{{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|upright=1.4|"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 (Prime)|Miko]] out, and she begins gasping for air.

[[File:ChainOfCommand stowaway.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|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|upright=1.4|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|upright=1.4|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 (Prime)|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'."
:—A trope-savvy '''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===
*When Predaking denied Starscream's order to move, a part of his head moved through his neck.
*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]]". Thankfully, this is the last time in the series he brings it up!
*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 [[alternate mode|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. Another "[[Phase shifter|intuitive]]" relic.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Befehlskette'''" ("Chain of Command")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 7|7 October]] [[2013]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ranglista'''" ("Chain of Command")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 9|9 September]] [[2013]]

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cadeia de Comando'''" ("Chain of Command")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 4|4 November]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Partners (Prime)

2015-04-21T03:50:49Z

TKSpencer18: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 20
|prev=Rock Bottom
|next=T.M.I.
|image=Partners-ScreamPrisoner.jpg
|caption="What do you mean, Frenzy isn't red?!"
|title="Partners"
|airdate=[[July 23]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mike Johnson]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The team is surprised to learn that Starscream wants to become an Autobot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Partners1 Airachnid Megs.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left|"Airachnid, fetch me my [[Rubber Ducky|rubber ducky!]]"]]
Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] confesses his sins before [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] and claims to have made peace with his position as second-in-command. He goes to the bridge where [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] is telling [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] about one of his indiscretions, a failure to disclose the location of the crash site of the ''[[Harbinger]]'', a Decepticon transport ship that crashed on Earth while containing an experimental weapon. Megatron orders him to lead Airachnid to the crash site to retrieve the weapon.

[[File:Partners2 Arcee talk to rock.jpg‎|upright=1.4|thumb|right|It's like talking to Soundwave.]]
[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] stands at [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]'s graveside and talks to her old partner, promising to find the Decepticon responsible for his death.

Starscream and Airachnid reach the ''Harbinger'' crash site, but Airachnid is deliberately cagey about what the weapon is they're looking for. She's impressed by the fact that Starscream was the one who terminated Cliffjumper, but reveals she knows about the fact that Megatron was planning to terminate him at the [[Stripped energon mine|energon mine]]. They burrow their way down to the buried wreck, and Airachnid accesses the ship computer to find the location of the cargo. Starscream warns that the signal might alert the Autobots.

Indeed, at that moment [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] alerts [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] that the base sensors have detected an ancient Decepticon signal.

Airachnid finds that corridor to the weapon ends in a stone wall. The ship broke in half before crashing, and the weapon is in the other half of the ship. Starscream won't tell her where the other half is, so she binds him in a web, and threatens him until he blabs. She leaves him there with the suggestion that she ''might'' come back, but runs into the Autobots in a corridor. Forced to double back, she drills her way through the ground, and is followed by Arcee, much to Optimus's concern. On the surface, Airachnid swiftly gets the better of Arcee, but Prime's arrival forces Airachnid to retreat in 'copter mode. Optimus reminds Arcee that trying to seek revenge for [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]'s death isn't a good idea. [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] resurface with Starscream as a captive, and they're all surprised when the Decepticon says he wants to switch sides. Optimus, Arcee, and Bulkhead have a brief discussion and decide to take Starscream along, for now.
[[File:Partners3 Starscream Airachnid.jpg‎‎|upright=1.4|thumb|left|And the fangirls go wild.]]

Airachnid finds the other half of the ''Harbinger'' and pulls the experimental weapon, a staff, from its container.

The Autobots arrive at the stone arch. Optimus believes they should seriously consider letting Starscream join the team because allowing the Decepticons redemption will be important to establishing peace. He leaves Arcee guarding Starscream, and takes Bumblebee and Bulkhead to find the ship. As Prime's team approaches the ''Harbinger'', Airachnid begins opening fire with the staff, a weapon named the [[Immobilizer]], and freezes Bulkhead in place.

