''

: This toy from the ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]'' line included an upgraded Roller named '''Tread Unit''', patterned after a tracked ballistic missile carrier.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1991/Cybertron/StarConvoy/starconvoy.htm More information on Tread Unit (with Star Convoy) at TFU.info]''

===Generation 2===
* '''Optimus Prime''' (1993, 1994)

: A slightly altered version of the original Generation 1 Optimus Prime, it included Roller.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1993/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on ''Generation 2'' Roller (with Optimus Prime) at TFU.info]''

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
* '''G1 Convoy Trailer''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''GTF-01B (trailer)'''

: The Combat Deck was available separately as a shortpacked figure. Included was a tiiiiny Roller. Awww!

: In wave 2.5, it was again available in cartoon colors as a chase figure.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Cybertron/SmallestCombatDeck/combatdeck.htm More information on ''Smallest'' Roller (with Combat Deck) at TFU.info]''

===Hybrid Style===
*'''G1 Convoy''' (2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''THS-02'''

: THS-02 G1 Convoy is a finely detailed, partially die-cast metal transforming toy of G1 Optimus Prime. It comes with a fully transforming and highly detailed trailer that opens up into its Combat Deck/repair bay, as well as Roller, who features four-wheel steering.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Cybertron/HybridConvoy/convoy.htm More information on ''Hybrid Style'' Roller (with Optimus Prime) at TFU.info]''

===Encore===
*'''Convoy''' (2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''01'''

: Roller is included in this reissue of the original Optimus Prime toy, painted in "anime" colors (light gray).

===Universe (2008)===
*'''Optimus Prime 25th Anniversary Pack'''

:Roller is reissued with Optimus in blue, as Hasbro wanted the unit to match Prime's fists. It was originally intended to be grey.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/25thOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on 25 Anniversary Roller (with Optimus Prime) at TFU.info]''

===Masterpiece===
* '''Convoy''' (2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-10'''

:[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10|MP-10 Convoy]] is an entirely new, smaller tooling of Generation 1 Optimus Prime, and comes with a new version of Roller. Roller is silver, is capable of towing Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)#Transformers (2010)|trailer]], can be ridden by the included [[Spike Witwicky (G1)#Masterpiece|Spike Witwicky]] figurine, and the included [[Ion blaster]] can mount on its back.

{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
[[Image:Transformers2010toy-HasbroMP10OptimusPrime-Roller.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]]
* '''Masterpiece Optimus Prime''' (2012)
:The [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10hasbro|Hasbro release]] of MP-10 Convoy also redecoes Roller, this time in blue. It retains all of the functionality and [[gimmick]]ry from the previous release.

{{--}}

==Notes==
*Prime's original character description, as seen in the [[The Transformers Universe|''Transformers Universe'']] profile comic, named the robot module "Optimus" and the drone module "Prime", noting that the Prime module is also known as Roller. However, in practice, these names were never used. The robot module was always treated as if named "Optimus Prime", with "Prime" even being his most common nickname.
*A reference to this "Prime module" was retained in ''Universe'''s [[Powermaster]] Optimus Prime profile, so the little guy must still be around, despite not being included with the Powermaster toy.
*Early [[:Image:EarlyPMPrime3.jpg|concept drawings]] for Powermaster Prime, as seen in ''[[Transformers Generations]]'', made him a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]/Powermaster, with a four-wheeled Roller forming the head.
*When the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was re-released as part of the Commemorative Series in 2003, it included the "[[Apex Bomber]]", a rechristened [[Godbomber]]. In the on-package bio, Apex Bomber was described as a "roller drone" under Prime's control.
*Roller was renamed "Scout Car" in a profile in [[War Without End (issue)|issue #1]] of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|UK ''Generation 2'' comic]].
*Roller was supposed to have a minor role in [[Ginrai]]'s ''[[Binaltech]]'' toy bio (written by [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]]), but the toy was ultimately used as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and so the bio went unused. In this storyline, a new Dodge Ram Binaltech body was built for Roller, but was instead possessed by Ginrai as he travelled through time to save his own future.
*The so-called "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp4|Complete Edition]]" of the first [[The Transformers: Masterpiece| Masterpiece]] Convoy toy did ''not'' come with Roller (the indignity!), and it would be around half a decade before [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp10|a newer, more complete version]] of the Convoy toy was released that included Roller.

==External links==
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime Optimus Prime's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime_PM Powermaster Optimus Prime's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.e-hobby.co.jp/cgi-bin/omc?&port=33301&req=PRODUCT&code=tfce_34 Orion Pax's e-HOBBY bio.]

== Footnotes ==
<references />

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 drones]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Possession

2012-09-25T03:31:36Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=21
|image=Starscream ghost BW.jpg
|caption="Look, I'm a ghost, okay? Quit being such a jerk."
|title="Possession"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[February 3]], [[1997]]
|packaged with=[[Waspinator (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Waspinator]], [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Optimus Primal vs. Megatron]], [[Motorarm (BWII)#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Motorarm]]
|written by=[[Ian Weir]]
|directed by=[[Owen Hurley]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Waspinator finds himself possessed by none other than the original Decepticon traitor, Starscream!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Possession Waspinator.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Haunter used Hypnosis!]]
A violent storm rages, causing significant damage and knocking out power to both the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal]] and [[Darksyde|Predacon bases]]. While the [[Maximal]]s stash their extra ammo deeper in their ship's hold to prevent undue accidents, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] attempts to get one of the Predacon base's computer consoles online...only to be greeted by a ghostly, shrill voice from it. A power surge hits the bug-bot soon afterwards, and when the other Predacons begin to wonder what has happened to him, in he comes, announcing his return "at long last" in the same eerie voice.

The voice belongs to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Air Commander of the [[Decepticon]] forces and [[second-in-command]] to the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], whose [[spark]] had been tumbling through time and space for an unknown number of years before settling within Waspinator. As he puts it, he was destroyed defending [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] from the Chaos Bringer [[Unicron]], but his [[spark]] endured. As a show of his good faith, he pledges his loyalty to the Predacon [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], revealing vital information about the state of the Maximal base due to the storm, intelligence Megatron could use to plan a sneak attack. Intrigued by the idea, Megatron accepts Starscream into his ranks.

[[Image:Possession Megatron victorious.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"B-3" "BINGO!!!"]]
The next day, as the Maximals are making repairs to their base, they are suddenly attacked by the Preds, and Starscream's intel proves very useful in catching them off-guard. In the ensuing firefight, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] is injured and the Decepticon Air Commander flies rings round [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], forcing the Maximals to abandon ship and regroup outside. Happy with their victory, Megatron puts Starscream in charge of holding the ''Axalon'', with Scorponok and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] under his command, while the rest of the Predacons return to their base, in case the Maximals decide to go for a sneak attack of their own. However, despite being pleased with Starscream's help, Megatron warns [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] in private to watch their new ally closely. Once they're alone, though, Blackarachnia shows off her knack for history by correctly pointing out to Starscream that he was [[The Transformers: The Movie|murdered by Galvatron after he betrayed the Decepticon commander]]. She's willing to keep this a secret, though, if she's let in on his real plans: to destabilize Megatron's control and rule both factions.

Deep in the forest, as the Maximals recover, Optimus Primal voices his confusion and concern over Waspinator's new personality. He isn't entirely convinced Waspinator is possessed by the spark of Starscream, but as the [[Maximal Elder]]s had long since sealed the Decepticon's records, they're not able to confirm or deny it, either. Fortunately, Dinobot's as much of a military history buff as Blackarachnia is, commenting on how ''Webster's Cybertronian Dictionary'' has pretty much replaced all definitions of "traitor" with Starscream's name.

[[Image:Possession Starscream point.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I want YOU for Predacon Army]]
Realizing Starscream's tendencies, Optimus Primal leads the Maximals in returning to the ''Axalon'' and calling Starscream out to announce their surrender, citing the need to use the ship's [[CR chamber]] to repair Dinobot's (now exaggerated) wounds. Feeling generous, the Decepticon Air Commander allows Optimus and Dinobot to come on board, but as predictably as night follows day, betrays them and strips Optimus of his weapons and locks him up in the hold as soon as he steps on deck. With their leader now his prisoner, Starscream orders the other Maximals to attack the Predacon base, over the token objections of Scorponok, who is then blasted away by Starscream and Blackarachnia. They comply, and the trap is set.

[[Image:Possession Starscream gunpoint.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'm azzz mad azzz hell, and I'm not going to take thizzz anymore!]]
Unbeknown to the Air Commander, he's been duped by the oldest trick in the book; by allowing himself to be betrayed, Optimus Primal has put himself and Dinobot in the perfect position to retake their base, which they do in a dazzling display that forces Starscream and Blackarachnia to retreat back to Predacon territory. Upon hearing of the Maximal attack that is ordered by Starscream, Megatron angrily swears to finish both Starscream and Blackarachnia off to himself. Optimus pursues and manages to best the Decepticon in an aerial dogfight, leaving him grovelling at the Maximal's feet...until Blackarachnia shows up, prompting Starscream to plead for her aid, believing they can still complete their coup. No dice; this new generation is much less gullible than [[Autobot|their]] [[Decepticon|ancestors]], and Blackarachnia has skillfully pulled off a double-cross on the double-crosser, igniting a small energon cache underneath Starscream to "exorcise" the Decepticon's spark from Waspinator's body.

At the end of the day, Megatron gets done fixing the back-to-normal Waspinator as Blackarachnia explains her betrayal; if she hadn't done it, she maintains, she wouldn't have been able to sniff out Starscream's true motives. Megatron reluctantly accepts this excuse, but warns her that it still doesn't invoke confidence in her loyalties. Back at the ''Axalon'', the Maximals are finishing up repairs of their own...everyone but Cheetor, who's slacking off with a bout of stargazing, quipping "Twinkle, twinkle, little Starscream," as the camera pans up to beyond the planet's orbit, showing Starscream's spark screaming mech fluid-drenched vengeance on all within the Beast Wars as he drifts away into the void.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (3)
*[[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (4)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (13)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (14)
*[[Tigatron]] (15)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (5)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)

|c4=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Unicron]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"What is this? Program does not respond! Waspinator does not understand!" 
"I'll bet Waspinator seldom does! But try not to let it depress you, bug-face."
:—'''Waspinator''', about to be possessed by '''Starscream'''

"Starscream, perhaps the centuries of weightlessness have taken a toll on your neurological circuitry."
:—'''Megatron''' seems to forget that free-floating sparks don't ''have'' circuitry.

"Lie still! And GROAN, for cryin' out loud! You're supposed to be half-dead!" 
"If you don't shut up, vermin, you will be my role model!"
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot'''. 'Nuff said.

"You're nothin' but a schemin' snake in the grass!" 
"Ehh, flattery will get you flattened, vermin."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Starscream'''

"Ugh! Starscream and Blackarachnia! I'll have both their treacherous hides! Yeeessss...I'll-I'll melt them down and use them for aluminum siding! Oh, yes, indeed!"
:—'''Megatron''' finally learning of Starscream's traitorous nature. Odd...

"I'll be back! Even if it takes a thousand years, I'LL BE REVENGED ON YOU ALL!"
:—'''Starscream''', as he drifts through space

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Megatron "checks up" on Waspinator, his dino head inexplicably switches from his right hand to his left hand.
* Unicron's "ring" is not connected to his body.
* When Starscream points to the unguarded side of the ''Axalon'', he seems to have a finger pointing on both sides of his hand, as though the animators were unsure of which hand he was using to point at the screen. (From the looks of the previous scenes, it should be his left hand.)
* As Starscream weaves around Cheetor's gunfire during the battle in the ''Axalon'', he is missing the yellow details on the outside of his mouth.
* When the Maximals come to "surrender", as Optimus talks to Starscream, his head is hideously deformed, with the sides stretched down to the base of his neck, and his head sitting far too high. Additionally his mouth doesn't move while he's speaking. ''Argh...''
* When Starscream/Waspinator is standing on top of the ''Axalon'' and instructing the Maximals to attack the Predacon base, his right foot clips straight through one of the autocannons. A few moments later when he blasts Scorponok, he's standing nowhere near the cannon.

===Continuity errors===
* Looking at the intro sequence with Starscream's spark, he clearly touches down somewhere in the southwest United States, apparently Arizona. The terrain and creatures in ''Beast Wars'' suggest that it takes place in Africa and the presence of the standing stones, though not necessarily Stonehenge, suggest Britain. On the other hand, it makes sense, since "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]" puts the ''Axalon'' and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] within commuting distance. It's not too wild to assume that it kept commuting for an unknown distance even after touching down either.

* While free-floating sparks are usually depicted as spheres, Starscream's spark has the twiddly bits which are usually only present to attach a spark to a protoform. Then again, it has been stated that Starscream's spark is not normal, so this may have been a conscious alteration?

* Megatron knew a great deal about Cybertronian history, yet apparently did not know the real nature of Starscream and his demise. However, Megatron might have been playing dumb to lure Starscream into being bolder with his actions. On the other hand, both the Predacon and Maximal Elders had a large portion of his records sealed ''due'' to his history. Then again, Megatron DID tell Scorponok to watch Starscream...
** On that same note, both Blackarachnia and Dinobot knew about Starscream, even though Primal stated that his records were sealed. It's possible that the records were sealed only to the Maximals (as Primal notes it was the Maximal Elders who sealed them), but given what we'll learn of the state of Maximal/Predacon relations on Cybertron and the Maximal Elders' dirty little secrets, that explanation is rather hard to believe.

* Despite being born from a Maximal Protoform, Blackarachnia refers to the Decepticons as "our" (the Predacons') ancestors. On the other hand, this is neither the first nor the last time she will identify herself as a Predacon, shunning her Maximal origin.

* Starscream apparently imprisons Optimus in shackles that he can break out of in about five seconds flat. However, in the episode commentary on [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVDs, story editor [[Bob Forward]] states that Primal originally had a very complex way of breaking free involving tools and the dexterity of his beast mode appendages, but the animators changed this to just him "busting out", possibly due to time and monetary constraints.

* Blackarachnia states that Starscream met his demise at the hands of Galvatron presumably meaning right after the battle for Autobot City in 2005. However, in the Season 3 episode "Ghost in the Machine", Starscream tricks Unicron into giving him a new body. He is last seen tumbling into space after suffering another non-lethal blast from Galvatron's cannon one last time.

* [[Optimal Situation|Future]] [[Master Blaster|episodes]] will show that a Maximal or Predacon body containing two sparks (their own and one from an Autobot or Decepticon) undergoes dramatic changes, taking on a new, larger appearance and gaining incredible might. Waspinator, however, undergoes only minor physical changes and gains no obvious power apart from somewhat enhanced speed.
** Megatron does infer that the "power" of the second spark has an effect on this, but this also seems strange, as Starscream's spark, due to its immortality, would be presumably better than the average. On the other hand, Starscream's spark will be described as "mutant" in [[Bad Spark|a later episode]], so perhaps this prevents the dramatic changes seen in other characters. (From an out-of-universe perspective, the producers likely forgot this instance when the other mergings occurred.)

===Transformers references===
* Obviously, Starscream himself firmly ties ''Beast Wars'' to established Generation 1 history, though you could argue that Waspinator thinking he was [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] already did this.

* Starscream's spark—or "ghost", as it was then called—possesses several Decepticons (including [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]) in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 episodes]] "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" and "[[Ghost in the Machine]]". His actions [[Atari Hitotonari|don't stop]] [[Teletraan 15|there]].

* One of the Predacon insignias on the side of Waspinator's cranium changes into a Decepticon insignia while Starscream's spark is inhabiting his superstructure.

* And of course, Starscream's fate was from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

* Starscream's head is white and his face is blue, making him resemble his appearance in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics]] instead of his [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] [[character model]].

===Real-world references===
* [[Optimus Primal]] says "Hasta la vista, Starscream", paraphrasing a famous line from the film ''[[wikia:c:terminator:Terminator 2: Judgment Day|Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''.

* As he flies away immediately after saying this, Optimus Primal is seen wearing a pair of sunglasses, aping (ahem) Arnold Schwarzenegger's trademark look from the movie.

* Rhinox's line "It's tramplin' time" could be an homage to "It's clobberin' time!", the catchphrase of the [[Thing]] of the [[Fantastic Four]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Possession'''"

:*''Title:'' "'''Possession'''" (Canada)

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il traditore'''" ("The Traitor")

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fujimi no Sutāsukurīmu'''" (不死身のスタースクリーム, "The Immortal Starscream")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 18|18 February]] [[1998]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Possessão'''" ("Possession")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Posesión'''" ("Possession")

===Trivia===
* [[Doug Parker]] performs both [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (standing in for the late [[Chris Latta]]), and the very Starscreamy [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]]. In fact, Parker's Starscream is basically Terrosaur with a metallic distortion a la G1 Soundwave. Perhaps Starscream should have possessed Terrorsaur instead — of course, nobody would notice the difference.
* According to fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor Bob Forward on the Madman DVD commentary track, the original idea for this episode was to have the spark of an Autobot possess one of the characters. This idea was abandoned early on because a model of Starscream had already been made for "[[The Web]]". Besides, Starscream had the experience.
* Also according to Forward, the angles used for Waspinator (when he is possessed by Starscream) are much more "heroic" than normal (views from slightly below him, extreme closeups, etc.), to reflect Starscream's personality.
* Apart from the Decepticon insignia on his head, Waspinator's only physical change when possessed is the addition of a yellow stripe along the upper edges of his "mandibles", similar to their inner edges.
* Additionally, Yee provided all of the original Starscream's [[Tech Spec]] [[Bio|biographies]] to writer Ian Weir as a reference for Starscream's character and personality. Yee was pleased that Weir incorporated Starscream's original "[[Air Commander]]" [[function]] as the character's rank and title.
* This is the [[Victory (episode)|second time]] Optimus airlifts an injured Dinobot out of a battlefield, only for Terrorsaur to get in the way. This time, however, Terrorsaur doesn't get a chance to fire before Optimus punches him out of the way.
* After Blackarachnia convinces Starscream to take her on as his protege, as they're walking away Starscream's hand is at her shoulder but then starts moving down towards her um... butt. Perv.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space ([[Alliance Atlantis|Alliance Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (Alliance Video) — French audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (Alliance Video) — Available in English or French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 ([[Universal]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Hurt

2012-09-24T02:26:40Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 42
|prev=Toxicity
|next=Out of the Past
|image=Hurt-Mikosleeps.jpg
|caption=You could have it all/My empire of dirt
|title="Hurt"
|airdate=[[August 24]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Miko and Wheeljack embark on a quest for revenge.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Manhattan]]. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] are on their way back from their successful relic mission. While Miko is feeling victorious and listening to rock music, she announces she's ready to get back to hanging with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]. As they arrive through the [[GroundBridge]], they almost run into Bulkhead's body, still laying by the entrance as [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] attempts to revive the [[Wrecker]] with defibrillators. [[William Fowler|Fowler]] has to restrain Miko as Ratchet explains what has happened to Bulkhead while the other [[Autobot]]s drag Bulkhead to the medical bay. Miko blames herself for not going with Bulkhead, but Fowler points out there's nothing she could have done against [[Hardshell]].

On the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] rages that only [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] brought back a relic. Hardshell claims that, though he failed to secure the [[Tox-En]], Bulkhead was terminated in the process. He and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] almost come to blows over the effectiveness of [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s.

Fowler is called away to cover up the activities in [[New York City|New York]], but makes [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] promise to keep him updated. Arcee reports that [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] is coming in, which causes Miko to storm off as she believes the others are giving up on Bulkhead. As Ratchet reports that Bulkhead is stable, Wheeljack arrives and promises to go after whoever did this. Optimus, however, refuses to say who's responsible. Wheeljack rushes off anyway, but doesn't get far in the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'' before Miko reveals herself. Though Wheeljack's immediate instinct is to take her back to the base, Miko makes a deal to tell him who's responsible for Bulkhead's damage, if he takes her with him.

[[Image:Hurt-KnockOutbuffs.jpg|left|thumb|200px|It's in Knock Out's contract to periodically throw the Tumblr shippers a bone.]]

Hardshell boasts to his fellow Insecticons, but they overhear a couple of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s badmouthing them. Knock Out's buffing session is thus interrupted by an all-in brawl between the two groups, and ends up being punched by an Insecticon.

Miko and Wheeljack find an [[energon]] mine that Wheeljack intends to attack to draw out Hardshell. Miko goes in first, using [[miko's phone|her phone]] to transmit footage back to Wheeljack. Mid-way through her recon, Wheeljack himself assaults the cave, leaving her to duck for cover while Vehicon parts fly everywhere. He makes swift work of the Decepticon contingent.

