Defense Force

2013-07-22T00:06:09Z

TFfan2013: /* Members */

:''The Defense Force is a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] organization from the [[live-action film series]].''

The '''Defense Force''' is the name of the military organization consisting of Cybertronian [[Transformer]]s who are tasked with the protection of their homeworld of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

{{quote|Your team provides defense, Megatron. If you attack, it goes against what our society is based upon!|[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] telling [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], oh so unwise...|[[Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2]]}}

==Fiction==
===Movie continuity===
{{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

At some point in the distant past, the Defense Force was involved in a conflict with the aliens from the [[Eshems Nebula]]. This necessitated its leader, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] working with his fellow soldiers in combating the alien menace which had arrived above Cybertron itself and attacked. {{storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}} The assault allowed Megatron to declare war whereupon he ordered the [[Science Division]] leader [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] to assemble his forces. However, Optimus did not agree with this decision and informed Megatron that the Defense Force's purpose was to provide defense, not to incite wars as by doing such an act they would be breaking the ideals of their society. However, an angry Megatron simply shoved Optimus into the wall and told him that their people needed to change and gathered his teams to combat the invaders.

The conflict later went into the Eshems Nebula itself where the battle turned in the favor of the Cybertronian Defense Forces. Guided by a mysterious [[The Fallen|entity]], Megatron and his forces obliterated the aliens fleets and informed his team that they would begin plans to dominate the neighboring systems. {{storylink|Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2}}

Following his return to Cybertron and speaking with his new master, Megatron learned that Optimus had broken into his quarters and came to examine the [[sarcophagus|relic]] inside. Convinced that Optimus's group was trying to steal the power he had been promised, Megatron ordered [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] to assemble a team to kill Optimus's followers and bring him to [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]]. Optimus's Science Division and [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]]'s [[Security Force]] were attacked in the ruins of [[Metrotitan (ROTF)|Metrotitan]] by Starscream's team, but Optimus was able to fight them off and bring down the city on top of them. Following this, Megatron used their "treason" to take complete control of Cybertron and form a new faction called the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}} later that night, Megatron held a speech at Trypticon, asking the Defense Force to join him in his conquest of Cybertron. Almost all of the Defense Force became [[Decepticon]]s, but [[Chromia (ROTF)|a]] [[Ironhide (Movie)|few]] opted to join the [[Autobot]]s under Optimus, {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}} now Optimus [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Most of these Decepticons left Cybertron on the [[Nemesis (ROTF)|''Nemesis'']]. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}}

==Members==
*[[Lord High Protector|High Protector]] [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Commander Starscream]]
*[[Astrotrain (DOTM)|Astrotrain]]
*[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]
*[[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]
*[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]
*[[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]]
*[[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]]
*[[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]]
*[[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]]
*[[Fracture (Movie)|Fracture]]
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Captain Ironhide]]
*[[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]
*[[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]]
*[[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]]
*[[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]]

{{stub}}

[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Chain of Command (Prime)

2013-07-02T16:39:00Z

TFfan2013: /* Trivia */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

===Continuity errors===
*Although the Predacon fossil is seemingly an optic, everyone refers to it as a bone.
*Ultra Magnus' ship appears to gain a third landing strut closer to the bow in this episode. Previously it only had two towards the stern.

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

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

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

===Trivia===
*Since time is of the essence in retrieving Predacon bone fragments, Ultra Magnus taking his ship instead of using the GroundBridge seems like a rather significant tactical error for someone so insistent on proper protocol and preparation. Wheeljack alludes to this in the next episode.
*Wheeljack has a chest compartment like Bulkhead does, allowing him to store a human there in robot mode.
*Made official this episode, the number of [[Verity Carlo|human Wreckers]] in the Transformers franchise increases by 100%.
*Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode model has been modified to fit the Forge of Solus Prime where the trailer hitch would be, and unsurprisingly, bears a large resemblance to Optimus' initial vehicle mode.
*The Predacon fossil uncovered by Predaking is far more mechanical than the bone-like pieces found in prior episodes, appearing to be an intact [[Sensors#Optical sensors|optical sensor]].
*The Apex Armour adjusts its size to fit whoever activates it, including humans.
*Starscream as Predaking's chewtoy... Megatron couldn't have picked a better punishment.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

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Defense Force

Chain of Command (Prime)