Starscream tries to convince Arcee that he's safe to let go, but inadvertently lets Arcee know that he was the one who killed Cliffjumper. He frantically attempts to convince her that it was a mercy killing, but Arcee doesn't buy it. She throws down the key to the cuffs so he can free himself and make it a fair fight, but he tricks her into getting close enough that he can wound her with his claws.

Optimus and Bumblebee take cover behind a rock, but Airachnid burrows underground, coming up behind them and zapping Prime. Bumblebee starts exchanging fire with the Decepticon.

As Arcee and Starscream fight, Starscream taunts her by asking if Tailgate was weak like Cliffjumper.

Airachnid gloats over her new trophies, but the dust kicked up by Airachnid's weapon strikes on a nearby rock gives Bumblebee an idea. He blasts the rock face some more, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. Airachnid sweeps the cloud with the Immobilizer, and when the cloud clears, Bumblebee stands motionless. While Airachnid goes back to talking to Prime, Bumblebee sneaks up behind her and sucker punches her. As the Immobilizer is thrown into the air, Bumblebee shoots it and it shatters. Airachnid flees under fire from Bumblebee.

Starscream gets the upper hand in his fight against Arcee, kicking her around brutally. As he moves in to finish her off, she reveals she's been playing possum, and delivers a series of blows that brings him down. Arcee has her blades at Starscream's throat, ready to kill him, when she realizes that they're being watched by Bumblebee. She lets Starscream limp away and collapses.
[[File:Partners4 Arcee Starscream fight.jpg‎|upright=1.4|thumb|right|"You can trust this face, can't you?"]]

Back on the ''Nemesis'', an infuriated Megatron berates Airachnid for leaving Starscream as a prisoner of the Autobots. Airachnid claims that the Immobilizer was lost due to Starscream's incompetence, but Megatron rages that a "trinket" is nothing compared to the risk of the Autobots having access to all of the Decepticons' information.

At the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], Ratchet has repaired the Immobilizer and used it to unfreeze Optimus and Bulkhead. Arcee has also been repaired, but blames herself for chasing away Starscream.

Elsewhere, Starscream bashes his clamp bonds against a rock wall, shattering them. He realizes that he is now an independent, beholden to no one and flies off to consider his next move.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] (11, flashback)
*[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] (12, flashback)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (3)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (5)

}}

==Quotes==
"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. I now realize I was never destined to be leader, or even an equal partner. And, I am at peace with that. I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Of who I was always meant to be. Starscream: second in command, humble servant to Lord Megatron. Thank you for listening, Soundwave."
:—'''Starscream''' speaks before Soundwave. Like talking to a brick wall.

"Oh you would do well to respect me, Airachnid. Before I joined Megatron, I was Air Commander of a squadron of Energon Seekers." 
"On Cybertron, and how many eons ago was that?"
:—'''Starscream''' tries to be hot, and gets burned by '''Airachnid'''

"Airachnid...what I wouldn't do to get my hands around her wretched throat." 
"So we can agree on one thing." 
"Oh, you have no idea. She showed up one day, and the next thing you know, she's acting like she runs the place. She whispered lies into Megatron's ear, maneuvered to remove me of my rightful place." 
"Well...she terminated my partner." 
"What?! She's taking credit for scrapping him now too?! That was my doing!" 
"What? You weren't there." 
"Uh, of course I wasn't. I don't know what I was thinking." 
"Who are you talking about?" 
"No one. Who are you talking about?" 
"Tailgate." 
"Who's Tailgate?" 
"You are the one. You extinguished Cliffjumper!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Arcee''' compare stories on Airachnid, only for Starscream to let slip about Cliffjumper.