Knock Out takes his concerns about the Insecticons to Megatron, insisting they be confined somewhere. Hardshell is defiant, but the discussion is interrupted by a transmission from the mine—Wheeljack informs Megatron that the mine is his and he's going to attack more mines until the Decepticons give him Hardshell. To underscore the threat, he blows up the mine. Megatron is more upset at the news that Bulkhead might not be dead, and announces Hardshell owes him a [[spark]].

[[Image:Hurt-WheeljackHardshell.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Hold still! There's a bug on your... oh wait...]]

As they head to the next mine, Miko and Wheeljack discuss Bulkhead's chances, but Miko's so tired she falls asleep mid-conversation. She wakes up when they arrive, but Wheeljack leaves her in the ship with instructions to use the auto-pilot to return to the Autobot base. She watches from the cockpit as Wheeljack approaches the mine and calls out Hardshell, who promptly appears on the clifftop above. Wheeljack and Hardshell clash, though the latter is wise to the former's grenade trick. The much-larger Insecticon soon gets the better of Wheeljack, tossing him about and landing solid blows, until the Autobot is left lying on the ground. With the fight's outcome clear, Miko goes to press the autopilot, but instead uses the controls to fire off a couple of missiles that strike Hardshell. As Wheeljack stands, more Insecticons appear at the clifftop, and he has to limp back to the ''Jackhammer''. The swarm follows the ship, but Wheeljack throws a box of grenades at them, and the explosions dissipate the swarm. He congratulates Miko by welcoming her to the Wreckers, but she remains despondent over Bulkhead's condition.

Some time later, the pair drag themselves back into the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. Ratchet sadly reports that Bulkhead will survive, but may not be fully-functional again. While Miko rushes to her friend's side, Wheeljack opts to leave, not wanting to see Bulkhead that way.

Megatron looks in fury down at the corpse of Hardshell, and is shocked when he's told that the one responsible is a human girl.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (15)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (12)
*[[Hardshell]] (13)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s (16)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (17)
|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (4)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (8)

}}

==Quotes==
"Let me guess. You and Raf spend all your drive-time listening to chiptunes." 
"''Wraaaaaaaa''?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Bumblebee''' on music.

"Pit-bound scavengers." 
"Scrap-eaters."
:—Two '''Vehicons''' and their take on Insecticons.

"Detailing was so much easier when Breakdown was around!"
:—'''Knock Out''' gives fangirls an inch.

"I just buffed that!"
:—'''Knock Out''' is not very happy at having his paint scratched ''again''.

"Wheeljack. The one who enjoys explosive devices."
:—'''Megatron''', describing more [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheel]][[wheeljack (Movie)|jacks]] than one.

"Sorry kid, but Bulkhead's ''gonna'' wake up. And he'll file off my rivets if you're not there when he comes to." 
:—'''Wheeljack''' on Bulkhead's condition.

"Talk during battle is a sign of weakness." 
"Only when you're too primitive to do two things at once."
:—'''Hardshell''' and '''Wheeljack''' exchange smack talk.

"Your spark will now belong to Megatron!"
:—'''Hardshell's''' last words.

"I thought I told you to hit autopilot." 
"Bad things happen to bots when I leave their side."
:—'''Wheeljack''' shows concern for '''Miko''', who is [[Rock Bottom|not entirely]] [[Toxicity|wrong]].

"I only carry one ''at a time''" 
:—'''Wheeljack''' on his grenades.

''(Looking at Hardshell's corpse)'' "The Autobot did '''''THIS?!''''''' 
"No, my lord... it was... a human... girl."
:—'''Megatron''' quickly learns that [[Miko Nakadai|some humans]] [[One Shall Rise, Part 2|make good on the promises they make]].

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*How could Wheeljack have possibly missed the massive group of Insections on his approach to the mine? If they were already there when he arrived, he should have seen them when he landed. If they came in later, the synchronized buzzing of nearly a hundred Insections should have been audible to him.
*When Wheeljack retreats back into his ship after his fight against Hardshell, he sits down without a grenade at his hip. As he's standing up to open his case of grenades, he suddenly has one in its usual spot, despite not picking up a new one in the interim. His swords, which he also lost in the battle, are back despite him not picking them up.
*As Wheeljack limps towards his ship, he has his mouthplate retracted. However, when he gets on the ship, his mouthplate is back out again. In the next scene, it's retracted again.
*Wheeljack's blades simply disappear once Hardshell knocks them from his hands.
*When Wheeljack kills the last Vehicon at the energon mine, the sound of his blade being extracted from the Vehicon's chest is slightly out of sync with the action itself.
*When Miko fires missiles at Hardshell, they simply appear in midair below the ''Jackhammer'', instead of being disengaged from some point on the ship.

===Continuity errors===
*Fowler comments that Hardshell sucker punched Bulkhead, although he never heard Hardshell's name in the previous episode.
*Similarly, one of the Insecticons informs Megatron that "a human girl" is responsible for Hardshell's demise, even though it is highly unlikely that they saw Miko piloting the ''Jackhammer''.

===Continuity notes===
*Miko, Jack, Bumblebee, and Arcee return from their mission, which occurred in "[[Tunnel Vision]]". They are followed shortly by Optimus, whose mission took place in "[[Triangulation]]". Bulkhead is suffering from [[Tox-En]] poisoning from the [[Toxicity|previous episode]]. On the Decepticon side, Hardshell is the last to return from his mission, which is also shown in the previous episode.
*Miko mentioned their success in obtaining the [[phase shifter]] from "Tunnel Vision", which happened to be sitting next to her at the time.
*Knock Out refers to [[Crossfire|Breakdown's demise]].
*Wheeljack shows the newfound respect for Ratchet that he gained in "[[Triage]]".
*Knock Out comments that it has been a long time since a Decepticon extinguished an Autobot's spark. [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream's]] murder of [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] was the first and last successful termination of an Earth-bound Autobot by a Decepticon, which occurred all the way back in the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|series premiere]].
*Hardshell easily predicts Wheeljack's "one grenade, one shot" strategy, having watched his men fall victim to Bulkhead's own grenade booby trap in the previous episode.
*Hardshell is still missing the mandible Bulkhead punched off in "Toxicity".

===Transformers references===
* A Vehicon mentions the [[Pit]].

===Real-world references===
*Energon mine [[TVC 15]] is named after the [[wikipedia:David Bowie|David Bowie]] song [[wikipedia:TVC_15|of the same name]].
*Miko asks Bumblebee if he and Raf listen to chiptunes, electronic music which intentionally sounds like an 8bit video game console synthesizer.

===Trivia===
*Wheeljack's "one grenade, one shot" strategy is actually more of a "one grenade at a time, one shot" strategy, as Wheeljack says when Miko sees his case of grenades in the ''Jackhammer''.
*Wheeljack lets us know that [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s are bound by a single mind.
*Miko is the second human in the series to have killed an Insecticon, Jack having destroyed the first one on Cybertron in "[[Orion Pax, Part 3]]". So... Raf... no pressure, then?
*Despite Energon being generally volatile when mishandled, the cubes remained stable while being knocked around by Wheeljack inside the mine. Must take some really clumsy handling to make them explode.
*Hardshell claims that talk during battle is a sign of weakness. Interestingly, both of his battles against Bulkhead in [[Toxicity|the previous episode]] had almost no dialogue, and what was spoken was usually done during lulls in the fight.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Loose Cannons

2012-09-16T22:32:20Z

SuzyP: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 32
|prev=Operation Bumblebee, Part 2
|next=Crossfire
|image=LooseCannons Wheeljack Dreadwing splitscreen.jpg
|caption=Do we need to disambiguate with "[[Deep Metal]]"?
|title="Loose Cannons"
|airdate=[[March 24]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[David McDermott]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Wheeljack returns to Earth to look for a new Decepticon named Dreadwing.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:LooseCannons Wheeljack fires back.jpg|thumb|left|250px|If I'm coming back, I'm coming back with a BANG!]]
[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] calls the Autobots, furious about a Transformer fight outside Omaha with possible collateral damage. As the Autobots are all at base, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] suggests the [[Decepticon]]s are to blame, however a video feed reveals the combatants as a [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]-type Decepticon and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. Fowler demands that the situation be handled pronto.

Fowler reaches the battleground in [[Fowler's V-tol|his jet]] first and demands the pair stop, only to be fired on by Wheeljack. A [[GroundBridge]] opens up, and the Autobots step out to help Wheeljack. Outgunned, the Decepticon seizes the opportunity to scan Fowler's jet and make his escape. Wheeljack fires after him, blowing up a gas station. Though Wheeljack believes that [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] was to blame for the explosion, he's informed otherwise.

[[Image:LooseCannons Wheeljack undergoes repairs.jpg|thumb|right|250px|So... do I get a lollipop?]]
Back at base, Ratchet repairs Wheeljack, who apologizes for the damage and explains his pursuit of Dreadwing. He had found his fellow [[Wrecker]] [[Seaspray (Prime)|Seaspray]], only for his friend to be blown up by Dreadwing. After several solar systems worth of pursuit, Wheeljack caught up with the Decepticon on [[Earth]]. Optimus infers that Dreadwing has come to pay allegiance to Megatron. He tries to stem Wheeljack's hotheadedness, and Fowler arrives to admonish Wheeljack for nearly blowing their cover. Wheeljack doesn't take well to being called part of the team, and walks off, followed by Bulkhead who intends to placate him. Optimus does his best to smooth things over with Fowler.

Dreadwing rendezvous with the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] welcomes his loyalty, but Dreadwing reveals he has come to Earth to avenge his [[spark]]-twin Skyquake. When Megatron confirms Skyquake's death, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] vows to make every Autobot on Earth pay, but Megatron would rather Dreadwing follow his orders.

As Wheeljack works on his [[Jackhammer (Prime)|ship]], Bulkhead attempts to change his mind about the planet. Inside the Jackhammer, a challenge comes through over the commlink from Dreadwing. Wheeljack straps in to meet the 'Con, and convinces Bulkhead to come as well.

[[Image:LooseCannons Dreadwing tricks Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|left|250px|He's right behind me, isn't he?]]
Dreadwing faces off against Wheeljack, both determined to finish their business. They exchange fire, and Dreadwing runs, leading Wheeljack past a series of proximity bombs that the Autobot evades. Dreadwing runs into a dead end, but it turns out to be a trap—as Bulkhead appears atop the crevice, a last bomb on the cliff face explodes, burying the two Wreckers under rubble as Dreadwing flies clear.

At base, Ratchet finds Bulkhead's transmission over a thousand miles away. At Optimus's inquiry, he says that no response has been made.

In the crevice, Optimus helps Wheeljack out of a pile of boulders and reprimands him for endangering Bulkhead. Ratchet informs Optimus over comm that Bulkhead's signal has moved.

Wheeljack and Optimus fly to Bulkhead's location, a shipping depot. They find him in an unfortunate predicament, strapped to a crate with a bomb wired into his chest. Wheeljack gets to work defusing the bomb. From the top of a crane, Dreadwing looks on. He receives a transmission from Megatron, and reveals what he's doing. Meanwhile, Bulkhead tries to stop Wheeljack from continuing his attempts to defuse the bomb and the pair notice that Optimus is gone.

Megatron allows Dreadwing to continue his plan, though he muses to Soundwave that he does not expect Dreadwing to come back. At the depot, Dreadwing notices Optimus is missing in time for the Autobot leader to appear nearby and appeal to Dreadwing's sense of honor. Dreadwing refuses the offer of defection, and fires upon Prime, who escapes into the maze of containers.

[[Image:LooseCannons Optimus pins Dreadwing.jpg|thumb|right|250px|What was that "safe word" again?]]
Realizing that Wheeljack is unlikely to defuse the bomb, Bulkhead takes matters into his own hands, punching out Wheeljack, tearing out of his restraints, and running away from his friend. Elsewhere, Dreadwing continues to spar with Optimus, but loses him from his sights. Bulkhead heads towards the water to muffle the explosion, but is stopped by Wheeljack, who has come to the realization that Optimus has the right idea—they need Dreadwing to defuse the bomb.

Searching the dock, Dreadwing is ambushed by Optimus crashing down on top of him with a shipping crane. Pinned, Dreadwing is surrounded by the three Autobots. Though he claims he would rather destroy himself if it will avenge his brother, Optimus calls his bluff, and he defuses the bomb. However, not about to leave empty handed, Dreadwing sets off the many bombs he had placed throughout the port, and flies off. Wheeljack wonders who will clean that up.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron gloats about Dreadwing's defeat, but seems mildly surprised that the Seeker still lives. Dreadwing, in the wake of his defeat, pledges his total loyalty to Megatron.

At the base, Wheeljack apologizes for his misjudgment about Optimus earlier. The Autobots, sans Ratchet, convince Wheeljack to stay on Earth, though he opts to explore the planet. He's soon driving away with a new alternate mode.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (8)
*[[Seaspray (Prime)|Seaspray]] (11) (flashback)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] (7)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (12)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (flashback) (13)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (flashback) (14)
|c3=
*[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"I don't care if [[Abraham Lincoln]] is back! We have to contain the situation before we all wind up on the eleven o'clock news."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' demands that the Autobots stop Wheeljack and Dreadwing.

"Not this again!"
:—'''Agent Fowler''' gets his vehicle scanned by a 'Con for a third time.

'''Wheeljack''': You know Wreckers don't call for backup. 
'''Wheeljack''' and '''Bulkhead''': They call for clean-up!
:—The remaining Wreckers provide an alternative to "Wreck and Rule!"

'''Optimus:''' "If you will not take orders from me, that is one thing. But when you place one of my Autobots in danger..." 
'''Wheeljack:''' "With all due respect sir, Bulkhead knew the risks; every Wrecker does. I'm sure he's just... uh... somewhere in this rubble."
:—'''Wheeljack''' reassures Optimus about Bulkhead's condition... well, sort of.

"I will be quite surprised if we ever set eyes upon Dreadwing again."
:—'''Megatron''' putting his faith into his soldier.

"Sorry, Jackie. It's 'cause I love ya."
:—'''Bulkhead''' shows the tough love.

"Sorry, fishies!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' runs towards water with a bomb attached.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Wheeljack faces Dreadwing in the forest, the scar on his left shoulder (that was inflicted by Dreadwing in their first showdown on Earth) seems to have disappeared. Few moments later it's there again.
* When Wheeljack is chasing Dreadwing through the chasm, his grenade can be seen on his hip, despite it having been used earlier.
* When Ratchet is fixing the scar on Wheeljack's arm, Wheeljack's shoulder clips through his chest.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode features the first on-screen use of the term [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]].
* Bulkhead brings up Optimus, Bee and Fowler's fight with Skyquake, and Arcee mentions his zombified resurrection at Starscream's hand which occurred in "[[Masters & Students]]" and "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
* Soundwave shows scenes of Optimus and Bumblebee's fight with Skyquake in "Masters & Students".

===Transformers references===
* Wheeljack namedrops former Wreckers [[Impactor (Prime)|Impactor]], [[Roadbuster (Prime)|Roadbuster]], [[Rotorstorm (Prime)|Rotorstorm]], and [[Pyro (Prime)|Pyro]]. The Generation 1 incarnations of these four characters are all Wreckers from various continuities: [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were original members of the group when it was first introduced in "[[Target: 2006]]", while [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] and [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] joined in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''. Like their ''Prime'' counterparts, all four characters have indeed been seen to die while serving as Wreckers in one continuity or another. Seaspray being a Wrecker, meanwhile, is a new addition.
* Wheeljack namedrops the [[Dromedon System]] and the planets [[Maderan]] and [[Sandokan]].
* Dreadwing is referred to as a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]].
* Dreadwing references [[Pit|The Pit]].
*Bulkhead called [[Seaspray (Prime)|Seaspray]] "ol' barnacle butt", which references the deceased Autobot's hovercraft-mode in the G1 continuity.
*Optimus explains how the [[Wrecker]]s are a separate team faction from the Autobots.

===Real-world references===
*Fowler compares the activities of the Wreckers to "black ops", a term for covert military operations. In popular culture, black ops are generally seen as being dirty business that regular soldiers aren't able to carry out, and units that carry them out are often independent of the normal chain of command. Describes the Wreckers pretty well.
*Fowler mentions [[Abraham Lincoln]].
*Wheeljack calls Earth a marble. One of Earth's nicknames is the Blue Marble.

===Trivia===
*Fowler ''really'' needs to stop flying that jet of his around Decepticons who look like they turn into jets. He seems to be getting tired of it.
*Wheeljack finally takes an Earth-based vehicle mode. Seems like he's on Earth to stay.
*Dreadwing's proximity bombs have plates resembling his wings.
*Optimus didn't look very comfortable in Wheeljack's ship.
*Megatron actually sounds irritated when he's warning Dreadwing against going after Optimus. Seems he's getting tired of 'cons getting themselves maimed or killed trying to go after Prime.
*Late in the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] toy's run, a variation appeared which added a DVD of the full "Loose Cannons" episode. The figure itself is unaltered.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (video game)

2012-09-05T03:37:46Z

SuzyP: /* Chapter XI: Starscream's Betrayal */

{{Template:Nav-foc}}
{{videogame
|prev=Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)
|title=''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''
|image=Fall of Cybertron PC cover.jpg‎
|caption=
|developer=[[High Moon Studios]]
|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard|Activision]]
|date=[[August 21]], [[2012]]
|platform=PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 PC
|ratings=ESRB: T PEGI: 12
}}
'''''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''''' is a direct sequel to the 2010 game ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)| War for Cybertron]]'' that was released on [[August 21]], [[2012]]. Published by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]] and developed by [[High Moon Studios]], the game is a continuation of the events of ''War for Cybertron'', It explores the [[Autobot]]s' attempts to escape from a rapidly deteriorating [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', as well as the gradual downfall and collapse of the remnants of Cybertronian society. A side story also focuses on the creation of the [[Dinobot (FOC)| Dinobots]].
==Synopsis==
===Chapter I: The Exodus===
:''Character: [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]''

The [[Ark (WFC)|Ark]] heads off to the portal which will take them to [[Earth]]. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] invades the ship using the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', sending [[Decepticon]]s over directly to the bridge of the Ark, forcing Bumblebee, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] to fight off the aggressors. With more Decepticons swarming the engine room, Optimus heads off to help, leaving Bumblebee to protect the bridge. The artillery cannons are taken offline and the ship blows a [[moleculon fuse|fuse]]. Ratchet sends Bumblebee off to fix it, and after braving nearly being sucked into space, the scout soon replaces the fuse and ascending up a lift to the defense tower. He witnesses Autobots being overrun by a [[Titan (FOC)|Titan]] and then on another level, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] and [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] attacking. He reaches the defense mainframe and rushes the Decepticon manning it, reactivating the Ark's guns. The tower is hit by a claw that knocks him down a shaft. With his alternator jarred back into gear, Bumblebee transforms and races through an outer area, avoiding explosions, Decepticon tow cables and large chunks of rubble. He passes [[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] having a [[Brawl (WFC)|brawl]] and bringing an [[Onslaught (WFC)|onslaught]] of destruction. He makes it to a stronghold, restocking on ammo, energon and weapons. He fights his way through a few waves of Decepticons, making his way to the engine room, where Prime and Megatron are doing battle. He pushes through enemy lines, with the help of two Titans, and makes his way to the engine room. There he finds Optimus and Megatron engaging in a fierce melee battle on the hull of the ship, and just as Megatron fires a huge cannon at Optimus, Bumblebee throws himself forwards, taking the shot meant for Prime. As Bumblebee falls, Optimus lifts his body...

===Chapter II: Defend the Ark===
:''Character: Optimus Prime''
Six days earlier, the Autobots are preparing the last transport for launch. [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] reports the energon reserves are aboard, and Perceptor is overseeing city shutdown, only for the news to come that the Decepticons have invaded the city. Optimus tries to contact [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]], as it's his sector the Decepticons have invaded, but gets no answer. As Prime moves to head out, a [[Warp Cannon]] crashes to the ground nearby and targets the Ark. Optimus heads through the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] ruins and enters Autobot City through a side door to find the Autobots trying to get the city stable without the absent Grimlock. After helping Ratchet stabilize a badly-injured [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]], Prime sends [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] to find where Grimlock's disappeared to. At the armory, [[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]] reports that [[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] and others are trapped in a nerve center, so he and Optimus fight their way there. After fighting off a horde of Decepticons, they unseal the [[detpak]] from the nerve center door. Sending Warpath back to the Ark, Optimus goes in to meet with Perceptor, who's struggling to get the city working again so they can fight off the Decepticons. He sends Prime to activate an old artillery gun using energon from the Ark, and Prime soon puts the weapon to good use taking out Decepticons. With news that the Warp Cannons are firing on the Ark, Optimus heads to the engine room, but as he moves towards the flight deck, the corridors restructure around him. Decepticons, including [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], have invaded the area, and Optimus finds many bodies, but heads for the neutron cannon. After fighting his way through more Decepticons, he brings the neutron gun online, but again the targeting is out. Optimus takes manual control and helps defend the Ark refueling station from a number of Decepticon tanks. When the cannon runs out of energon, Optimus heads back inside the city and is guided by a mysterious intelligence to the city's core where he pulls a lever... and the entire city transforms into [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]].

===Chapter III: Metroplex Heeds the Call===
:''Character: Optimus Prime''
Optimus and Metroplex head for the Iacon ruins where the Warp Cannons are located. Once they find the first Warp Cannon, Metroplex laboriously synchronizes his targeting systems with Optimus and together they take out the first cannon. Moving on, Prime helps the survivors of a crashed Autobot ship and finds Warpath in a huge plaza. With the second Warp Cannon shelling them, they head into a building and manage to get close enough to the cannon for Optimus to mark it for destruction by Metroplex. That done, Optimus heads down more corridors and is confronted by three Leapers, which Metroplex handily takes out by putting a fist through the wall. After fighting his way across a huge bridge, Prime gets close enough to the last Warp Cannon to mark it, only for it to take out Metroplex first. With no other choice, Optimus makes his way to the base of the cannon and forces open a door, only to be blasted by Starscream, bashed by Brawl and Onslaught, and dragged in front of Megatron. While Starscream gloats at his victory over Prime, Megatron simply blasts his Air Commander before killing an Autobot in front of the bound Prime. Luckily it turns out Metroplex is back online, and he rips the roof off Megatron's throne room before smashing Megatron into the ground repeatedly with his fist. Starscream pronounces Megatron dead, himself leader and orders the Decepticons back to base. The day is won, but unfortunately all the Autobots' energon is exhausted and they need to find more. Prime believes Grimlock may hold the key, and says Jazz and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] are tracking down their missing comrade.

===Chapter IV: Eye of the Storm===
:''Character: Cliffjumper''
[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] drops Jazz and Cliffjumper off over the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] in the middle of a rust storm to look for Grimlock. In a ruined base, they find a crashed ship which they recognize as one that was stolen by Grimlock from the base. They soon spot Decepticons moving around and sneak inside the base. As they stealthily make their way through, they overhear some Decepticons discussing [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] and his "pets". Using a garbage conveyor, Cliffjumper finds himself in an ancient tomb where guardians are roaming around, scanning for Autobots. Jazz reports the rust storm is increasing in intensity outside. Cliffjumper finds a huge domed room and activates a starmap that shows him an image of [[Earth]]. Continuing through the tomb, Cliffjumper finds more Decepticons, plus sword marks and a trail of destruction he recognizes as Grimlock's work. Eventually he reaches outside again and spots Jazz, but a collapse cuts them off from each other. Cliff hunts through the storm and finds Jazz, freeing his companion from some fallen debris. They soon find more devastation and Jazz detects a faint Autobot distress signal which Cliffjumper tracks to a huge pit, just as the Decepticons seal it. Luckily the two Autobots find a huge bomb they use to blow the pit open and, leaving Cliffjumper behind, Jazz leaps in.

===Chapter V: Cut and Run===
:''Character: Jazz''
Jazz reaches the bottom of the pit and quickly finds [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] in [[stasis lock]]. The audio he plays back from Sludge's memory is not promising. The meaning of the green pods Jazz spots is clear when he finds himself under attack by the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] horde. He blasts a tank which releases a toxic green gas, and he has to race to escape in time. Escaping the pit, he seals it and pair continue to look for the source of the distress signal. They stumble on a huge lake filled with energon which the Decepticons are mining. They fight their way across the moat to the Decepticon facility where Cliffjumper promptly manages to trip an alarm. Jazz utilizes a network of service tunnels, but creeping down one of them, he falls through a grating and is ambushed. Naturally he fights the Decepticons off and even helps out Cliffjumper who's pinned down by Wall Crawlers and other Decepticons. The pair rendezvous at the other side of the moat and head inside the tower. Within, they find Insecticons in tubes and a map pointing to Earth's solar system. Intriguing! Further in, they find Shockwave arguing with Starscream via hologram. Cliffjumper fails to creep up on Shockwave, who sets a bunch of Insecticons on them before leaving. While Jazz keeps the Insecticons busy, Cliffjumper diverts toxic waste into the refinery to make it overload. The refinery starts to melt down and the pair book out, getting picked up by Sideswipe just in time. Jazz contacts Optimus with the news there's a lake of energon ripe for the taking. The Autobots begin preparing a massive energon transport to take the energon to the Ark.

===Chapter VI: Death from Above===
:''Character: Vortex''
The Decepticons get wind of the Autobot plan, and as the transport heads back with a load of energon, Starscream tasks the [[Combaticon (WFC)|Combaticon]]s with intercepting it and leading it to an ambush. [[Vortex (FOC)|Vortex]] and [[Blast Off (FOC)|Blast Off]] are sent to clear a short-cut so Brawl can take a dropship and destroy a bridge. They fly through an ancient Autobot city. The pair run into Autobots though, and Blast Off ends up racing ahead, leaving Vortex to fight them. They eventually reach the bridge, but when Brawl shells it, they find it's shielded. Vortex deactivates the shielding, allowing Brawl to take out the side supports. The central support is a little trickier, and Brawl has to blow a hole in it so Vortex can get in to find the shield controls. After fighting more Autobots, including a Titan, Vortex uses a detpak on the central support and races out as the bridge collapses.

===Chapter VII: Belly of the Beast===
:''Character: Swindle''
Starscream springs his ambush on the transport, but the transport's defenses blast them. Onslaught exasperatedly sends [[Swindle (FOC)|Swindle]] under the transport to try to stop it. Swindle takes out the rear wheels and heads to the front, using his grapple to avoid the deadly acid pools, and takes out the front wheels. This unleashes a pair of titans which he has to destroy. However just as victory looks certain, the transport's wheels convert into jets. As the transport takes to the air, Swindle grapples on board.

===Chapter VIII: Combaticons Combine!===
:''Character: Swindle/Bruticus''
Within the transport, Swindle begins heading through the transport, aiming to take out the anti-aircraft defenses so the other Combaticons can come over in their drop ship. He blows a hole in an exterior wall and starts making his way along the side of the transport. Starscream announces he's calling off the assault, but is corrected by Onslaught, who still believes they can pull it off. Swindle finds the anti-aircraft cannons can be destroyed by simply shooting the shells being fed into them, so he does that, then moves around to the other side of the ship. Unfortunately the Autobots are wise to what the Decepticons are doing and destroy the controls for the shell feed shields so Swindle can't deactivate them. Onslaught brings the drop ship around, and Swindle hops on. Once he uses the top turret to destroy the last gun emplacement, the Combaticons merge into [[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] and start breaking things. He smashes through the transports turbine and break into the control room where the Combaticons split and make swift work of the Autobots. Unfortunately though they have the transport in their control, it's badly damaged and going down, and they can do little more than try to control its course as it crashes. Starscream's unimpressed that they managed to destroy half the energon supply in the crash, and when Onslaught talks back, pointing that the Autobots would have gotten all of it if they did nothing and everything going wrong was a result of Starscream's incompetence, Starscream orders the Combaticons arrested.

===Chapter IX: Megatron Returns===
:''Character: [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]/Megatron''
In his [[Soundwave's workshop|old workshop]] under the gladiator pits, Soundwave powers up the assembly systems so he can put Megatron's salvaged body back together. With the help of his minions, he manages to get Megatron back in one piece and uses an infusion of [[Dark Energon]] to bring his master back to life. Megatron's enraged by the news Starscream is in charge and, grabbing his cannon, heads out to confront his former lieutenant. He arrives, naturally, in the middle of Starscream's coronation. Starscream sets the assembled Decepticons onto their former leader, but as Megatron points out, he was practically forged in these arenas. Once he finishes with the many, many Decepticons, he blasts Starscream who flees. Onslaught offers to chase them down, but Megatron doesn't consider him a threat and has other plans. As the Decepticons move a huge statue of him into pride of place, Megatron meets with Shockwave who has deciphered the ancient technology to open wormholes and located a suitably energy rich planet for them to plunder. Megatron boards a drop ship and heads for the crater where [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] crashed with the intention of recovering the giant Decepticon's power core. Unfortunately his drop ship is shot down on the way.

===Chapter X: The Final Countdown===
:''Character: Megatron''
Jumping clear of the ship, Megatron notes that the Autobots have installed anti-aircraft defenses. Once the Decepticons assault the facility and take it over, Soundwave detects a power source nearby—the Autobots are using Trypticon's power core as an energy source. Furious, Megatron goes to investigate and takes out the defenses surrounding the main compound before calling in Bruticus to clear a path. The Combiner makes short work of the remaining Autobots and holds the massive doors open so Megatron can enter. After emptying the main compound of Autobots, he enters the main building where some Autobots are reporting to Optimus. Megatron slags them and makes it clear he blames Optimus for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s depleted state. The Autobots redouble their attempts to keep Megatron away, but as he gets closer to Trypticon, he realizes that the Autobots haven't removed the power core—Trypticon is still functional. Fighting through more Autobot defenses, including a titan, Megatron gets to Trypticon's legs and finds they've been bound. A few shots of Megatron's cannon frees them. Trypticon's torso is similarly easy to find, with a little help from Laserbeak. Once Megatron breaks Trypticon's bonds, Soundwave arrives and hacks the computer while Megatron smashes the Autobots attacking them. Trypticon, however, is still badly damaged. Megatron informs Trypticon that he failed to destroy the Autobots and will be rebuilt into a new form—the ''Nemesis''.

===Chapter XI: Starscream's Betrayal===
:''Characters: Decepticon trooper/Starscream/Grimlock''
As the Nemesis nears launch, the Decepticons are roused by an alarm as someone tries to hack Shockwave's data logs. A trooper is sent to check the main server. As the two troopers enter the server, they discuss Starscream, only for Starscream himself to decloak and flatten them. He checks the data logs and finds that Shockwave's latest experiment is in the central tower. He uses EMP detpaks to take out the security towers providing the defenses, which takes out the [[force field]]s protecting the maintenance shafts. Flying inside, he finds Shockwave experimenting on Grimlock with [[Hardshell]] and [[Sharpshot]]. Once they leave, Starscream drops into the lab and informs Grimlock he'll be set free if he pledges allegiance to the Air Commander. Grimlock's responds that he can free himself and throws Starscream into a wall before going to look for [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]]. He finds Swoop, only to be confronted by a hologram of Shockwave, who has predicted this move. After destroying all the Decepticons who come, he solves the problem of freeing Swoop by smashing things and the pair look for the rest of their team. They find more of Shockwave's experiments—Insecticons in tubes—and Swoop remembers where [[Slug]] is. Unfortunately Hardshell is waiting for them with some artillery, and Grimlock has to throw fuel pods at him until the ship's destroyed. Grimlock holds the Insecticon up to the optical scanner so they can progress. When they reach the surgical lab, it's totally trashed and there's a big hole in the floor. Grimlock and Swoop jump in.

===Chapter XII: Grimlock Smash===
:''Character: Grimlock''
Beneath the lab, the ground gives way under Grimlock, dropping him into a tunnel, and he decides they'll split up to find Slug. He soon finds the area is infested with Insecticons. Shockwave's voice rings out, telling Grimlock that he has yet to fulfill his full potential and transform, and [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] has volunteered to help. The Insecticon taunts Grimlock and unleashes a huge "bruiser" Insecticon to fight him. When Grimlock is angry enough, he finally changes form into a space ''T-rex''. Kickback decides discretion is the better part of not being slagged, but before he can escape, the door crashes down on him as Slug enters. Slug relates the news that Sludge didn't make it out of the caves, and Snarl's been taken by Shockwave for "extensive testing". As they step outside where Swoop is waiting, they see Shockwave's [[space bridge]] tower firing up. They soon track down Snarl being guarded by Sharpshot and squash his captor. Searching for a place to take shelter and patch up Snarl, they find an observatory and Slug discovers Shockwave's plans to open a space bridge portal. They contact Prime orders Grimlock to return to base, but Grimlock insists on taking the space bridge himself. With Swoop's help, he flies to the tower and fights his way though more Decepticons until he finds Shockwave working. As he goes to hit Shockwave, he's seized by energy chains, while Shockwave reports to Megatron that all is ready. Grimlock switches to dino mode to break free and rip Shockwave's arm off before bashing the space bridge which explodes. Back in Autobot City, the Autobots note that Megatron's portal is becoming unstable and decide they must urgently launch. Metroplex offers whatever spark energy he has left, which allows the Autobots to launch the Ark, at the cost of Metroplex's life.

===Chapter XIII: Till All Are One===
:''Characters: Soundwave/Jetfire/Bruticus/Jazz/Optimus/Megatron''
The ''Nemesis'' draws close to the ''Ark'' as it nears the portal. Megatron orders Soundwave to lead the first wave of the assault. Soundwave rides a tow cable over and, with the help of Rumble and Laserbeak, neutralizes the Ark's cannons. The Decepticons begin their assault en-mass. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] flies outside and severs the tow cables, but even though he's successful, Bruticus flies right past him and lands on the hull of the ''Ark''. After smashing his way through the Autobot defenses, he busts the ship's main energon tank. Jetfire raises the alarm, and Jazz responds. He tries grappling onto Bruticus and shooting the giant in the face, but with the help of Jetfire and an EMP mine, the Autobots hit Bruticus with a series of air strikes, sending him flying off into space. Elsewhere, Bumblebee jumps in the path of Megatron's shot, saving Optimus. Enraged, Optimus punches Megatron across the hull and they face off once again. Their fight is eventually interrupted by the unstable space bridge portal sucking them and both starships in before closing.

==Featured characters==
{{stub}}
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus_Prime_(Prime)|Optimus Prime]] <ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/06/november-cover-revealed-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx November Cover Revealed]</ref> ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]])
*[[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] ([[Keith Szarabajka]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Nolan North]])
*[[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] ([[Gregg Berger]])
*[[Hound (Prime)|Hound]] <ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/26/play-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-multiplayer-on-july-31 Transformers: Fall of Cybertron - G1 Optimus Vignette]</ref>
*[[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] ([[Mark Allan Stewart]])<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/21/transformers-resurrecting-
the-dinobots.aspx Resurrecting the Dinobots.]</ref>
*[[Slug]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]]
*[[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] ([[Sam Riegel]])
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]] ([[Jamieson Price]])
*[[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] ([[Jim Ward]])
*[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (Prime)|Ultra Magnus]] <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-video-game-discussion/27314578d1345329191-full-game-being-played-live-right-now-um.jpg]</ref>
*[[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]]) <ref>November 2011 GameInformer</ref>
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]])
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] ([[Sam Riegel]])
*[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]])
*[[Onslaught (WFC)|Onslaught]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Vortex (FOC)|Vortex]] ([[Dave Boat]])
*[[Swindle (FOC)|Swindle]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Blast Off (FOC)|Blast Off]] ([[Keith Silverstein]])<ref name="ArtofApocalypse">[http://tformers.com/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive/16903/news.html Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Exclusive Art of the Apocalypse Preview], December 2011</ref>
*[[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] ([[Nolan North]])<ref name="ArtofApocalypse"/>
*[[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] ([[Nolan North]])
*[[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]
*[[Sharpshot]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Hardshell]]
*[[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] ([[Keith Silverstein]])<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2oWKGOcxQ&list=FLcq7kqQpk6QT-sn9f9IKKtg&index=2&feature=plpp_video</ref>
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Leaper]]
*[[Guardian (FOC)|Guardian]]
*[[Wall Crawler]]<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/20/clever-devils-the-enemies-and-ai-of-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The AI of War for Cybertron]]</ref>
*[[Dragstrip]]
*Quake <ref>http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-video-game-discussion/27312924d1344389064-fall-cybertron-quake.png</ref>
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Quotes==
"Cliffjumper, you catch any of that?" 
"You mean the screaming, the horror, followed by more screaming?" 
"Ah, yeah, that'd be it."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Cliffjumper'''

==Gameplay==
In an extensive interview with London's ''The Metro'', [[Matt Tieger]] spoke at length about the gameplay improvements ''Fall of Cybertron'' would feature. Tieger acknowledged ''War of Cybertron''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s story was undermined by designing the game levels first, and then finding ways to build the story around it. The story in Fall of Cybertron will also be given depth by Teletraan 1 terminals throughout the game, designed to give the player more information on the backstory of characters, events, etc. This time, the story's first act focuses on the Autobots, the second on the Decepticons and then returns to the Autobots, as opposed to having essentially two games about each faction that did not offer a different experience. Tieger promised the locations would offer the player more freedom, a sense of breathing space between gunfire gameplay segments, and the choice of whether to pass obstacles in robot or alternate mode (rather than forcing them to race to the next part of the map). Unique weaponry befitting each character's original [[Tech Spec]]s were also promised, as well as more unique locations, with artists rendering different types of "rusted, pitted, steel, nickel, chrome" metal environments.<ref>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/884575-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive-interview-planetary-reboot Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron exclusive interview - planetary reboot]</ref>

==Transformers References==
Aside from the obvious G1 inspired character designs, the game has some references to previous iterations of Transformers, a number of them from [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original 1986 movie]]:

* After Megatron is rebuilt, he immediately proceeds to go to where Starscream is and when he arrives, Starscream is wearing the same crown his [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] wore in the movie. The dialogue during the scene is the almost the same as in the feature film.
* When Kickback runs to the door, Slug pushes it from outside and the door falls, smashing Kickback to the ground and when Slug sees Kickback under the door, he says "Excuse me!". This is a straight homage to the scene where [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] pushes the door and it smashes the [[Quintesson]] prosecutor.
* After defeating a group of Insecticons, Slug says that Grimlock tore through them like they were "[[beryllium baloney]]", but Grimlock says "[[cesium salami]]", mirroring the scene where their Generation 1 counterparts argue on [[Quintessa]].
* In an audio log left by [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]], the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' is described as [[Vanguard-class Deep Space Interceptor]], a term which originated in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]].

==External links==
*[http://www.transformersgame.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/06/november-cover-revealed-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx November cover revealed: Fall of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/07/transformers-high-moon-studios-tour.aspx Transformers: High Moon Studio tour] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/10/fall-of-cybertron-the-new-optimus-prime.aspx Fall of Cybertron: The New Optimus Prime] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/transformers_fall_of_cybertron/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/14/grimlock-rises-in-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-teaser-trailer.aspx Grimlock Rises In Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Teaser Trailer] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/12/behind-the-crosshairs-the-weapons-of-transformers.aspx Behind the Crosshairs: The Weapons of Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://youtu.be/Tn4ECyCExeg Fall of Cybertron Teaser 01] @ YouTube
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/13/the-illustrated-tour-of-cybertron.aspx The Illustrated Tour of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/17/directing-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The Story And Direction Of Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/19/animating-the-transformers.aspx Animating The Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/20/clever-devils-the-enemies-and-ai-of-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The Enemies & AI Of Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/21/transformers-resurrecting-the-dinobots.aspx Transformers: Resurrecting The Dinobots] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/24/fall-of-cybertron-deep-character-dive-jazz.aspx Fall Of Cybertron Deep Character Dive: Jazz] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/26/the-transformers-timeline.aspx The Transformers Timeline] @ Game Informer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/26/true-to-character-transformer-fall-of-cybertron.aspx True To Form: Safeguarding The Transformers License] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/28/creating-the-sounds-of-the-transformers.aspx Creating The Soundscape Of Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/31/larger-than-life-designing-transformer-s-set-piece-moments.aspx Larger Than Life: Designing Fall of Cybertron's Set Piece Moments] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/11/02/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-gameplay-roundtable.aspx Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Gameplay Roundtable] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2011/11/03/tfse.aspx Special Edition Podcast: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsINYfFG5Q Fall of Cybertron Cinematic Teaser Trailer] @ YouTube
*[http://www.spike.com/events/video-game-awards-2011/world-premiere-trailers/ul8dqy Fall of Cybertron Cinematic Trailer] @ Spike TV ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3E358n7pcI Mirrored] @ YouTube)
*[http://www.gamespot.com/transformers-fall-of-cybertron/videos/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-official-trailer-6368583/ Fall of Cybertron Official Gameplay Trailer] @ Gamespot

==Footnotes==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Aligned video games]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron]]

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (video game)

2012-09-05T03:34:50Z

SuzyP: /* Chapter II: Defend the Ark */

{{Template:Nav-foc}}
{{videogame
|prev=Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)
|title=''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''
|image=Fall of Cybertron PC cover.jpg‎
|caption=
|developer=[[High Moon Studios]]
|publisher=[[Activision Blizzard|Activision]]
|date=[[August 21]], [[2012]]
|platform=PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 PC
|ratings=ESRB: T PEGI: 12
}}
'''''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''''' is a direct sequel to the 2010 game ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)| War for Cybertron]]'' that was released on [[August 21]], [[2012]]. Published by [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]] and developed by [[High Moon Studios]], the game is a continuation of the events of ''War for Cybertron'', It explores the [[Autobot]]s' attempts to escape from a rapidly deteriorating [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', as well as the gradual downfall and collapse of the remnants of Cybertronian society. A side story also focuses on the creation of the [[Dinobot (FOC)| Dinobots]].
==Synopsis==
===Chapter I: The Exodus===
:''Character: [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]''

The [[Ark (WFC)|Ark]] heads off to the portal which will take them to [[Earth]]. [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] invades the ship using the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', sending [[Decepticon]]s over directly to the bridge of the Ark, forcing Bumblebee, [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] to fight off the aggressors. With more Decepticons swarming the engine room, Optimus heads off to help, leaving Bumblebee to protect the bridge. The artillery cannons are taken offline and the ship blows a [[moleculon fuse|fuse]]. Ratchet sends Bumblebee off to fix it, and after braving nearly being sucked into space, the scout soon replaces the fuse and ascending up a lift to the defense tower. He witnesses Autobots being overrun by a [[Titan (FOC)|Titan]] and then on another level, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] and [[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] attacking. He reaches the defense mainframe and rushes the Decepticon manning it, reactivating the Ark's guns. The tower is hit by a claw that knocks him down a shaft. With his alternator jarred back into gear, Bumblebee transforms and races through an outer area, avoiding explosions, Decepticon tow cables and large chunks of rubble. He passes [[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] having a [[Brawl (WFC)|brawl]] and bringing an [[Onslaught (WFC)|onslaught]] of destruction. He makes it to a stronghold, restocking on ammo, energon and weapons. He fights his way through a few waves of Decepticons, making his way to the engine room, where Prime and Megatron are doing battle. He pushes through enemy lines, with the help of two Titans, and makes his way to the engine room. There he finds Optimus and Megatron engaging in a fierce melee battle on the hull of the ship, and just as Megatron fires a huge cannon at Optimus, Bumblebee throws himself forwards, taking the shot meant for Prime. As Bumblebee falls, Optimus lifts his body...