"I have been a fool. Made mistakes. Monumental ones. But I have gained a clear understanding of my place in the universe. Of who I am. Starscream: aligned with no side, servant to no one."
:—'''Starscream''' book-ends the episode and goes rogue on us. What a shock.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Megatron was yelling at Airachnid, his right eye cover very slightly goes through his head.
* When Airachnid freezes Prime, his battle mask is drawn back. Next scene, he has it out again.
* When begging for mercy as Arcee pins him to the ground, Starscream's eyes (save for the pupils) are completely red (well, actually, just a bit pinkish, even). It does make him look even more scared, though. Until his next scene, when they're still like that.
* When Starscream and Airachnid are arguing in the crashed ship a piece of Starscream's shoulder goes through his chest.
* Optimus's trailer is missing its support legs.

===Continuity notes===
*Airachnid rejoined the Decepticons after the events of "[[Metal Attraction]]". Good thing that magnetism wore off.
*Starscream recalls how he did away with Cliffjumper in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]". And gloats about it too.
*Arcee confirms Megatron's attempt to kill Starscream from "[[Rock Bottom]]".
*Tailgate's death is brought up. His death was originally shown via flashback in "[[Predatory]]".
*Optimus has replaced the [[trailer]] blown up by [[MECH]] in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]" with an identical looking one.
*This is the last appearance of Starscream for Season one.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream claims his previous rank used to be the "[[Air Commander]]" of [[energon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. "Energon Seeker" is the [[Scientist (WFC)|Scientist]] chassis used by Starscream in the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' game.
*The [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]] is a weapon previously used by Decepticons, as well as the name for the [[The Immobilizer|episode]] it is featured in. Sadly, unlike the original Immobilizer, it was not invented by [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]].
*Bulkhead sarcastically refers to "lobbing with [[The Fallen]]". Lobbing was the game he played with Wheeljack during the latter's brief visit to Earth.
* This isn't the first time a Starscream has wanted [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|to be an Autobot.]]

===Real-world references===
*In another example of Starscream using human expressions, after listing his grievances with the Decepticons, he offers to "rat them out".
*"Be still, my beating [[spark]]" is a variation of the human phrase "Be still, my beating heart", which is most often recited after seeing one's romantic interest.
* Arcee giving Starscream a fighting chance to live by letting him use the key to his cuffs to free himself while she keeps her blasters aimed at him is reminiscent of the 1994 film ''Bad Girls''.

===Trivia===
*This episode was dedicated to Captain H. L. "Larry" Cullen, [[Peter Cullen]]'s older brother, who served as a United States Marine in Vietnam and was the primary inspiration for Optimus Prime's voice. He died aged 70 on [[March 25]], 2011, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on [[July 21]], two days before the episode's broadcast.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/can-montreal/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=152438186 ''Montreal Gazette'' obituary for H. L. "Larry" Cullen.]</ref>
*Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on his aim if he can't hit Airachnid even when she's only a few feet from him.
*This is the first time in this series—and one of very few instances in the entire history of the franchise—when a character's thoughts are heard out loud.
*This episode also deals with something that is often not addressed throughout the franchise: Starscream, for all his weaknesses and flaws throughout his various incarnations, is a very important part of the Decepticon war machine. Megatron is more furious at Starscream's (believed) capture than he is at the loss of a powerful weapon like the Immobilizer (which he dismisses as 'some trinket').
*Ratchet gains yet another Decepticon weapon to study in this episode. Maybe he'll bring one into battle sometime soon?

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rache'''" ("Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 3|3 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Társak'''" ("Partners")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 3|3 February]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dendam'''" ("Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' 27 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Compagni'''" ("Fellows")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 3|3 December]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kettō Henkei! Cliffjumper no Munen o Harase'''" (決闘変形!クリフジャンパーの無念を晴らせ, "Duel Transformation! Quell Cliffjumper's Regrets")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 18|18 August]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Alssi ui Boksu'''" (알씨의 복수, "Arcee's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 1|1 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 30|30 December]] [[2011]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Parceiros'''" ("Partners")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 19|19 March]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Compañeros'''" ("Partners")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 30|30 June]] [[2012]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]