===Chapter II: Defend the Ark===
:''Character: Optimus Prime''
Six days earlier, the Autobots are preparing the last transport for launch. [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] reports the energon reserves are aboard, and Perceptor is overseeing city shutdown, only for the news to come that the Decepticons have invaded the city. Optimus tries to contact [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]], as it's his sector the Decepticons have invaded, but gets no answer. As Prime moves to head out, a [[Warp Cannon]] crashes to the ground nearby and targets the Ark. Optimus heads through the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] ruins and enters Autobot City through a side door to find the Autobots trying to get the city stable without the absent Grimlock. After helping Ratchet stabilize a badly-injured [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]], Prime sends [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] to find where Grimlock's disappeared to. At the armory, [[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]] reports that [[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] and others are trapped in a nerve center, so he and Optimus fight their way there. After fighting off a horde of Decepticons, they unseal the [[detpak]] from the nerve center door. Sending Warpath back to the Ark, Optimus goes in to meet with Perceptor, who's struggling to get the city working again so they can fight off the Decepticons. He sends Prime to activate an old artillery gun using energon from the Ark, and Prime soon puts the weapon to good use taking out Decepticons. With news that the Warp Cannons are firing on the Ark, Optimus heads to the engine room, but as he moves towards the flight deck, the corridors restructure around him. Decepticons, including [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], have invaded the area, and Optimus finds many bodies, but heads for the neutron cannon. After fighting his way through more Decepticons, he brings the neutron gun online, but again the targeting is out. Optimus takes manual control and helps defend the Ark refueling station from a number of Decepticon tanks. When the cannon runs out of energon, Optimus heads back inside the city and is guided by a mysterious intelligence to the city's core where he pulls a lever... and the entire city transforms into [[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]].

===Chapter III: Metroplex Heeds the Call===
:''Character: Optimus Prime''
Optimus and Metroplex head for the Iacon ruins where the Warp Cannons are located. Once they find the first Warp Cannon, Metroplex laboriously synchronizes his targeting systems with Optimus and together they take out the first cannon. Moving on, Prime helps the survivors of a crashed Autobot ship and finds Warpath in a huge plaza. With the second Warp Cannon shelling them, they head into a building and manage to get close enough to the cannon for Optimus to mark it for destruction by Metroplex. That done, Optimus heads down more corridors and is confronted by three Leapers, which Metroplex handily takes out by putting a fist through the wall. After fighting his way across a huge bridge, Prime gets close enough to the last Warp Cannon to mark it, only for it to take out Metroplex first. With no other choice, Optimus makes his way to the base of the cannon and forces open a door, only to be blasted by Starscream, bashed by Brawl and Onslaught, and dragged in front of Megatron. While Starscream gloats at his victory over Prime, Megatron simply blasts his Air Commander before killing an Autobot in front of the bound Prime. Luckily it turns out Metroplex is back online, and he rips the roof off Megatron's throne room before smashing Megatron into the ground repeatedly with his fist. Starscream pronounces Megatron dead, himself leader and orders the Decepticons back to base. The day is won, but unfortunately all the Autobots' energon is exhausted and they need to find more. Prime believes Grimlock may hold the key, and says Jazz and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] are tracking down their missing comrade.

===Chapter IV: Eye of the Storm===
:''Character: Cliffjumper''
[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] drops Jazz and Cliffjumper off over the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] in the middle of a rust storm to look for Grimlock. In a ruined base, they find a crashed ship which they recognize as one that was stolen by Grimlock from the base. They soon spot Decepticons moving around and sneak inside the base. As they stealthily make their way through, they overhear some Decepticons discussing [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] and his "pets". Using a garbage conveyor, Cliffjumper finds himself in an ancient tomb where guardians are roaming around, scanning for Autobots. Jazz reports the rust storm is increasing in intensity outside. Cliffjumper finds a huge domed room and activates a starmap that shows him an image of [[Earth]]. Continuing through the tomb, Cliffjumper finds more Decepticons, plus sword marks and a trail of destruction he recognizes as Grimlock's work. Eventually he reaches outside again and spots Jazz, but a collapse cuts them off from each other. Cliff hunts through the storm and finds Jazz, freeing his companion from some fallen debris. They soon find more devastation and Jazz detects a faint Autobot distress signal which Cliffjumper tracks to a huge pit, just as the Decepticons seal it. Luckily the two Autobots find a huge bomb they use to blow the pit open and, leaving Cliffjumper behind, Jazz leaps in.

===Chapter V: Cut and Run===
:''Character: Jazz''
Jazz reaches the bottom of the pit and quickly finds [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] in [[stasis lock]]. The audio he plays back from Sludge's memory is not promising. The meaning of the green pods Jazz spots is clear when he finds himself under attack by the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] horde. He blasts a tank which releases a toxic green gas, and he has to race to escape in time. Escaping the pit, he seals it and pair continue to look for the source of the distress signal. They stumble on a huge lake filled with energon which the Decepticons are mining. They fight their way across the moat to the Decepticon facility where Cliffjumper promptly manages to trip an alarm. Jazz utilizes a network of service tunnels, but creeping down one of them, he falls through a grating and is ambushed. Naturally he fights the Decepticons off and even helps out Cliffjumper who's pinned down by Wall Crawlers and other Decepticons. The pair rendezvous at the other side of the moat and head inside the tower. Within, they find Insecticons in tubes and a map pointing to Earth's solar system. Intriguing! Further in, they find Shockwave arguing with Starscream via hologram. Cliffjumper fails to creep up on Shockwave, who sets a bunch of Insecticons on them before leaving. While Jazz keeps the Insecticons busy, Cliffjumper diverts toxic waste into the refinery to make it overload. The refinery starts to melt down and the pair book out, getting picked up by Sideswipe just in time. Jazz contacts Optimus with the news there's a lake of energon ripe for the taking. The Autobots begin preparing a massive energon transport to take the energon to the Ark.

===Chapter VI: Death from Above===
:''Character: Vortex''
The Decepticons get wind of the Autobot plan, and as the transport heads back with a load of energon, Starscream tasks the [[Combaticon (WFC)|Combaticon]]s with intercepting it and leading it to an ambush. [[Vortex (FOC)|Vortex]] and [[Blast Off (FOC)|Blast Off]] are sent to clear a short-cut so Brawl can take a dropship and destroy a bridge. They fly through an ancient Autobot city. The pair run into Autobots though, and Blast Off ends up racing ahead, leaving Vortex to fight them. They eventually reach the bridge, but when Brawl shells it, they find it's shielded. Vortex deactivates the shielding, allowing Brawl to take out the side supports. The central support is a little trickier, and Brawl has to blow a hole in it so Vortex can get in to find the shield controls. After fighting more Autobots, including a Titan, Vortex uses a detpak on the central support and races out as the bridge collapses.

===Chapter VII: Belly of the Beast===
:''Character: Swindle''
Starscream springs his ambush on the transport, but the transport's defenses blast them. Onslaught exasperatedly sends [[Swindle (FOC)|Swindle]] under the transport to try to stop it. Swindle takes out the rear wheels and heads to the front, using his grapple to avoid the deadly acid pools, and takes out the front wheels. This unleashes a pair of titans which he has to destroy. However just as victory looks certain, the transport's wheels convert into jets. As the transport takes to the air, Swindle grapples on board.

===Chapter VIII: Combaticons Combine!===
:''Character: Swindle/Bruticus''
Within the transport, Swindle begins heading through the transport, aiming to take out the anti-aircraft defenses so the other Combaticons can come over in their drop ship. He blows a hole in an exterior wall and starts making his way along the side of the transport. Starscream announces he's calling off the assault, but is corrected by Onslaught, who still believes they can pull it off. Swindle finds the anti-aircraft cannons can be destroyed by simply shooting the shells being fed into them, so he does that, then moves around to the other side of the ship. Unfortunately the Autobots are wise to what the Decepticons are doing and destroy the controls for the shell feed shields so Swindle can't deactivate them. Onslaught brings the drop ship around, and Swindle hops on. Once he uses the top turret to destroy the last gun emplacement, the Combaticons merge into [[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] and start breaking things. He smashes through the transports turbine and break into the control room where the Combaticons split and make swift work of the Autobots. Unfortunately though they have the transport in their control, it's badly damaged and going down, and they can do little more than try to control its course as it crashes. Starscream's unimpressed that they managed to destroy half the energon supply in the crash, and when Onslaught talks back, pointing that the Autobots would have gotten all of it if they did nothing and everything going wrong was a result of Starscream's incompetence, Starscream orders the Combaticons arrested.

===Chapter IX: Megatron Returns===
:''Character: [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]/Megatron''
In his [[Soundwave's workshop|old workshop]] under the gladiator pits, Soundwave powers up the assembly systems so he can put Megatron's salvaged body back together. With the help of his minions, he manages to get Megatron back in one piece and uses an infusion of [[Dark Energon]] to bring his master back to life. Megatron's enraged by the news Starscream is in charge and, grabbing his cannon, heads out to confront his former lieutenant. He arrives, naturally, in the middle of Starscream's coronation. Starscream sets the assembled Decepticons onto their former leader, but as Megatron points out, he was practically forged in these arenas. Once he finishes with the many, many Decepticons, he blasts Starscream who flees. Onslaught offers to chase them down, but Megatron doesn't consider him a threat and has other plans. As the Decepticons move a huge statue of him into pride of place, Megatron meets with Shockwave who has deciphered the ancient technology to open wormholes and located a suitably energy rich planet for them to plunder. Megatron boards a drop ship and heads for the crater where [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] crashed with the intention of recovering the giant Decepticon's power core. Unfortunately his drop ship is shot down on the way.

===Chapter X: The Final Countdown===
:''Character: Megatron''
Jumping clear of the ship, Megatron notes that the Autobots have installed anti-aircraft defenses. Once the Decepticons assault the facility and take it over, Soundwave detects a power source nearby—the Autobots are using Trypticon's power core as an energy source. Furious, Megatron goes to investigate and takes out the defenses surrounding the main compound before calling in Bruticus to clear a path. The Combiner makes short work of the remaining Autobots and holds the massive doors open so Megatron can enter. After emptying the main compound of Autobots, he enters the main building where some Autobots are reporting to Optimus. Megatron slags them and makes it clear he blames Optimus for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s depleted state. The Autobots redouble their attempts to keep Megatron away, but as he gets closer to Trypticon, he realizes that the Autobots haven't removed the power core—Trypticon is still functional. Fighting through more Autobot defenses, including a titan, Megatron gets to Trypticon's legs and finds they've been bound. A few shots of Megatron's cannon frees them. Trypticon's torso is similarly easy to find, with a little help from Laserbeak. Once Megatron breaks Trypticon's bonds, Soundwave arrives and hacks the computer while Megatron smashes the Autobots attacking them. Trypticon, however, is still badly damaged. Megatron informs Trypticon that he failed to destroy the Autobots and will be rebuilt into a new form—the ''Nemesis''.

===Chapter XI: Starscream's Betrayal===
:''Characters: Decepticon trooper/Starscream/Grimlock''
As the Nemesis nears launch, the Decepticons are roused by an alarm as someone tries to hack Shockwave's data logs. A trooper is sent to check the main server. As the two troopers enter the server, they discuss Starscream, only for Starscream himself to decloak and flatten them. He checks the data logs and finds that Shockwave's latest experiment is in the central tower. He uses EMP detpaks to take out the security towers providing the defenses, which takes out the [[force field]]s protecting the maintenance shafts. Flying inside, he finds Shockwave experimenting on Grimlock with [[Hardshell]] and [[Sharpshot]]. Once they leave, Starscream drops into the lab and informs Grimlock he'll be set free if he pledges allegiance to the Air Commander. Grimlock's responds that he can free himself and throws Starscream into a wall before going to look for [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]]. He finds Swoop, only to be confronted by a hologram of Shockwave, who has predicted this move. After destroying all the Decepticons who come, he solves the problem of freeing Swoop by smashing things and the pair look for the rest of their team. They find more of Shockwave's experiments—Insecticons in tubes—and Swoop remembers where [[Slug]] is. Unfortunately Hardshell is waiting for them with some artillery, and Grimlock has to throw fuel pods at him until the ship's destroyed. Grimlock holds the Insecticon up to the optical scanner so they can progress, when when they reach the surgical lab, it's totally trashed and there's a big hole in the floor. Grimlock and Swoop jump in.

===Chapter XII: Grimlock Smash===
:''Character: Grimlock''
Beneath the lab, the ground gives way under Grimlock, dropping him into a tunnel, and he decides they'll split up to find Slug. He soon finds the area is infested with Insecticons. Shockwave's voice rings out, telling Grimlock that he has yet to fulfill his full potential and transform, and [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] has volunteered to help. The Insecticon taunts Grimlock and unleashes a huge "bruiser" Insecticon to fight him. When Grimlock is angry enough, he finally changes form into a space ''T-rex''. Kickback decides discretion is the better part of not being slagged, but before he can escape, the door crashes down on him as Slug enters. Slug relates the news that Sludge didn't make it out of the caves, and Snarl's been taken by Shockwave for "extensive testing". As they step outside where Swoop is waiting, they see Shockwave's [[space bridge]] tower firing up. They soon track down Snarl being guarded by Sharpshot and squash his captor. Searching for a place to take shelter and patch up Snarl, they find an observatory and Slug discovers Shockwave's plans to open a space bridge portal. They contact Prime orders Grimlock to return to base, but Grimlock insists on taking the space bridge himself. With Swoop's help, he flies to the tower and fights his way though more Decepticons until he finds Shockwave working. As he goes to hit Shockwave, he's seized by energy chains, while Shockwave reports to Megatron that all is ready. Grimlock switches to dino mode to break free and rip Shockwave's arm off before bashing the space bridge which explodes. Back in Autobot City, the Autobots note that Megatron's portal is becoming unstable and decide they must urgently launch. Metroplex offers whatever spark energy he has left, which allows the Autobots to launch the Ark, at the cost of Metroplex's life.

===Chapter XIII: Till All Are One===
:''Characters: Soundwave/Jetfire/Bruticus/Jazz/Optimus/Megatron''
The ''Nemesis'' draws close to the ''Ark'' as it nears the portal. Megatron orders Soundwave to lead the first wave of the assault. Soundwave rides a tow cable over and, with the help of Rumble and Laserbeak, neutralizes the Ark's cannons. The Decepticons begin their assault en-mass. [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] flies outside and severs the tow cables, but even though he's successful, Bruticus flies right past him and lands on the hull of the ''Ark''. After smashing his way through the Autobot defenses, he busts the ship's main energon tank. Jetfire raises the alarm, and Jazz responds. He tries grappling onto Bruticus and shooting the giant in the face, but with the help of Jetfire and an EMP mine, the Autobots hit Bruticus with a series of air strikes, sending him flying off into space. Elsewhere, Bumblebee jumps in the path of Megatron's shot, saving Optimus. Enraged, Optimus punches Megatron across the hull and they face off once again. Their fight is eventually interrupted by the unstable space bridge portal sucking them and both starships in before closing.

==Featured characters==
{{stub}}
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus_Prime_(Prime)|Optimus Prime]] <ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/06/november-cover-revealed-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx November Cover Revealed]</ref> ([[Peter Cullen]])
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]])
*[[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] ([[Keith Szarabajka]])
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Nolan North]])
*[[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] ([[Gregg Berger]])
*[[Hound (Prime)|Hound]] <ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/26/play-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-multiplayer-on-july-31 Transformers: Fall of Cybertron - G1 Optimus Vignette]</ref>
*[[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] ([[Mark Allan Stewart]])<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/21/transformers-resurrecting-
the-dinobots.aspx Resurrecting the Dinobots.]</ref>
*[[Slug]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]]
*[[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] ([[Sam Riegel]])
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]] ([[Jamieson Price]])
*[[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]] ([[Jim Ward]])
*[[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (Prime)|Ultra Magnus]] <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-video-game-discussion/27314578d1345329191-full-game-being-played-live-right-now-um.jpg]</ref>
*[[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Metroplex (FOC)|Metroplex]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]]) <ref>November 2011 GameInformer</ref>
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] ([[Fred Tatasciore]])
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] ([[Sam Riegel]])
*[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] ([[Isaac C. Singleton, Jr.]])
*[[Onslaught (WFC)|Onslaught]] ([[Travis Willingham]])
*[[Vortex (FOC)|Vortex]] ([[Dave Boat]])
*[[Swindle (FOC)|Swindle]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Blast Off (FOC)|Blast Off]] ([[Keith Silverstein]])<ref name="ArtofApocalypse">[http://tformers.com/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive/16903/news.html Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Exclusive Art of the Apocalypse Preview], December 2011</ref>
*[[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] ([[Nolan North]])<ref name="ArtofApocalypse"/>
*[[Bruticus (Prime)|Bruticus]] ([[Nolan North]])
*[[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]
*[[Sharpshot]] ([[Steve Blum]])
*[[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]] ([[Troy Baker]])
*[[Hardshell]]
*[[Rumble (Prime)|Rumble]] ([[Keith Silverstein]])<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ2oWKGOcxQ&list=FLcq7kqQpk6QT-sn9f9IKKtg&index=2&feature=plpp_video</ref>
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Leaper]]
*[[Guardian (FOC)|Guardian]]
*[[Wall Crawler]]<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/20/clever-devils-the-enemies-and-ai-of-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The AI of War for Cybertron]]</ref>
*[[Dragstrip]]
*Quake <ref>http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-video-game-discussion/27312924d1344389064-fall-cybertron-quake.png</ref>
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Quotes==
"Cliffjumper, you catch any of that?" 
"You mean the screaming, the horror, followed by more screaming?" 
"Ah, yeah, that'd be it."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Cliffjumper'''

==Gameplay==
In an extensive interview with London's ''The Metro'', [[Matt Tieger]] spoke at length about the gameplay improvements ''Fall of Cybertron'' would feature. Tieger acknowledged ''War of Cybertron''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s story was undermined by designing the game levels first, and then finding ways to build the story around it. The story in Fall of Cybertron will also be given depth by Teletraan 1 terminals throughout the game, designed to give the player more information on the backstory of characters, events, etc. This time, the story's first act focuses on the Autobots, the second on the Decepticons and then returns to the Autobots, as opposed to having essentially two games about each faction that did not offer a different experience. Tieger promised the locations would offer the player more freedom, a sense of breathing space between gunfire gameplay segments, and the choice of whether to pass obstacles in robot or alternate mode (rather than forcing them to race to the next part of the map). Unique weaponry befitting each character's original [[Tech Spec]]s were also promised, as well as more unique locations, with artists rendering different types of "rusted, pitted, steel, nickel, chrome" metal environments.<ref>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/884575-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive-interview-planetary-reboot Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron exclusive interview - planetary reboot]</ref>

==Transformers References==
Aside from the obvious G1 inspired character designs, the game has some references to previous iterations of Transformers, a number of them from [[The Transformers: The Movie|the original 1986 movie]]:

* After Megatron is rebuilt, he immediately proceeds to go to where Starscream is and when he arrives, Starscream is wearing the same crown his [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]] wore in the movie. The dialogue during the scene is the almost the same as in the feature film.
* When Kickback runs to the door, Slug pushes it from outside and the door falls, smashing Kickback to the ground and when Slug sees Kickback under the door, he says "Excuse me!". This is a straight homage to the scene where [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] pushes the door and it smashes the [[Quintesson]] prosecutor.
* After defeating a group of Insecticons, Slug says that Grimlock tore through them like they were "[[beryllium baloney]]", but Grimlock says "[[cesium salami]]", mirroring the scene where their Generation 1 counterparts argue on [[Quintessa]].
* In an audio log left by [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]], the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' is described as [[Vanguard-class Deep Space Interceptor]], a term which originated in [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]].

==External links==
*[http://www.transformersgame.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/10/06/november-cover-revealed-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx November cover revealed: Fall of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/07/transformers-high-moon-studios-tour.aspx Transformers: High Moon Studio tour] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/10/fall-of-cybertron-the-new-optimus-prime.aspx Fall of Cybertron: The New Optimus Prime] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/transformers_fall_of_cybertron/b/xbox360/archive/2011/10/14/grimlock-rises-in-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-teaser-trailer.aspx Grimlock Rises In Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Teaser Trailer] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/12/behind-the-crosshairs-the-weapons-of-transformers.aspx Behind the Crosshairs: The Weapons of Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://youtu.be/Tn4ECyCExeg Fall of Cybertron Teaser 01] @ YouTube
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/13/the-illustrated-tour-of-cybertron.aspx The Illustrated Tour of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/17/directing-transformers-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The Story And Direction Of Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/19/animating-the-transformers.aspx Animating The Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/20/clever-devils-the-enemies-and-ai-of-fall-of-cybertron.aspx The Enemies & AI Of Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/21/transformers-resurrecting-the-dinobots.aspx Transformers: Resurrecting The Dinobots] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/24/fall-of-cybertron-deep-character-dive-jazz.aspx Fall Of Cybertron Deep Character Dive: Jazz] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/26/the-transformers-timeline.aspx The Transformers Timeline] @ Game Informer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/26/true-to-character-transformer-fall-of-cybertron.aspx True To Form: Safeguarding The Transformers License] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/28/creating-the-sounds-of-the-transformers.aspx Creating The Soundscape Of Transformers] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/10/31/larger-than-life-designing-transformer-s-set-piece-moments.aspx Larger Than Life: Designing Fall of Cybertron's Set Piece Moments] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/11/02/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-gameplay-roundtable.aspx Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Gameplay Roundtable] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2011/11/03/tfse.aspx Special Edition Podcast: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron] @ GameInformer
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsINYfFG5Q Fall of Cybertron Cinematic Teaser Trailer] @ YouTube
*[http://www.spike.com/events/video-game-awards-2011/world-premiere-trailers/ul8dqy Fall of Cybertron Cinematic Trailer] @ Spike TV ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3E358n7pcI Mirrored] @ YouTube)
*[http://www.gamespot.com/transformers-fall-of-cybertron/videos/transformers-fall-of-cybertron-official-trailer-6368583/ Fall of Cybertron Official Gameplay Trailer] @ Gamespot

==Footnotes==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Aligned video games]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron]]

Out of the Past

2012-09-04T03:28:39Z

SuzyP:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 43
|prev=Hurt
|next=New Recruit
|image=OutofthePast-Shockwave.jpg
|caption=Insert "are all dead" reference here.
|title="Out of the Past"
|airdate=[[August 31]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Mike Johnson]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Arcee recalls the time she and Cliffjumper discovered Shockwave and Starscream were building a space bridge.'''

==Synopsis==
:''The ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' flies through space. On the bridge, [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] is dragged before [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] who's interested in decrypting an Autobot signal he's intercepted. While Arcee defies his "offer" by telling him where to go, Starscream reveals he has another prisoner—[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]].''

In the present day, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is struggling with his recovery, with [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] providing some "encouragement" in the form of ordering him around. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is similarly struggling to decode the recovered Iacon database. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] says Bulkhead needs a break, despite Miko being annoyed at the slow progress her friend is making. She storms out of the base, but Arcee follows and finds her crying atop the plateau in which the base is located. The Autobot tries to talk to her friend about Bulkhead, and the conversation leads to Miko asking about Cliffjumper.

:''Cliffjumper is dumped in the cell, having undergone torture but has resisted talking. He and Arcee discuss how they came to be back on Cybertron. Elsewhere Starscream complains about the failure of his interrogation, and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] suggests taking them down on the planet's surface. Starscream and some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] are soon leading the two prisoners through [[Kaon]] to a laboratory. Cliffjumper is concerned at the sight of the many tools lying ready to be used, even moreso when Starscream introduces them to [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]] himself. The two Autobots are strapped to tables, and Shockwave uses a [[cortical psychic patch]] to hook in to Arcee's mind. The process is successful and Starscream uses it to decode the transmission—which turns out to be Optimus Prime's message to bring the other Autobots to [[Earth]].''

:''Though the Decepticons have assumed Arcee is dead, she is very much alive and surreptitiously begins freeing herself. As Shockwave prepares to finish off Cliffjumper, Cliff suggests Starscream should be the one to do it. Shockwave leaves them to it, but as Starscream moves in, he's attacked by Arcee. She straps him to the free table and releases Cliffjumper. Starscream quickly folds under questioning and confesses Shockwave remained on the planet because he's building a [[space bridge]]. Knocking the 'Con out, Arcee goes to shut down the space bridge, and Cliffjumper insists on going along, despite her skepticism about his capacity for stealth. As they walk, Cliff suggests they should join Optimus's team, but Arcee isn't as keen, and rejects the idea that Cliff is her partner. Cliffjumper believes she shouldn't close herself off just because of [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death.''

Miko recognizes the truth of this advice, but asks Arcee what happened next.

:''Arcee and Cliffjumper find the space bridge, with two Vehicons operating it. While Cliff provides a distraction, Arcee starts sabotaging the bridge to overload it. Unfortunately Shockwave arrives and attempts to fix the bridge. Cliffjumper dispatches the Vehicons before sparring with Shockwave, ultimately being defeated by the hulking Decepticon. Arcee lends a hand, bringing the roof down on the Decepticon, but the pair become pinned down by Starscream and some Vehicons. Starscream demands they reverse the damage to the space bridge, but they instead head through it. Halfway through the space bridge tunnel, Shockwave catches up with the two Autobots and they exchange fire until Arcee shoots him in the eye. The space bridge deposits Cliffjumper and Arcee on Earth seconds before exploding, and after declaring themselves partners, they go to find Optimus.''

Arcee finishes her story as the sun goes down, saying she misses Cliffjumper. Miko rests her hand on Arcee's in a gesture of comfort as they watch the sunset.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime) | Arcee]] (2)
*''[[Cliffjumper (Prime) | Cliffjumper]] (5)''
*[[Bulkhead (Prime) | Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime) | Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (Prime) | Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime) | Bumblebee]] (10)
* ''[[Tailgate (Prime) | Tailgate]] (13)''
|c2=
*''[[Vehicon (Prime) | Vehicons]] (1)''
*''[[Starscream (Prime) | Starscream]] (3)''
*''[[Soundwave (Prime) | Soundwave]] (4)''
*''[[Shockwave (Prime) | Shockwave]] (11)''
*''[[Airachnid (Prime) | Airachnid]] (12)''
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"So this is Kaon, huh? Love what you Decepticons have done with the place. The ruins are especially picturesque."
:—'''Cliffjumper'''

"Your reasoning is hardly... ''logical''."
:—'''Shockwave'''

"While it often pains me, I ''try'' to be a team player."
:—'''Starscream'''

"If they want our help, then maybe they should stop shooting at us."
:—'''Cliffjumper'''

"Funny. At first I didn't think I'd ever get used to Cliff's constant chatter. Now, there's nothing louder to me than the silence."
:—'''Arcee'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Within the space bridge, Cliffjumper is by Arcee's side while shooting at Shockwave, but disappears when it's just Arcee facing the Decepticon. He reappears as Arcee shoots Shockwave's eye.
*When Starsream and Shockwave are listening to Optimus Prime's transmission, Shockwave is seen on the left of starscream but when the transmission ends he's on Starscream's right. It is possible that he moved when the camera was turned to the autobots.
*The bottom part of Arcee's head crest is red but when she and Cliffjumper are interogating Starscream it becomes silver and the later on becomes red again.

===Continuity notes===
* This episode retells the prequel story told in [[Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|the IDW graphic novel]] (also written by Mike Johnson). The story's still about Arcee and Cliffjumper learning about Optimus Prime on Earth, uncovering a Decepticon plot to reestablish forgotten [[space bridge]] technology, Cliffjumper pretending to forfeit to the Decepticons as a cover for Arcee's hijinks, and them running for the space bridge portal to Earth while being blasted at by Decepticons. However, each of these stories occur in an incompatible way, and the episode gives responsibility for the space bridge project to Shockwave instead of Starscream.
* Cliffjumper is voiced by [[Billy Brown]], whose imitation of [[Dwayne Johnson]] generally sounds quite convincing.
* Bulkhead has regained consciousness since the events of "[[Hurt]]", but he can barely walk.
* Optimus tries to decode the rest of the Iacon database gained in "[[Triage]]".

===Continuity errors===

===Transformers references===
*Cliffjumper mentions getting lost in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], which did sort of happen in ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron| Fall of Cybertron]]'', and he was, kind of, separated from his unit (if you count [[Sideswipe (WFC)|two]] [[Jazz (WFC)|bots]] as a unit). However, Cliff ''did'' have Jazz to talk to.
*Shockwave stayed behind on Cybertron, much like how his G1-counterpart remained on the planet.
*Arcee's declaration that space bridge technology was lost for a long time was true in the ''Transformers: Exodus'' novel.
*Throughout several continuities, Shockwave has kept to logic as his sense for reason.
*This isn't the first time that [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] has attempted to extract [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|codes]] from [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]. The same happened [[This Is Why I Hate Machines|towards]] [[Endgame, Part I|the end]] of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]''.

===Real-world references===
===Trivia===
*Shockwave is apparently the inventor of the illegal cortical psychic patch. Not surprising, considering he's also responsible for some "certain" changes made to some "certain" [[Dinobot (FOC)|Autobots]].
*As in "[[Predatory]]", the primary characters use the same models, meaning they all have Earth-mode kibble well before ever visiting Earth.
*Starscream gloats about how he captured the uncaptureable Arcee. Apparently he never heard of [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]'s [[Predatory|encounter]] with [[Airachnid]]. This is consistent with comments he makes in the episode "[[Partners]]", in which he asks "Who's Tailgate?", accidentally revealing to Arcee that it was he who killed Cliffjumper.
*Arcee's flashback of Tailgate's death happens during the flashback of her adventure with Cliffjumper. A flashback within a flashback.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Grimlock (WFC)

2012-09-04T03:17:41Z

SuzyP: /* Transformers: Fall of Cybertron */

{{faction|autobot|hofsilver|lightningstrike}}
{{disambig3|Grimlock}}
{{featured}}

:''Grimlock is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:Grimlock FOC.png|thumb|right|350px|Dreamwave poses haunt my nightmares]]

'''Grimlock''' is a wild card among the Autobots. Huge and powerful, he is also ego-maniacal, impatient and willful. He views [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] as a weak leader, too afraid to make the tough calls and act on instinct. As such Grimlock is more than ready to disobey orders if he thinks the ends will justify the means. His one obvious redeeming feature is his attachment to his team. As leader of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition Force]], he has gathered together a group of similar minded individuals he would do anything for. Together they handle the jobs the Autobots don't have the stomach for.

[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave's]] experiments not only granted Grimlock a new alternate form, but increased his power tenfold. Unfortunately this was at the cost of his intelligence. While far from stupid, Shockwave's experiments have made it more difficult for the former field commander to think rationally and made his already prominent rage issues all the more severe. Fortunately his team, reborn as the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobots]], have become more tight-knit than ever. Together they are helping overcome his disgust at what Shockwave has done to him and see the advantages of his new power.

==Fiction==
===''Hall of Fame'' bios===
Grimlock was a [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] from [[Kaon]], but chose to join the Autobots early on in the war. His dislike of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] and shock and awe approach to combat meant he was not regarded as a great leader, but he has survived long enough to earn a high rank and command of the Lightning Strike Coalition. Captured by [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]], they were reformatted into the Dinobots. During a battle with [[Scorponok (Prime)|Scorponok]], Grimlock's vocal [[processors]] were damaged, causing his awkward manner of speaking. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

===''Fall of Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:GoodIntentions-Grimlock.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Don't mind these tires. I'm actually a treaded vehicle.]]
Shortly before the [[Great Exodus]], the Lightning Strike Coalition were a brutal subgroup of Autobots under the leadership of Grimlock who reluctantly followed [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s more cautious brand of warfare... when ordered. Optimus preferred playing the long game, but Grimlock felt that caution would hinder their attempts at quick victory. During one of the Lightning Strike Coalition's missions, Optimus Prime ordered them to return to base and abandon their battle, lest they waste precious energon. Grimlock reluctantly obeyed. However, when it was discovered that [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] was in Decepticon custody, Grimlock ignored Optimus Prime's orders, broke ranks, and the Lightning Strike Coalition went after him on their own. {{storylink|Good Intentions}} Grimlock, secure in his arrogance, was glad that the fate of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] rested in his hands. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Crispin Freeman]] (English)

[[Image:WFCDS Grimlock.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Me Grimlock too big to fit on screen.]]
Grimlock and Swoop were two powerful best friends who'd apparently taken no side in the war for the planet. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], leader of the Autobots, came to them to recruit them to the cause. Grimlock dismissed the [[Decepticon]] threat, claiming they were "too stupid" to mess with him and Swoop. The Autobots tried to explain that the Dark Energon could ravage Cybertron permanently, but Grimlock and [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] almost came to blows. Optimus began playing to Grimlock's self-centered ego, saying no one was stronger than Grimlock and Swoop, to the former's pleasure. Ironhide and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] joined in, but adding that with [[Dark Energon]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and his forces could be stronger than Grimlock and Swoop.

Grimlock decided that he and Swoop would consider joining the Autobots, but just as negotiations were to begin, Grimlock noticed Swoop had been missing since the Autobots arrived. Grimlock said they would speak once Swoop was rescued from the Decepticons. Once Swoop was safe, he immediately joined the Autobots in gratitude. Grimlock declared he wouldn't join the Autobots yet, but tag along to protect his best friend.

[[Image:GrimlockWFCconceptart.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Me Grimlock transform into blackboard eraser!]]

Grimlock subsequently actively participated in the campaigns to save the [[Core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Grimlock said that even though the Decepticon army was waiting for them at the Core, all they'd wait for from him was a butt-kicking. Ironhide pondered aloud if it was a good idea to bring Grimlock along, but as Optimus put it, "Do you want to be the one to argue with them?"

Grimlock also participated in the battle against the massive Decepticon [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]], and presumably stayed behind with Optimus on Cybertron while the Autobot population evacuated the planet.

Grimlock was apparently wandering around an [[Energon]] purification station the Autobots had been using, and picked a fight with the Autobots. To his utter surprise, the Autobots beat Grimlock, and he finally joined them. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Gregg Berger]]

{{spoiler|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|September 21, 2012}}

[[Image:FOC-theonecalledGrimlock.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]

Before the [[Great Exodus]], Grimlock and his Lightning Strike Coalition were ordered to help guard the Ark prior to its launch. However, they picked up unusual energy emissions from the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] and Grimlock had them steal a dropship to go investigate. It turned out Shockwave and his [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] had discovered an ancient Cybertronian Space Bridge. They battled the Insecticons but four of the team were captured. Shockwave decided to use them as guinea pigs in an experiment, using the DNA of creatures discovered on an energy-rich planet to reformat the LSC into massively powerful dinosaur forms. While all members of the team were experimented on, Grimlock's change was the most extreme. Shockwave rerouted a large amount of the energy for his cerebral circuitry in order to boost his already impressive physical strength. Once the change was complete, Grimlock was more powerful and durable than almost any other Cybertronian, but the changes left him mentally impaired, limiting his ability to think. In order to control him, Shockwave placed an inhibitor in Grimlock which prevented him from transforming.

[[Image:FOC-Grimlocktower.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]

Following a pain-based test, the restrained Grimlock was approached by a recently ousted [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], who offered to free Grimlock in exchange for his help battling Megatron. Grimlock proposed a counter-offer: grabbing the less than cautious Starscream and using him as a projectile to smash the control console. Now free, Grimlock made his way through the duplicate space-bridge tower Shockwave and his Insecticons had constructed, leaving a path of destruction and dead bodies in his wake. He eventually managed to track down and free [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]]. Grimlock was perturbed to see Swoop's personality remained the same, as did his ability to transform. It didn't help that Swoop greatly enjoyed his new form and that unlike Grimlock, Swoop couldn't remember the torture they had endured. The pair attempted to track down [[Slug]] but, just before reaching his containment lab, was intercepted by [[Hardshell]] who tried to slow them down using a mounted turret. Working together, Swoop and Grimlock defeated the Insecticon and used his face to open a door.

[[Image:FOC-Grimlockspacetrex.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]

Arriving at Slug's lab, they found a massive tunnel leading to the depths of the tower, where the Insections were feeding on unlucky Decepticons. Separated from Swoop, Grimlock was taunted by Shockwave and Kickback for his inability to transform. Enraged, he chased Kickback down before being attacked by a giant Insecticon. Grimlock defeated it, but Kickback's taunts about his defeat in the Sea of Rust angered him to such a degree, he over-rode Shockwave's block and transformed to his ''T''. ''rex'' form. Making short work of Kickback's forces, he drove the Insecticon to retreat...straight into a collapsing door, brought down by Slug. Reunited, Grimlock and Slug made their way to the exterior base of the tower where they met with Swoop. The trio then travelled through the Insecticon infested area, eventually stumbling upon Snarl, trapped in a forcefield and being tortured by [[Sharpshot]]. While Slug and Swoop tried to free Snarl, Grimlock battled the Insecticons and brought down the forcefield generator. He then slaughtered a terrified Sharpshot. At Slug's suggestion, they made their way to a place where Snarl could be repaired.

[[Image:FOC-GrimlockShockwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]

The LSC made their way to an observation deck which not only oversaw Shockwave's space bridge, but contained files on the forms Shockwave had forced upon them, including the one he had planned for the late [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]]. It was then the team threw aside their previous name and took the title Sharpshot and Kickback and given them, the Dinobots. In the lab, Slug revealed the tower's purpose in transporting the Decepticons to an energy-rich planet and, against Grimlock's wishes, contacted Prime. Grimlock updated Optimus but refused to rally together, deciding that the Dinobots would handle things their way. Unfortunately, Shockwave activated the space bridge and Grimlock was thrown into the air. Saved by Swoop, he was transported close to the control center of the tower before the winds became too much, separating them. Crashing into the tower, Grimlock tried to sneak up on Shockwave, but found himself once more restrained. As Shockwave finalised procedures with Megatron, a furious Grimlock transformed himself free, ripped Shockwave's arm off and smashed the control console. Unfortunately, this massively destabilised the tower and it collapsed before he could escape. However, as the Dinobots watched the tower collapse, something was transported from the space bridge to the now unstable wormhole formed above Cybertron...{{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generations_fall_of_cybertron_voyager_grimlock.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
*'''Grimlock''' (Voyager Class, 2013)
:*''Accessories'': sword, shield
:Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Voyager Class toys, Grimlock is based on his ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' design, and transforms into a robotic [[Popular beast alternate modes|tyrannosaurus rex]].

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In the end, it was not guns or bombs that defeated the aliens, but that humblest of all God's creatures, the ''Tyrannosaurus rex''.]]
*The gladiator aspect of Grimlock's [[Transformers Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] nomination bio is based on his [[Grimlock (G1)#Dreamwave comics continuity|Dreamwave]] and [[Grimlock (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW]] incarnations, while his enmity with Scorponok has shades of the latter and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]'s story.
*As reproduced in ''[[Transformers Vault]]'', according to the map of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in [[Hasbro]]'s "[[Binder of Revelation]]" (the [[production bible]] for the [[Aligned continuity family]]), Grimlock comes from [[Simfur]] (from where he was presumably transferred to Kaon). This is a reference to prolific ''Transformers'' scribe [[Simon Furman]], whose signature character is Grimlock.
*[[High Moon Studios]]' [[Matt Tieger]] has claimed in various interviews and features for ''Fall of Cybertron'' that Grimlock was not originally in the "Binder of Revelation", and that he convinced them that a backstory for them had to be incorporated.
*Tieger also said Grimlock can only transform in ''Fall of Cybertron'' by gaining a number of kills in battle, likening him to the [[Hulk]].<ref>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/884575-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive-interview-planetary-reboot Metro interview with Matt Tieger]</ref>
*Grimlock was used on the promotional image on the Valentine's Day of 2012 on [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]]'s ''Transformers'' Game Facebook.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150688771875097 What do you do on Valentine's Day when you want to make it count? We know....]</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dinobots]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Autobots]]

Grimlock (WFC)

2012-09-04T03:05:03Z

SuzyP:

{{faction|autobot|hofsilver|lightningstrike}}
{{disambig3|Grimlock}}
{{featured}}

:''Grimlock is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''

[[Image:Grimlock FOC.png|thumb|right|350px|Dreamwave poses haunt my nightmares]]

'''Grimlock''' is a wild card among the Autobots. Huge and powerful, he is also ego-maniacal, impatient and willful. He views [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] as a weak leader, too afraid to make the tough calls and act on instinct. As such Grimlock is more than ready to disobey orders if he thinks the ends will justify the means. His one obvious redeeming feature is his attachment to his team. As leader of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition Force]], he has gathered together a group of similar minded individuals he would do anything for. Together they handle the jobs the Autobots don't have the stomach for.

[[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave's]] experiments not only granted Grimlock a new alternate form, but increased his power tenfold. Unfortunately this was at the cost of his intelligence. While far from stupid, Shockwave's experiments have made it more difficult for the former field commander to think rationally and made his already prominent rage issues all the more severe. Fortunately his team, reborn as the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobots]], have become more tight-knit than ever. Together they are helping overcome his disgust at what Shockwave has done to him and see the advantages of his new power.

==Fiction==
===''Hall of Fame'' bios===
Grimlock was a [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] from [[Kaon]], but chose to join the Autobots early on in the war. His dislike of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] and shock and awe approach to combat meant he was not regarded as a great leader, but he has survived long enough to earn a high rank and command of the Lightning Strike Coalition. Captured by [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]], they were reformatted into the Dinobots. During a battle with [[Scorponok (Prime)|Scorponok]], Grimlock's vocal [[processors]] were damaged, causing his awkward manner of speaking. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

===''Fall of Cybertron'' comic===
[[Image:GoodIntentions-Grimlock.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Don't mind these tires. I'm actually a treaded vehicle.]]
Shortly before the [[Great Exodus]], the Lightning Strike Coalition were a brutal subgroup of Autobots under the leadership of Grimlock who reluctantly followed [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s more cautious brand of warfare... when ordered. Optimus preferred playing the long game, but Grimlock felt that caution would hinder their attempts at quick victory. During one of the Lightning Strike Coalition's missions, Optimus Prime ordered them to return to base and abandon their battle, lest they waste precious energon. Grimlock reluctantly obeyed. However, when it was discovered that [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] was in Decepticon custody, Grimlock ignored Optimus Prime's orders, broke ranks, and the Lightning Strike Coalition went after him on their own. {{storylink|Good Intentions}} Grimlock, secure in his arrogance, was glad that the fate of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] rested in his hands. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Crispin Freeman]] (English)

[[Image:WFCDS Grimlock.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Me Grimlock too big to fit on screen.]]
Grimlock and Swoop were two powerful best friends who'd apparently taken no side in the war for the planet. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], leader of the Autobots, came to them to recruit them to the cause. Grimlock dismissed the [[Decepticon]] threat, claiming they were "too stupid" to mess with him and Swoop. The Autobots tried to explain that the Dark Energon could ravage Cybertron permanently, but Grimlock and [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]] almost came to blows. Optimus began playing to Grimlock's self-centered ego, saying no one was stronger than Grimlock and Swoop, to the former's pleasure. Ironhide and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] joined in, but adding that with [[Dark Energon]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] and his forces could be stronger than Grimlock and Swoop.

Grimlock decided that he and Swoop would consider joining the Autobots, but just as negotiations were to begin, Grimlock noticed Swoop had been missing since the Autobots arrived. Grimlock said they would speak once Swoop was rescued from the Decepticons. Once Swoop was safe, he immediately joined the Autobots in gratitude. Grimlock declared he wouldn't join the Autobots yet, but tag along to protect his best friend.

[[Image:GrimlockWFCconceptart.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Me Grimlock transform into blackboard eraser!]]

Grimlock subsequently actively participated in the campaigns to save the [[Core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Grimlock said that even though the Decepticon army was waiting for them at the Core, all they'd wait for from him was a butt-kicking. Ironhide pondered aloud if it was a good idea to bring Grimlock along, but as Optimus put it, "Do you want to be the one to argue with them?"

Grimlock also participated in the battle against the massive Decepticon [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]], and presumably stayed behind with Optimus on Cybertron while the Autobot population evacuated the planet.

Grimlock was apparently wandering around an [[Energon]] purification station the Autobots had been using, and picked a fight with the Autobots. To his utter surprise, the Autobots beat Grimlock, and he finally joined them. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Gregg Berger]]

{{spoiler|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|September 21, 2012}}

[[Image:FOC-theonecalledGrimlock.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]

Before the [[Great Exodus]], Grimlock and his Lightning Strike Coalition were ordered to help guard the Ark prior to its launch. However, they picked up unusual energy emissions from the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] and Grimlock had them steal a dropship to go investigate. It turned out Shockwave and his [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] had discovered an ancient Cybertronian Space Bridge. They battled the Insecticons but four of the team was captured. Shockwave decided to use them as guinea pigs in an experiment, using the DNA of creatures discovered on an energy rich planet to reformat the LSC into massively powerful dinosaur forms. While all the team was experimented on, Grimlock's change was the most extreme. Shockwave rerouted a large amount of the energy for his cerebral circuitry in order to boost his already impressive physical strength. Once the change was complete, Grimlock was more powerful and durable than almost any other Cybertronian, but the changes left him mentally impaired, limiting his ability to think. In order to control him, Shockwave placed an inhibitor in Grimlock which prevented him from transforming.

[[Image:FOC-Grimlocktower.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]

Following a pain-based test, the restrained Grimlock was approached by a recently ousted [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], who offered to free Grimlock in exchange for his help battling Megatron. Grimlock proposed a counter-offer: grabbing the less than cautious Starscream and using him as a projectile to smash the control console, freeing Grimlock. He made his way through the duplicate space-bridge tower Shockwave and his Insecticons had constructed, leaving a path of destruction and dead bodies in his wake. He eventually managed to track down and free [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]]. Grimlock was perturbed to see Swoop's personality remained the same, as did his ability to transform. It didn't help that Swoop greatly enjoyed his new form and that unlike Grimlock, Swoop couldn't remember the torture they had endured. The pair attempted to track down [[Slug]] but, just before reaching his containment lab, were intercepted by [[Hardshell]] who tried to slow them down using a mounted turret. Working together Swoop and Grimlock defeated the Insecticon and used his face to open a door.

[[Image:FOC-Grimlockspacetrex.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]

Arriving at Slug's lab, they found a massive tunnel leading to the depths of the tower, where the Insections were feeding on the unlucky Decepticons. Separated from Swoop, Grimlock was taunted by Shockwave and Kickback for his inability to transform. Enraged he chased Kickback down, before being attacked by a giant Insecticon. Grimlock defeated it, but Kickback's taunts about his defeat in the Sea of Rust angered him to such a degree, he over-rode Shockwave's block and transformed to his ''T''. ''rex'' form. Making short work of Kickback,s forces, he drove the Insecticon to retreat...straight into a collapsing door, brought down by Slug. Reunited, Grimlock and Slug made their way to the exterior base of the tower where they met with Swoop. The trio then travelled through the Insecticon infested area, eventually stumbling upon Snarl, trapped in a forcefield and being tortured by [[Sharpshot]]. While Slug and Swoop tried to free Snarl, Grimlock battled the Insecticons and brought down the forcefield generator. He then slaughtered a terrified Sharpshot. At Slug's suggestion, they made their way to someplace they could take Snarl for repairs.

[[Image:FOC-GrimlockShockwave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]

The LSC made their way to an observation deck which not only oversaw Shockwave's space bridge but contained files on the forms Shockwave had forced upon them, including the one he had planned for the late [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]]. It was then the team threw aside their previous name and took the title Sharpshot and Kickback and given them, the Dinobots. In the lab, Slug revealed the towers purpose in transporting the Decepticons to an energy rich planet, and against Grimlock's wishes contacted Prime. Grimlock updated Optimus but refused to rally together, deciding that the Dinobots would handle things their way. Unfortunately, Shockwave activated the space bridge and Grimlock was thrown into the air. Saved by Swoop, he was transported close to the control center of the tower, before the winds became too much, separating them. Crashing into the tower, Grimlock tried to sneak up on Shockwave, but found himself once more restrained. As Shockwave finalised procedures with Megatron, a furious Grimlock transformed himself free, ripped Shockwave's arm off and smashed the control console. Unfortunately, this massively destabilised the tower and it collapsed before he could escape. However, as the Dinobots watched the tower collapse, something was transported from the space bridge to the now unstable wormhole formed above Cybertron...{{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generations_fall_of_cybertron_voyager_grimlock.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
*'''Grimlock''' (Voyager Class, 2013)
:*''Accessories'': sword, shield
:Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Voyager Class toys, Grimlock is based on his ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' design, and transforms into a robotic [[Popular beast alternate modes|tyrannosaurus rex]].

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In the end, it was not guns or bombs that defeated the aliens, but that humblest of all God's creatures, the ''Tyrannosaurus rex''.]]
*The gladiator aspect of Grimlock's [[Transformers Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] nomination bio is based on his [[Grimlock (G1)#Dreamwave comics continuity|Dreamwave]] and [[Grimlock (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW]] incarnations, while his enmity with Scorponok has shades of the latter and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]'s story.
*As reproduced in ''[[Transformers Vault]]'', according to the map of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in [[Hasbro]]'s "[[Binder of Revelation]]" (the [[production bible]] for the [[Aligned continuity family]]), Grimlock comes from [[Simfur]] (from where he was presumably transferred to Kaon). This is a reference to prolific ''Transformers'' scribe [[Simon Furman]], whose signature character is Grimlock.
*[[High Moon Studios]]' [[Matt Tieger]] has claimed in various interviews and features for ''Fall of Cybertron'' that Grimlock was not originally in the "Binder of Revelation", and that he convinced them that a backstory for them had to be incorporated.
*Tieger also said Grimlock can only transform in ''Fall of Cybertron'' by gaining a number of kills in battle, likening him to the [[Hulk]].<ref>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/884575-transformers-fall-of-cybertron-exclusive-interview-planetary-reboot Metro interview with Matt Tieger]</ref>
*Grimlock was used on the promotional image on the Valentine's Day of 2012 on [[Activision Blizzard|Activision]]'s ''Transformers'' Game Facebook.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150688771875097 What do you do on Valentine's Day when you want to make it count? We know....]</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Dinobots]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Autobots]]

Toxicity

2012-08-26T02:05:50Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=Hurt
|image=Toxicity Tox-En.jpg
|caption=Despite the title, this episode has nothing to do with System of a Down.
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:HardshellTeaser.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave [[Jack Darby|with]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|her]] [[Arcee (Prime)|team]] before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but his search is interrupted by the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. Although he takes a few hits, the Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Meanwhile, Hardshell comes to and heads off with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

[[Image:Prime-Hardshellvolcanovent.jpg|right|250px|thumb| Hardshell [[Master Blaster|is not so easily destroyed]].]]
Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

[[Hurt|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==



{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (15) (flashback)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (14) (flashback)
}}



==Quotes==
"I can haz cheeseburger!"
:—Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"Yeess, the Wrecker leaks from his wounds."
:—'''Hardshell''' pulling a [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] on us.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:—'''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Look soldier. You know as well as I do there's the mission. And the reason why you take the mission!..." 
"Honor... duty..." 
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' tries to encourage a faltering '''Bulkhead'''.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
(''Insecticons surround Bulkhead, who sighs and takes out a grenade'') 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

"Fowler... mission accomplished. Though you might have to... tuck me in."
:—Half-dead from Tox-En poisoning, and all '''Bulkhead''' needs is a nap? ''Hardcore''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* After Hardshell punches Bulkhead during their first fight, the latter's cannons transform into maces without the usual sound effects.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Megatron receives Hardshell's report on the Tox-En, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is standing behind him, with his visor undamaged. This clashes with the continuity of the arc; Soundwave should either be absent from the ship (if he's still embroiled in his relic hunt) or sporting a cracked visor from his battle with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], as a later scene in this episode indicates that [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is still on his own relic hunt.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground. Although he could have transformed off screen.
* Speaking of that Insecticon, its fate is somewhat ambiguous. It falls over in a way that suggests that it's unconscious or dead, but Hardshell acts as though it is still online. Either way, it doesn't appear for the rest of the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* It has been shown previously that Insecticons have blasters, and they show awareness of Tox-En's debilitating effects on their bodies... so why don't any of them try attacking Bulkhead from range, reducing the risk of Tox-En exposure? Even if they're trying to avoid hitting the Tox-En, they could certainly at least flank Bulkhead and attack from opposite sides.
* As Fowler tries to contact Bulkhead during the battle in the volcano's caldera, we see Ratchet and Raf downloading the Iacon database in the background (as seen in [[Triage|the previous episode]]). However, when the same scene was shown in "Triage", Fowler was silent for the duration of Ratchet and Raf's conversation.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* During Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, the Insecticon delivers an attack that looks eerily similar to how [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] killed [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. The actual hit is obscured (the camera is set behind Hardshell), but it doesn't seem to do any visible damage (although this could be why Bulkhead was leaking energon after the fight). At the end of the fight, meanwhile, Bulkhead clocks Hardshell with a wicked uppercut, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"; the mandible even sticks point-first in the ground.
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to scenes from previous episodes when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplet]]s through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage". Wrecker style, indeed.

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses in the foreground looks a lot like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]]. The reddish one behind it looks similar to the [[generic]] impaled by Megatron during Ratchet's flashback to the beginning of the Great War in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Green-tinted energon that emits visible fumes and is toxic to Cybertronians was previously seen in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)| Energon]]''. Given Bulkhead's flashback, Megatron's refined, weaponized version of Tox-En may be a small-scale version of the energon gas that plagued that series' version of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, Bulkhead has been inside Decepticon barracks at some point (possibly on a mission for the Wreckers back on Cybertron). They are very, very smelly, but not as much as the landscape near an active volcano.
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.
* Bulkhead tells Fowler that the relic would likely survive a dip in molten rock while hunting for it in a cooled lava flow. Not only is this technically untrue (the Tox-En only survived its fall due to its container), but a drop into lava is exactly how Bulkhead disposes of the relic in the end.
* Despite having at least one more grenade on his person, Bulkhead doesn't attempt to leave the entire Tox-En cache in his Insecticon trap. Presumably, it wouldn't have been enough to completely destroy the toxic fuel, or it wouldn't have fit in the canister, giving Hardshell's team warning that something was up.
* Bulkhead finally finds something even ''worse'' than Scraplets. Incidentally, he saw the effects of both Scraplets and Tox-En during the war, and neither was a pleasant experience.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Sparkeater (creature)

2012-08-22T03:06:56Z

SuzyP: /* IDW Generation 1 comics */

{{disambig2|the vicious predator|Roadbuster's weapon|Sparkeater (weapon)}}
[[Image:IDW Sparkeater.jpg|thumb|400px|It's not every day that Transformers fiction is inspired by [[wikipedia:Snorks#Villains|the Snorks.]]]]

The near-mythical '''Sparkeaters''' are powerful and monstrous predators, viewed with a sense of supernatural terror even among battle-hardened [[Transformer|Cybertronian]]s. Tracking the intensity of their prey's [[spark]] energy, they are able to immobilize and kill Transformers without making physical contact, through powers that seem to defy conventional explanation. Once consumed, the sparks linger in their abdomens and are slowly digested.

Little is firmly known of their habits or origin. They are sometimes also known as '''Cybervores''', '''Soulsnatchers''', and '''The Nightmare with a Thousand Names'''.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 comics===
[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] was busy with some "Sparkeater business" when [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] was picking [[Wrecker]]s to participate in [[Operation: Retrieval]]. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[Blip]] professed to be a Sparkeater. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

The ''[[Lost Light]]'' had initially been operated by [[NAIL]]s, who for some reason used it to transport a Sparkeater to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Confined to an armored cell, the Sparkeater was kept docile by being fed [[turbofox]]es. At the onset of the quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], the ''Lost Light'' suffered an engine malfunction and premature quantum jump, which heavily damaged the ship and allowed the Sparkeater to breach its cell. While the [[Duobot]] [[Shock]] attempted to retrieve a tracking device that [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had ordered [[Ore]] to attach to the ship's engine, he ventured too close to the Sparkeater's cell: the beast was then able to somehow immobilize Shock and force him to regurgitate his own brain capsule, killing him and causing his spark to emerge for the Sparkeater to devour. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] discovered Shock's body and telltale claw marks on the nearby walls, and deduced that a Sparkeater was present. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

Despite his own skepticism and instinctual disregard for the myths and rumors spread by many of his crewmates, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] eventually had no choice but to acknowledge that the damage to Shock was consistent with a "robocarnivorous entity". When [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] asserted that the Sparkeater would seek out the "brightest" spark on the ship, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] oh-so-humbly assumed that meant he himself would be the next target. But, in fact, the Sparkeater was drawn to [[Rung]]. On its way towards Rung's quarters, it encountered and killed [[Animus]]. [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] then attempted to kill the monster with a missile barrage—only for [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] to save it with his forcefield, as a weapon strike on the unstable, partially digested sparks inside the monster's belly would have caused a catastrophic explosion. The Sparkeater relentlessly and single-mindedly pursued Rung throughout the ship, as [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] tried to help the frail psychiatrist escape and [[Brainstorm]] cowered in terror but was ignored in favor of the tastier prey. Finally, Rodimus seized Rung and used him as live bait to lure the Sparkeater next to the engine block of the ''Lost Light''. Ordering [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] to engage the quantum drive, he then allowed the Sparkeater to attack him—and quickly grabbed the monster and pushed it up against the ship's engine. The quantum drive's localized disruption of the laws of physics resulted in the Sparkeater being merged with the engine block, killing it. Rodimus survived this <s>[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|unbelievably irresponsible, risky, and foolhardy]]</s> bold act of heroic leadership, though his arms were also sucked into the ship's engine and had to be amputated and replaced. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

==Notes==
* Though no one really knows much about Sparkeaters, Rodimus believes that technologies capable of neutralizing them include "industrial strength energy dampeners", "nullification booths", and "level-9 containment fields".

[[Category:Monsters]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]

Duobot

2012-08-22T03:01:46Z

SuzyP: /* IDW Generation 1 comics */

{{Factions|autobot}}
:''The Duobots are an [[Autobot]] subgroup from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Duobots Concept.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Shock and Ore. Or Ore and Shock. Whatever.]]

The '''Duobots''', [[Shock]] and [[Ore]], look pretty indistinguishable.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 comics===
The Duobots were [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s agents aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', charged with planting a tracer on the ship's engines. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} Ore went down into the engine room to carry out the task as the ship was taking off from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], which unfortunately led him to be standing too close to the ship's [[quantum generator]]s when they activated. The resultant suspension of the local laws of space-time caused Ore to be fused with the engine, killing him and causing an explosion that crippled the ship. Hurled to some bleak corner of the galaxy, the ''Lost Light'' was able to put down on a small planet, where what was left of Ore's body was found by [[Brainstorm]] who remarked that, on the bright side, at least now they'd know which Duobot was which. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On‎|Hangers On}}

Ore's body was brought inside and his passing was observed by [[Shock]], who then set about removing all incriminating evidence of their connection to Prowl, deleting the communication from him and heading down to the engine room to recover the discarded tracer. Unfortunately for Shock, he was set upon and killed by a [[Sparkeater]] that had been hidden in the bowels of the ship. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

==Notes==
*The Duobots were presumably created as an Autobot counterpart to the [[Duocon]]s, though with wheels on their legs and treads on their upper backs they don't appear to share that team's "air vehicle upper body combines with ground vehicle lower body" design scheme. Indeed, Shock's lament in "[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things]]" that he is now a "walking misnomer" might even suggest that instead of being two vehicles who form one robot, the Duobots are two ''robots'' who form one ''vehicle''. And, in the artist's version of "authorial intent" Milne has confirmed on DeviantArt that he has designed a combined alt mode for the two, but is keeping it private for possible later publication.
*As a product of the mind of British writer [[James Roberts]], the fun double-meaning of Shock and Ore's names may not be immediately apparent to American readers. Try saying them out loud in a British accent.

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]

Ratchet (WFC)

2012-08-12T03:13:59Z

SuzyP: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Ratchet}}
:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:PrimeRatcht.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Forehead crest = Awesome.]]
The [[Autobot]]s' medical officer, '''Ratchet''' has a dry wit, often giving his wounded comrades a hard time for taking hits he somehow avoids. With the Energon supplies becoming less and less, he works to find new ways to make do, and he'd ''really'' prefer if the Autobots didn't risk injury (or worse) to protect [[human]]s. He'd also prefer the humans weren't brought back to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]] but since ''he'' is unfamiliar with human tech, he needs [[Raf Esquivel]] to help him out. However, for all his views on humans, deep down Ratchet ''admires'' what the tiny fleshies bring to the fight.

{{quote|In a contest between resources and ingenuity, never underestimate ingenuity.|Ratchet, [[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]}}

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
Ratchet made his name during the [[Praxus|Praxian]] stalemate. He and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] fought in a few battles together, during which he taught the younger Autobot how to apply first aid. He repaired his throat after [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] destroyed it in revenge for ejecting the [[AllSpark]] into space, enabling Bumblebee to speak from time to time.

After Megatron invaded [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and took the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], Ratchet welded [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]]'s face and stabilized [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]'s condition. When [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] asked Ratchet if Omega was ready to fight again, the offended medic responded that if Optimus wanted Omega to fight after the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] blew him out of the sky, [[Dark Energon]]-infused gladiators attacked him and Megatron tore out the Chamber out of his chest, then he wanted another surgeon. Optimus knew he had to apologize but was too preoccupied with rescuing [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]].

When the Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', Ratchet informed Optimus and [[Ultra Magnus (Prime)|Ultra Magnus]] that Omega was repaired and ready to distract [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

===''Prime'' comic===
[[Image:PrimeComicRatchet.jpg|thumb|200px|Don't worry, you won't see me as dirty later. Except [[Stronger, Faster|that one time]]...]]
Ratchet was stationed at the Autobot base on [[Earth]], opening the [[GroundBridge]] for Optimus to retrieve [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. He reattached her arm after [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] had blown it off. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeffrey Combs]] (English)|[[Nobuo Tobita]] (Japanese), [[José María Carrero]] (Spain-Spanish), [[Seong-yong Ha]] (Korean), [[Claudio Moneta]] (Italian), [[Jan Spitzer]] (German), [[Mario Arvizu]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Jarosław Boberek]] (Polish), [[Luiz Antônio Lobue]] (Brazilian Portuguse)}}

After Bumblebee was captured at [[Tyger Pax]], Ratchet was the field medic who put him back together, but was unable to repair his voice box. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

At some point after Team Prime arrived on Earth, Ratchet modified [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s jet, allowing him to fly without a flight suit. {{storylink|Grill}}

[[Image:DarknessRising1-Ratchettragedy.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You're drawn to his eccentric charm.]]
Ratchet was on patrol in a snowy region when news came in that [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] was battling a platoon of Decepticons solo. Ratchet and the other Autobots returned to base to [[GroundBridge]] to his location, but they were too late: Cliffjumper was nowhere to be found, and Ratchet confirmed that his lifesigns had ceased. It was Ratchet's belief that continuing to operate on Earth and aid humans would only result in more tragedy, and as such, it was no surprise that he vehemently objected to the Autobots becoming protectors for [[Jack Darby]], [[Miko Nakadai]] and [[Raf Esquivel]] soon after—though the kids' incessant questions didn't help their case, either. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Ratchet's mood was not improved when [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] accidentally crushed an important piece of lab equipment, and things got even worse when he was instructed to stay at base and watch the children while the other Autobots investigated the reappearance of Cliffjumper's lifesign. He did, however, start to see the value in the kids' presence when Raf helped him in his continuing struggle to master the inferior human computer systems the Autobot base ran on. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[Image:Optimus_Prime_Ratchet_Zombies_Darkness_Rising_4.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He performs surgery with these. Carefully.]]

The other Autobots returned from their mission with the news that Cliffjumper had been revived by the Decepticons as a [[zombie]], and when [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] began feeling dizzy, Ratchet examined her and discovered a trace of the mysterious substance that had reanimated Cliffjumper. While examining it, Ratchet inadvertently dripped some on the equipment Bulkhead had broken, transforming it into a vicious little monster. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} Optimus Prime helped him destroy it, and both realized that they were dealing with [[Dark Energon]]. Realizing that [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] planned to raise an undead army, Optimus took Ratchet to the site of an ancient Transformer battle on Earth, but they arrived too late to prevent Megatron from using Dark Energon to raise the buried corpses of the warriors as a legion of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]]. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} Ratchet quickly deduced that the best way to stop them was dismemberment, and he and Prime managed to cut down the entire army despite the debilitating effects of the Dark Energon. Ratchet sustained a wounded arm in the battle, and Megatron was able to escape. Returning to base, Ratchet examined some plans that Miko had obtained from the Decepticons in his absence, and speculated that the villains were building a [[space bridge]] so they could use Dark Energon to raise a zombie army on Cybertron and bring them to Earth. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}} Given his injuries, Ratchet stayed behind at the base to man the GroundBridge, sending the other Autobots to the orbiting space bridge for battle, and the kids to the [[Giant Sized Array]] radio telescope in [[Texas]] to cut off the Decepticons' targeting systems. While the kids failed in their endeavour, they did succeed in obtaining schematics for the space bridge, which Ratchet used to determine a means of destroying it. He instructed Arcee's team on sabotaging the space bridge, and bridged everyone back to base before the inevitable explosion. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|left|300px|I was busy pushing bodies around as you well know and what would a note say, Dan? "Cat dead, details later"? ]]
Ratchet was initially dismayed to learn that the kids were working on their school science projects in the Autobot base, but changed his tune in short order and actually turned down combat duty to stay and help them. Unfortunately for the kids, he completely took over their projects, building a large volcano for Raf, a model of Cybertron for Miko, and an advanced engine for Jack. None of the projects went down well at school, much to Ratchet's disappointment. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

[[Image:Scrapheap-Ratchetinfected.jpg|300px|right|thumb|My kingdom for a [[Charlie Fong]]!]]
Ratchet found another reason to be grateful to have the kids around when a [[Scraplet]] infestation in the base left the GroundBridge disabled, and Ratchet at the mercy of the metal-eating monsters. Jack used a fire extinguisher to freeze the creatures, saving Ratchet's life, but the medic remained too badly wounded to effect repairs to the GroundBridge, and had to entrust the job to the humans. They succeeded, and Ratchet was able to patch up himself and his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap}} Problems with the GroundBridge lingered, however, and Ratchet continued working on it during a visit by Bulkhead's old buddy [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], while trying to ignore the distractions caused by the other Autobots partying and Wheeljack and Bulkhead [[Cybertronian_sport#Lobbing| Lobbing]]. The delays caused by Ratchet's repairs resulted in "Wheeljack" being exposed as [[Makeshift (Prime)|a Decepticon imposter]]. Unfortunately this also meant that when the real Wheeljack turned up, Ratchet was subjected to another round of partying. {{storylink|Con Job}}

Ratchet continued to play the role of tech support over the Autobots next few missions. He remained in the base to monitor the Autobot convoy as they transported the [[Dynamic Nuclear Generation System]] across country, alerting them to an incoming Decepticon attack and—under protest—working with Raf to GroundBride Miko and Jack onto a moving track so they could stop the forces of [[MECH]] from stealing the device. [[Image:SickMind-RatchetOP.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"I've heard that humans quite often wake up late with black eyes. They call the condition 'a hangover'."]]{{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} The episode burnt Raf's laptop out, but Ratchet later helped fix it. {{storylink|Raf's Notes|Raf's Notes #5}} When the Decepticons stole an [[Energon Harvester]] from a human museum, Ratchet manufactured a replica to replace it, despite Bulkhead breaking his frame welder. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}

When Ratchet and Optimus Prime investigated a crashed Autobot vessel, they discovered that it was a plague ship carrying deceased victims of [[Cybonic plague]], a pathogen created by Megatron himself. Optimus contracted the disease, which was beyond even Ratchet's ability to cure. In search of a treatment, he GroundBridged Arcee and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' so they could obtain the cure from Megatron's mind via [[cortical psychic patch]], a controversial procedure banned by Autobots but in which Ratchet was well-versed. While watching the link, Ratchet recorded the hologram of the plague antidote Megatron showed to Bumblebee, and was able later to produce a cure for Optimus. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}

[[Image:OutHead-RatchetMegatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Ratchet''':Megatron, prepare to be ''unplugged''! <Raf looks at him> '''Ratchet''':What, too corny? '''Raf''': ''JUST PULL IT!!!'']] While Optimus was given a clean bill of health, Ratchet was more concerned about Bumblebee; learning that the scout was seeing visions of Megatron following their psychic link-up, Ratchet induced a shutdown to give his systems time to recover. The other Autobots soon left the base on a mission, and Ratchet was left with Raf, who was sitting by the unconscious Bumblebee's beside. Trying to explain to the boy that this was unnecessary only resulted in Ratchet being subjected to pictures of Raf's family. The discussion was cut off when Bumblebee suddenly reactivated, leading Ratchet to realize that Megatron had taken over his comrade's body. Unable to stop the Decepticon leader from escaped through the GroundBridge, Ratchet and Raf followed Bumblebee to the Decepticon ship. There, they tried fruitlessly to stop Bumblebee from restoring Megatron to life, and had to retreat under Vehicon fire after Megatron's resurrection. They found Optimus's team on the ground below and returned to base where Ratchet checked over Bumblebee's processor for any lingering traces of Megatron's influence. {{Storylink|Out of His Head}}

Due to his experience with Dark Energon, Ratchet—much to his own surprise—was tapped to take Arcee's place when the Autobots deployed to confront [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. He was attempting to use the evil substance to revive [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Discovering that the kids had followed them through the GroundBridge, Ratchet ordered them to head back through to base, only for a Decepticon GroundBridge to manifest at the same time, causing a disruption that hurled the children into a parallel dimension. Deducing what had happened, Ratchet was able to recreate the original feedback loop and create a portal the kids could escape through. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}} Ratchet also went into the field on the Autobots' next mission: After patching up Bulkhead following a skirmish with Breakdown in which the 'Con was captured by MECH, Ratchet joined the effort to rescue the Decepticon. Following an Energon signature but finding only Breakdown's plucked-out eye, Ratchet attempted to extract images from the eye to help in the Autobots' search, but it turned out to be a MECH booby-trap, and the team only narrowly avoided the bomb explosion that resulted. They later tracked down Bulkhead in time to rescue him from Starscream and Breakdown. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}}

[[Image:StrongerFaster-Ratchetvehicle.jpg|left|thumb|300px|A rare sighting.]]

Ratchet was at the Autobot base when Jack and Arcee brought Jack's mother [[June Darby]] in to introduce her to everyone. {{storylink|Crisscross}} When June next visited the base, the on-edge medic assumed her car was a Decepticon, though he didn't object to June, a nurse, respectfully calling him "doctor". While in conversation with June, Ratchet detected a magnetic anomaly and dispatched Bulkhead and Arcee to find it; when they returned magnetically stuck together, he realized they were dealing with a [[polarity gauntlet]]. Bulkhead and Arcee were eventually able to retrieve the device and present it to Ratchet back at base. {{storylink|Metal Attraction}} Ratchet's tech expertise came to the fore again when he detected the activation of a crashed [[Harbinger|Decepticon ship's]] computer system: when Bumblebee and Arcee returned from investigating with two frozen comrades and the pieces of the [[immobilizer|Decepticon weapon]] responsible, Ratchet was able to repair the weapon and use it to restore Prime and Bulkhead. {{storylink|Partners}}

[[Image:StrongerFaster-crouchbehindrock.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Stronger, faster, squatter]]

While most of the other Autobots went out to retrieve a [[Cybertronian data cylinder]], Ratchet stayed at base to monitor them and annoy Bulkhead and Miko by interrupting their monster truck footage. After Bulkhead was called out to the field, Ratchet assigned Miko cleaning duties, only for her to rush off to the battlefield and inadvertently cause the contents of the cylinder to be downloaded into Bulkhead's brain. Ratchet initially gave Bulkhead a clean bill of health, but when Bulkhead started painting complex formulae, Ratchet made two discoveries: one, that the formulae were for [[Synthetic Energon]], and two, that the data was slowly destroying Bulkhead's mind. After much of the formula had been transcribed, the data was beamed out of Bulkhead into space, leaving him comatose. Ratchet's suggestion that a familiar sound might rouse the Autobot led Miko to wake Bulkhead with her guitar playing. {{storylink|T.M.I.}} Working from Bulkhead's incomplete formula, Ratchet appeared to succeed in synthesizing a batch of the Synthetic Energon, and used himself as a guinea pig. Supercharged by the new substance at the expense of his mental stability, Ratchet was made strong enough to trash an entire squad of Vehicons on his own and to throw Bulkhead through a wall while sparring. When he went too far in interrogating a [[Decepticon Miner]] under the auspices of being more "proactive", Optimus was forced to confine him to base. Escaping, Ratchet went to confront Megatron on his own, infiltrating the Decepticons' Energon mine and making short work of Breakdown. Unfortunately, Megatron proved more formidable than expected, and Ratchet was seriously injured and left for Knock Out to extract a sample of Synthetic Energon from. Drained of the SynthEn and its effects, Ratchet managed to raise enough strength to fight back and destroy the sample, and was then rescued by the other Autobots and taken back to base for treatment. Ratchet apologized for his behavior, though at least they'd gained a supply of real energon from the mine out of it. {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}

[[Image:OneShallRise2-Ratchethumans.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Professionals never look directly into the camera, Ratchet]]

When Optimus became interested in a prophecy from the [[Covenant of Primus]], Ratchet worked out that the planetary alignment mentioned was mere days away. Shortly after, Raf was injured during a mission to stop the Decepticons from gathering space bridge components. Ratchet's lack of knowledge of human physiology left him unable to treat the boy, so June Darby was called in to help. Ratchet refused to allow Raf to be taken to a hospital, as human doctors wouldn't have any experience with Energon contamination, but it became apparent that this wasn't what was ailing Raf. He had been infected with ''Dark'' Energon. Ratchet took the risk of applying an infusion of regular Energon to neutralize the Dark, and Raf recovered. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}} Immediately thereafter, Ratchet joined Arcee and Bulkhead in rescuing Optimus from a battle with Megatron, then set about analyzing a series of natural disasters that began across the Earth, deducing that the tremors were the heartbeat of [[Unicron]], slumbering within the Earth and threatening to destroy it with his awakening. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} When Megatron approached the Autobots with the proposition of an alliance to stop Unicron from destroying the planet, Ratchet scoffed at the notion. He grew increasing incredulous to the idea that he would GroundBridge the others into the Earth's very core, following co-ordinates provided by Megatron, so the Optimus could use the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to deactivate Unicron, but was nonetheless forced to go along with the plan when Optimus accepted Megatron's offer. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}}

Remaining behind in the base with the kids and unable to contact the Autobots in the planet's depths, Ratchet passed the time telling the humans about the old days when Optimus was known as Orion Pax, and was shocked to discover that Optimus had entrusted Jack with the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] before departing. A final tremor that Ratchet shielded the kids from heralded Autobot victory within the planet, but when Ratchet GroundBridged the others back, they reported that Optimus had lost his memories and left with Megatron. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Ratchet reasoned that Optimus's amnesia must have been a result of emptying the Matrix, and that the solution involved the Key to Vector Sigma. He started tinkering with the GroundBridge to try and find a way to reach Cybertron, though when frustrations boiled over at their lack of success in getting Optimus back, Jack suggested they might use the Decepticon space bridge instead. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Thought he continued his tinkering with the GroundBridge, Ratchet was demoralized after the first test with Raf's radio-controlled car resulted in the destruction of the toy. The real breakthrough came when Ratchet was able to trade Starscream medical attention for information on the location of the space bridge. Once Ratchet and the others secured the bridge, they sent Jack and Arcee through. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee monitored Jack's progress from the Earth end of the space bridge. When Megatron arrived to take back control, Ratchet and the others were tossed around like rag dolls by the Decepticon leader. Luckily for them their plan worked out, and Ratchet and the others returned to base with Optimus Prime restored. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[Image:OperationBumblebee2 delirious Ratchet.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"And if you think that's bad, you should see what I did to Injector!"]]
Optimus and Ratchet followed an ancient signal and tangled with Megatron in the process of retrieving the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]]. After another altercation, Ratchet discovered that Bumblebee's [[transformation cog|T-cog]] was missing. Ratchet was therefore forced to pick Raf up after school, and told the boy the story of how Bumblebee's voice box was damaged. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} Guilty at his inability to do anything, Ratchet offered his own T-cog and, after talking Optimus into letting him do it, selected Arcee to perform the procedure. When he woke up, it was to find that the operation had been aborted, and Bumblebee had gone after MECH. Bumblebee returned with his lost cog, though in a damaged state, and Ratchet was able to repair it enough to restore Bumblebee's ability to transform. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

Ratchet patched up Wheeljack after the Wrecker returned to Earth and was involved in a scrap with [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} Receiving another coded signal, Ratchet and Bulkhead again found Starscream in need of medical attention. They were able to get information from him about Airachnid's status and the presence of an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] on Earth. {{storylink|Crossfire}} When Fowler was attacked by a truck that resembled Optimus, Ratchet tracked Optimus's signal to confirm the offender wasn't their leader. They soon established that the truck in question was a MECH-created clone of Optimus, and Ratchet patched up the Autobots after they defeated Silas and [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}} Ratchet dispatched Optimus, Bumblebee and Arcee to investigate underground activity, and they returned with Airachnid in stasis lock. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Optimus's attempt to attack the ''Nemesis'' with the [[spark extractor|Spark Extractor]] failed, Ratchet returned the stasis-locked team to base and GroundBridged Fowler and the kids aboard the ship. With his guidance, they were able to shut down the intelligence guiding the ship, and he even stepped aboard himself to retrieve Jack and the [[transfer drive]] full of [[Project Iacon]] data. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

[[Image:Prime-TriageRatchet&Wheeljack.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"Hey Wheeljack, do you think it looks weird when I cross my legs? I mean, I can't help if I have such girly legs."]]
When Optimus decided they would need to secure all four relics at once, Ratchet pointed out that they were short-manned as it was. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} He was unimpressed when Optimus decided that Wheeljack would be called in to help him on his part of the mission since he was a capable warrior. {{storylink|Triangulation}}

He disapproved of Wheeljack's behavior as they set off in the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'', particularly being called "Doc". He also was far from impressed with his methods when attacking Soundwave and Laserbeak before they crashed landed. When they noticed the downed Laserbeak nearby, he struck on the idea of implanting a virus into the disabled Laserbeak, which would upload the Iacon database to the Autobots. With Raf's help, Ratchet managed to do so while Wheeljack kept Soundwave occupied, and managed to keep out of sight when Soundwave arrived to retrieve his pet. He attempted to convince Wheeljack to return to base for repairs, and thanked him for his back-up. When he returned to base, he found the virus was downloading the Iacon database into the Autobots' mainframe, but his joy was shortlived, as Bulkhead came flying through the GroundBridge with a smoking back. {{storylink|Triage}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
In the lower levels of Outpost Omega One, Ratchet constructed a training room he dubbed the [[Safe]], though the inferior Earth materials he was forced to use meant it wasn't as good as it could be. Indeed, Bulkhead began tearing his way merrily through it, only to uncover something Ratchet hadn't found—a nuclear missile while promptly activated. Ratchet and Raf were assigned to deal with the bomb, however as Raf was the expert on Earth technology, Ratchet deferred to him. Luckily Raf managed to reverse the bomb's timer, and Fowler arrived with some scientists to take care of the rest. After Bulkhead apologised to Ratchet for smashing up the room, Ratchet suggested he and Raf design a new Safe. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.1|The Safe and the Failsafe}}

Optimus took the Autobots and the kids on a trip to [[Valley of Fire State Park]]. When Raf impressed the others with his knowledge and worried it made himself sound geeky, Ratchet proclaimed himself Autobot geek and proud. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.2|War Story}}

Ratchet alerted the others to the fact that Fowler was about to arrive at the base, and indeed, Fowler walked in moments later with the news that the Decepticons had hijacked [[Yamal|a nuclear ship]] near [[Antarctica]]. When Optimus, Bumblebee and Ratchet arrived at the ship, they found the crew were unconscious. Ratchet wondered what could have done that, but he was answered moments later by [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], who knocked him out with a [[sonic lance]]. By the time Ratchet recovered, the fight was over, and as they returned to the base, he said he'd be fine so long as he stayed away from any ice. Unfortunately in their absence, the others had turned the base into an ice skating ring, and as soon as he stepped through the GroundBridge, Ratchet ended up flat on his back. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

Raf was playing ''[[Invasionauts II]]'' at the base, Ratchet observed that the alien robots he was fighting in the game looked a lot like Autobots. After the game hypnotised Raf into operating the GroundBridge and letting in Vehicons, Ratchet initially blamed Bulkhead, but helped hold off the Decepticons until Raf recovered and reconfigured the bridge to suck the Vehicons back in. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.4|Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!}} Ratchet approved of the way Jack was starting to sound as paranoid as him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.5|School Is... Out!}} After the [[President of the United States]] was kidnapped by Starscream, Ratchet and the Autobots tracked the Decepticon to the [[Grand Canyon]]. Ratchet and Bulkhead protected [[Air Force One]] while the others rescued the President. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.6|All the President's 'Bots!}}

When he lost contact with Optimus Prime while their leader was exploring a scrap-metal facility in [[Zhejiang Province]], [[China]], Ratchet dispatched Bulkhead and Arcee to help, but was forced to drop them ten kilometers from the target due to interference. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.8|The Mind Trap!}} Ratchet was forced to GroundBridge [[Novo|Agent Novo]] to China after the MECH operative took Miko hostage. To make up for it, he discovered a way to track [[Miko's phone]], pointing the other Autobots to the location of MECH's base. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.9|The Novo Incident}}

After deploying Optimus's team to the [[Deep Driller]] oil platform, Ratchet monitored the situation from base, and was amused by the sight of Prime and the others being defeated by a bunch of humans in [[robotic battle suit]]s. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.10|Mad Dogs & Autobots}}

{{spoiler|Transformers Comic issue 4.11|August 19, 2012}}
Ratchet operated the GroundBridge so the other Autobots could take the kids onto the ''Nemesis'' to search for Bulkhead. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.11|The Battle for Bulkhead}}

===Commercial appearances===
Ratchet was dismayed as the [[Joker]], a criminal, stole the chorus of [[wikipedia:Jingle Bells|Jingle Bells]] as it was being performed by a group of carolers which included [[Bulkhead (Prime)|other]] [[Megatron (Prime)|Transformers]], [[My Little Pony|ponies]], and an [[wikipedia:Strawberry Shortcake|underage baker]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime|The Hub Carolers (Second spot)}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
When three of the [[Rescue Bot]]s were stricken down with a mysterious virus, Optimus consulted Ratchet, who suggested that one of the antidotes from the Rescue Bots' ship would cure it. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (RB)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}}

==Games==

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
{{voiceactor|[[Fred Tatasciore]] (English)|[[Stefano Albertini]] (Italian)}}
[[Image:RatchetWFCScreenshotAttack.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Just let me patch you up with my [[Energon repair ray|ENORMOUS HEALING CANNON]]!"]]
During the [[Decepticon]]s' siege of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Ratchet was assigned to Optimus, and helped him rescue a courier named [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], who informed Optimus that with the presumed death of [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Zeta Prime]], the Council was putting him in command. The three of them headed back to the command center, receiving a message from [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]] that the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbots]] were being overwhelmed and needed support. It was decided that the planetary guns, disabled earlier by [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron's]] forces, needed to be brought back online. Informing Jetfire that he was taking temporary command, Optimus took Ratchet and Bumblebee with him on the mission, though when Ratchet questioned the "temporary" part, Optimus brushed it aside.

When that mission was completed, they decided their next stop was the [[Decagon]], in order to re-establish communications and coordinate Iacon's defense. Hitting serious resistance, including several [[Decepticon war machine]]s and more than a few damaged lifts which Ratchet puzzled out a way around, they nonetheless prevailed with help from Jetfire and [[Ironhide (Prime)|Ironhide]], before reaching the Decagon itself, where they encountered the former Autobot [[Air Commander|Sky Commander]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. They managed to defeat him as well and retook the Decagon.

After Optimus was named the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], he went on a mission to free [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s core of Megatron's [[Dark Energon]] corruption. In order to do so, however, he needed to open the [[Omega Gate]], which would require freeing [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] from Decepticon captivity. Omega was still badly damaged from his battle with Megatron's forces, so Optimus called in Ratchet, whom Prime, [[Warpath (WFC)|Warpath]], and Ironhide protected during his operation to repair Omega Supreme. After the Omega Gate was opened, Ratchet returned to base with Omega, as field repairs could only do so much.

When [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] fell to the surface from orbit, Ratchet organized the rescue effort. After Trypticon was defeated, he praised Optimus on his success, but was the price paid was costly - many Autobots were lost, and those remaining were now forced to abandon Cybertron while the planetary [[Primus|Core]] repaired the damage. Ratchet was one of those who stayed behind with Optimus to resist Megatron's schemes, and to build an ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' to carry them from their home when the time came. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

[[Image:WFC Ratchet.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron — Autobots''===
[[Image:WFCDS Ratchet.jpg|thumb|right|124px|"Doctor, are you sure this will work?" 
"I HAVE NO IDEA!"]]
When the Decepticons started poking around an Autobot base, Ratchet tracked their search patterns and instructed a [[Autobot rookie|rookie]] on where to go to find whatever it was they were looking for. Ratchet was in the control room to greet the rookie on arrival, and hand him over to [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] for basic training. Unfortunately the Decepticons destroyed the rookie and found the intel they were after. Following Zeta Prime's capture, the Autobot leader managed to contact Ironhide and Ratchet, but the data links powering the communications grid were severed. Ratchet greeted another rookie, who managed to repair the data links.

Ratchet would go on to become a member of Optimus' inner circle. Following the retaking of Iacon, he reported that the Data-net was back online and Zeta Prime could contact them again. He later worked with Jetfire to analyse core samples, and discovered that the core would be healing itself if it weren't for the influence of the Dark Energon corruptors. Optimus's team successfully freed the core, but the planet was no longer able to sustain them. When Ratchet asked what they'd do, Optimus responded that their new mission was to leave the planet. Ratchet was among the Autobots who defeated Megatron's secret weapon, the monstrous titan Trypticon. Upon Trypticon's defeat, Ratchet left the planet along with Optimus's team. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
Ratchet attempted to aid and evacuate survivors from an orbital blast form Megatron's new weapon, [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]], when the Decepticon leader tracked him down. After exchanging gunfire, Ratchet was forced onto a ledge, and Megatron tauntingly kicked him off. The Autobot survived the fall, but was pinned down by debris. Fortunately [[Sideswipe (Prime)|Sideswipe]] was in the area and came to the rescue. As the two made their trek back to [[Iacon]], Ratchet informed Sideswipe that he had information about the Decepticon superweapon that needed to get to Optimus right away... {{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}
{{note|Ratchet is not a playable character; he appears as a boss in the Decepticon campaign, and only in a single cutscene in the Autobot campaign.}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
{{voiceactor|[[Fred Tatasciore]] (English)}}
{{comingsoon}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

=== ''Transformers Prime: The Game'' ===
[[Image:Transformers prime the game ratchet.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
{{voiceactor|[[Jeffrey Combs]] (English)}}
{{comingsoon}}
{{storylink|Transformers Prime: The Game}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Prime===
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
[[Image:Cyberverse_legion_ratchet.jpg|300px|thumb|]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2012)
**''Series/Number:'' '''2/004'''
**''Japanese Number:'' '''EZ-06'''
**''Accessories:'' Battle blade

: Autobot Ratchet is part of the first wave of Series 2 [[Cyberverse]] Legion figures. He transforms from robot to ambulance and back, and comes with a translucent battle blade weapon which can be held in robot mode or mounted in vehicle mode. The ambulance mode has pegholes on the sides and roof for additional Cyberverse weapons, and the blade itself has additional pegs to attach to other Cyberverse weapons.

:His blade mold is also used with Cyberverse [[Cliffjumper (Prime)#Cyberverse|Cliffjumper]].
{{-}}

{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[Image:PrimeRID-RatchetDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I'm a doctor, not a swordsman, DAMMIT!!!]]
[[Image:Prime-toy RatchetTakTom.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Autobot Ratchet''' (Deluxe, 2012)
**''Series/number'': '''1/006'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[March 31|3-31]]-2012'''
**''Japanese number:'' '''AM-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Dual Battle Blades (Hasbro only), "R.A." Arms Micron (TakaraTomy only)

: Autobot Ratchet is part of the second wave of ''Robots in Disguise'' Deluxe Class. He transforms from robot mode to ambulance and back, and comes with a pair of battle blades. His robot-mode head is spring-loaded to pop up once his "backpack" is pulled down. While the blades are being held in robot mode, the hands can either grasp them like normal blades, or the hands can be folded down so that it appears the blades are sprouting out of his wrists as seen in the cartoon. While in vehicle mode, the blades can either peg into his front bumper, creating a battle mode, or they can store underneath him out of sight.

: His instructions depict an alternate head for the mold that belongs to somebody currently unknown.

: The Japanese release of Ratchet omits an incredible number of robot-mode [[paint operation]]s, replacing them with customer-applied foil [[sticker]]s. (On the other hand, this ''does'' give him his "lifeline" decoration missing from the Hasbro version.) As part of the "[[Arms Micron]]" [[gimmick]], six [[5mm post|5mm-peg-hole]] attachment points have been glued onto him (as opposed to having existing parts specifically [[retool]]ed to include them like most other toys in the line) on his vehicle-mode roof, doors and side-panels, which end up on his legs, forearms and shoulders. The Hasbro version's twin blades have been replaced by the Arms Micron [[R.A.]], who transforms into a considerably larger version of the blades, and can still work as a "wrist-mounted" weapon.

::*''[http://higekumatoytoy.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-1464.html Arms Micron Ratchet at Alfes's blog]''

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Mcdonald's===
[[Image:Primetoy-RatchetHappyMeal.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Good practice for the Arms Micron version.]]
*'''Ratchet''' (Happy Meal, 2012)
:*''McNumber:'' '''7'''
:Happy Meal Ratchet is a nontransformable ambulance! Pushing on the back of his roof reveals the base of a cannon, and pressing the Autobot symbol on the roof causes the short barrel of the cannon to pop out. Ratchet (not "Autobot Ratchet", despite claim of trademark!) also comes with a sheet of stickers to complete his deco. Since the cannon gimmick and the "mCODE" coupon use up both sides of the usual instructions sheet, the sticker placement instructions are printed on the back of the sticker sheet itself. Efficient, but not terribly user-friendly!
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:VectorSigmaBotBuilderRatchet.jpg|thumb|]]
*''Transformers'' alumnus [[Michael Bell]] originally auditioned for the part of Ratchet in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'', but ultimately lost the role to [[Jeffrey Combs]].
*In a number of episodes, mostly written by [[Nicole Dubuc]], Ratchet's equipment gets damaged by a fellow Autobot, prompting him to utter ''"I NEEDED THAT!"'' each time.
*His license plate number in [[Stronger, Faster]] is '''449 EPQ'''.
* Ratchet's body parts are available to use in the Hub website's [[Vector Sigma Bot Builder]] online game. Normally, you cannot configure a generic 'bot using all Ratchet parts, but you can see what one would look like at right through the magic of Photoshop.

{{-}}
===Arms Up Modes===
In the Japanese ''Prime'' toyline, Ratchet has several powered-up modes when given various [[Arms Micron]]s in certain configurations:

[[Image:DarknessRising4 CybSat-RatchetAntiTerror.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]

*'''Destroy Mode''' (デストロイモード ''desutoroimōdo'')
**''Arms Microns'': B.2, C.L., O.P., R.A.
: Ratchet's rather uncharacteristically-named "Destroy Mode", as seen on his box-back photo, uses a combined-weapon made up of [[R.A.]] and [[B.2]] in his right hand, [[O.P.]] on his left arm, and [[C.L.]] on his left leg.

*'''''Sekkensenrenzan'' Mode''' (接近戦連斬モード ''sekkensenrenzanmōdo'')
**''Arms Microns'': C.L., Gora, O.P. (x2), R.A. (x2)
: Roughly translated as "Close Combat Group Decapitation Mode" (hooooleeee), and revealed in the "[[From the Cybertron Satellite, Transformers Division|Cybertron Satellite]]" segment from "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4|Infiltration Transformation! Battleship Nemesis]]", this "Anti-Terrorcon" mode is... just ''brutal''. He's got an R.A. on each forearm, with an O.P. attached to the back of each, with [[Gora]] (?) on his right leg, and C.L. on his left.

*'''Stealth Mode'''
**''Arms Microns'': R.A. (x4!), Zori (x2)
:''Four'' R.A.s are joined to create a super-large shuriken-like weapon that stores on Ratchet's back. A pair of [[Zori]]s hang from Ratchet's shoulders, with the claw-tails hanging down to create a "cloak of invisibility". This mode is for "stealthily backing up Optimus Prime and the others", according to the [http://youtu.be/QJUMhgggH-Q TakaraTomy developer video where it premiered], hosted by TakaraTomy designer [[Hironori Kobayashi]].
:There is also a variant configuration, '''Defense Mode''', which opens up the panels on Ratchet's arms and moves the Zoris to the "wrist-mounted blade" positions, which cross in an "X" in front of Ratchet as a stealth shield.
:Kobayashi also made custom carbon-black stickers for Ratchet's shoulders and chest, and in the video shows viewers how to customize their own stickers.

{{-}}

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ratchet''' (ラチェット ''Rachetto'')

[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Prime Autobots]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron Autobots]]

Tales of the Fallen issue 4

2012-08-11T01:00:24Z

SuzyP: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Tales of the Fallen]]'' #4
|prev=Tales of the Fallen issue 3
|next=Tales of the Fallen issue 5
|image=Thefallentales4coverA.jpg
|caption="No, no, ''no''! String section, you've got the tempo all ''wrong''! Pay attention to the cues!"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 25]], [[2009]]
|coverdate=November 2009
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils by=[[Carlos Magno]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[Movie continuity]]
}}

'''The Fallen betrays his brothers. Basically, it's the same story as last issue.'''

==Synopsis==
A long time ago, the one who would become [[The Fallen]] began to hear the [[AllSpark]] speak to him. It anointed him its chosen one, granted him an armada of lesser Transformers, and sent him abroad to find suns for harvesting... all while forbidding him to speak of this to his brother [[Dynasty of Primes|Primes]], telling him that one day he would need to stand alone.

That time came when the Primes met and came to the conclusion that while [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] growth was requiring more energy than they had and they needed to harvest yet more suns, they must be "judicious" and avoid harvesting suns that were supporting other lifeforms. The not-yet-Fallen broke in to snarl that, as the children of [[Primus]] and servants of the AllSpark, it was their divine right to simply take the energy the All Spark required. [[Prima|One Prime]], however, demanded that they take an oath not to harm other lifeforms.

The almost-Fallen, obviously, ignored this and harvested the first system [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] found. [[Tales of the Fallen issue 3|Jetfire took the blame for the carnage caused and it was decreed that, in the future, a full congress of the Dynasty must meet before the star harvester is used.]] The about-to-be-Fallen ignored this, too and found his ''own'' world (an inhabited one) and built his ''own'' harvester, deciding the others were unworthy and he would show his devotion to the All Spark. Unfortunately for him, the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] he'd built for this job didn't work very well: he was consumed by primal fires and emerged as a burning, insane figure that blamed the Dynasty for driving him to this and swore they would pay!

[[Image:TalesoftheFallen4-theyshallpay.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Burnsauce!]]

The Dynasty, aware he'd done this, cast him out and declared him... Fallen.

The Fallen made an act of contrition and pretended to accept their judgement, then began to tear his way through the galaxy, ravaging inhabited worlds, assimilating any advances in science and methods of warfare he found, and coming to believe himself beyond the All Spark. Once he was prepared and armed, he called the Dynasty from [[Earth]] claiming he'd totally found an uninhabited world, and they should come down to harvest its sun, intending to slaughter them and take the Matrix once they arrived. They could face him or stay in limbo, but either way he wins!

Jetfire tried to stop him and was cast out, but the Dynasty arrived in full force. While they waffled at him to explain himself, the Fallen drew out two of the weapons he'd collected on his travels and began to massacre his way through his brothers. Only one, the Prime who had demanded the oath, remained alive, and he began to flee across the planet in multiple teleportation bursts. The Fallen followed... not knowing the Prime had, during the jumps, been gathering the sum total of ''all'' of the Dynasty's lifeforce, and once the Fallen had run his energies down he banished the monster into his sarcophagus!

The Fallen swore he would have... revenge!

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
*[[Jetfire (ROTF)| Jetfire]] (3)
*[[Scrapper (ROTF)| Scrapper]] (4)
*[[Long Haul (ROTF)| Long Haul]] (5)
*[[Rampage (ROTF)| Rampage]] (6)
*[[Overload (ROTF)| Overload]] (7)
|c3=

|c4=
*[[The Fallen]] (1)
*[[Dynasty of Primes]] (2)
:*[[Prima|Optimus Prime's ancestor]]
}}

==Quotes==
"We are the Children of Primus, the inheritors of universal spoils. We are neither bound by morality nor burdened by accountability. We simply serve the will of the AllSpark, and the will of the AllSpark... is to feed its ''transformation''!"
:—'''The Fallen'''

""Show of force"? ''That'', my brothers, was mere preamble, an overture... to a concerto of ''carnage''!"
:—'''Also the Fallen'''

==Errors==
* None of the members of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], save The Fallen himself, resemble the designs for them seen in the live-action film.
* The first time the "last" Prime is shown, his head sculpt resembles Generation 1 Optimus Prime's helmet. However, for the remaning of the comic he is drawn with a head sculpt resembling Movie Prime's protoform toy head.
* The Fallen is cast out and disavowed. Then, the Fallen is still part of and working with the Dynasty. Similarly, The Fallen's narration says his plan is to take the Matrix... so how can he still win if they stay in limbo, with the Matrix?
*In the battle, the Fallen kills more than five other Primes... except last issue, the issue this ties into, clearly showed there were only seven! Whoops!

==Items of note==
*Chronologically, this is the earliest movie-verse story so far.
*This issue ties into the previous one. Jetfire's confrontation of the Fallen is shown from new angles here.
*IDW is the only fiction to have the Fallen as breaking away from the Primes before Earth and setting up a trap on that planet.
*If we take the first page as literal, the AllSpark is both semi-sentient and ''evil''. If we assume the Fallen is an unreliable narrator, he was delusional bordering on insane from an early age.
*The Fallen claims that they are "Children of Primus". This is the first reference to Primus as opposed to the All Spark in movie fiction, though Furman [[Primus#Titan Magazines Revenge of the Fallen comics|''had'' previously suggested this over in a Titan character profile]].
*The surviving Prime's design is clearly based on Optimus Prime's protoform toy. Which makes it somewhat fitting that he is the one that actually proposes to the Dynasty the "do not destroy the suns from systems with life" rule and names the Fallen, the Fallen.
*This story clearly establishes the Fallen as the member of the Dynasty responsible for finding new suns to recharge the AllSpark. It also implies that the Dynasty of Primes ''has previously sacrificed worlds with life'', and decrees the rule as a means of atonement for their past actions.
*Jetfire and the Constructicons have colours here, unlike the preceding issue.
*Originally, the last Prime - meant to be Optimus Prime's ancestor - went unnamed. It was later retconned that this dude is a version of [[Prima]].

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' The Fallen; art and colors by [[Alex Milne]]
*'''Cover B:''' The Fallen and some crazy shit behind him; art by [[Carlos Magno]] and colors by [[Moose Baumann]]. This cover can combine with [[Tales of the Fallen issue 3|#3]]'s cover B to form a bigger picture.
*'''Cover RI:''' Title-free version of cover A
<gallery>
Image:Thefallentales4coverA.jpg|Think he would sub for [[Steve Jablonsky]]?
Image:Tales of the Fallen coverB.jpg|New meaning to "death glare".
Image:TalesoftheFallen4 CoverRI.jpg|He's no [[wikipedia:The Music Man|Music Man]]...
</gallery>

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[[Category: IDW Revenge of the Fallen issues]]