Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires

2014-08-23T21:20:28Z

Talel81:

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=32
|prev=Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five
|next=
|caption=
|image=RID32 subcvr.jpg
|title="Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 20]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=August 2014
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]] [[Brendan Cahill]] (pages 7, 10, 11, 13)
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] [[Joana Lafuente]] (pages 7, 10, 11, 13)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''Prowl turns the tables on the EDC and the Decepticons as the search for Alpha Trion reaches a climax. But what other secrets is the EDC hiding...?'''

==Synopsis==

''Half a million years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] watch as [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] leaves the planet. Though he accepts that Metroplex's departure is necessary, Prowl bemoans the fact that it has only come about as a result of the illogicality of war. As he watches [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] lead the charge into battle down below, he confides in his friend that Prime's reactive style of leadership is not what the Autobots need; rather, they need someone who can plan for the future...''

''As the [[Ark-7]] draws near to [[Earth]], Prowl remarks that it's "nice to come home", surprising [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], who remembers the [[Autobot]]s' last visit to the planet and Prowl's dramatic fallout with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Prowl brushes the matter aside and changes the subject, asking if Cosmos trusts Prime's leadership, and revealing that he asked him to come along because he needs someone he can trust.''

As the Autobots are attacked by the Decepticon spaceship on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]], in the secret [[Earth Defense Command]] base below the island's surface, Prowl stops [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from disconnecting the captive [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] by pressing his gun to Jazz's head. Prowl withdraws the weapon as soon as he has Jazz's attention, having only intended to make a point, and explains that Trion's presence is not the final piece of the puzzle: the ancient Autobot has clearly only been there for a few months, and the EDC have obviously had their "mind bomb" weapon for longer than that. Realizing that there must be another Cybertronian within the base, the pair set out to search for it, unaware that their presence has already been detected by [[Sanjay Bharwaney]]'s equipment. At [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s direction, Bharwaney targets Prowl with the mind bomb, instantly knocking him out.

Meanwhile, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] flies [[Marissa Faireborn]] to Bikini Atoll; as they draw closer, his confusion over the island's name gives way to a refusal to fly into the middle of the combat zone, out of concern for [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]]'s safety. He lands some distance away, and an exasperated Faireborn doesn't even bother to argue, racing for the base on foot.

As Jazz tries to drag Prowl's unconscious form through the base, his way is barred by Soundwave, who reveals the existence of his spy within the Autobot ranks. As this standoff plays out, however, Prowl's mind is hard at work: in actuality, he ''wanted'' to be attacked by the mind bomb, thereby allowing his mind to be connected to the EDC's network. As he searches through their computer banks from within, he comes upon a heavily encrypted data point, but has no time to decode it; instead, he interfaces with the base's weapons systems, and unleashes every missiles in the EDC's arsenal against the Decepticon ship, blowing it out of the sky. Next, he activates their army of tanks and jets, unleashing them on Soundwave, so that Jazz can continue getting himself and Prowl's body to safety.

Outside, Thundercracker runs for cover from the fire and debris created by the attack on the Decepticon ship, slipping and tumbling into a crevasse. Momentarily filled with horror over the belief that he has crushed Buster in the fall, his relief to discover that his canine companion is fine is immediately replaced with screaming terror at something unseen...

Jazz and Prowl emerge from the base, rejoining Prime's Autobot squad and the same time as the stealth-painted [[Constructicon (G1)|Construticons]]; [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] even reveals that he's not ''really'' a Decepticon spy, but fed Soundwave information on Prowl's orders. Prowl and the Constructicons merge into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and cover the Autobots as they quickly enter the base, recover Alpha Trion, then return to board [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and withdraw. As [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[D.O.C.]] administer medical aid to the ancient—but still chipper—'bot, Optimus chews Prowl out over his dangerous, secretive actions. Prowls retorts that the new age they now find themselves in holds many dangers, and that logic and planning are what is needed to survive, not heroic reaction. Prime backs down, begrudgingly admitting that the mission was a success, but Prowl then tells him about the EDC's secret data, and believes he knows who they need to find in order to solve the mystery.

As the EDC base crumbles, [[Sparkplug Witwicky|General Witwicky]] attempts to order an evacuation when he is confronted by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. The Decepticon commander remains displeased over the humans' use of the mind bomb against him, and is intent on revenge; although Witwicky tries to give him a message to pass on to his son, Galvatron pays him no need, and atomizes the general with a blast from his cannon. Marissa Faireborn presently arrives in the command centre, and Galvatron profess that Prowl was responsible for the general's death; Faireborn knows of the bad blood between Prowl and the Witwicky family, and is easily led into believing the lie.

Thundercracker and Buster flee Bikini Atoll, and as he circles the globe, the Seeker's experiences on the island clearly inform his continued work on his screenplay. As he writes about "Susan Journeyer" making a shocking discovery in "Josh Boyfriend's" secret apartment, his mind flashes back to the sight he glimpsed in the crevasse on the island... an EDC-made army of drones based on his old allies, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]!

==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]]'' (1)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (2)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (3)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (4)
*''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'' (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (9)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (18)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (35)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Needlenose]] (10)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (11)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (14)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (15)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (21)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (22)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (26)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (36)

|h4=[[Human]]s|c4=
*[[Jones]] (23)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel Witwicky]] (24)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney]] (25)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (27)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[D.O.C.]] (16)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (28)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (29)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (30)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (31)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (32)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (33)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (34)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] drones (37)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] drones (38)
}}

==Quotes==

"'''Bikini Atoll''', huh? I actually thought bikinis were '''something''' else entirely." 
"'''Thundercracker,''' just... just give me ten '''seconds''' to '''think'''." 
"Well, I want to be a better writer, so I '''have''' to learn about your human culture '''somehow''', Faireborn. If '''you''' don't tell me, I'll just pick it up on the '''internet'''."
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Marissa Faireborn'''

"The '''telepathic device.''' I '''understand''' the weapon, and I applaud the ingenuity. But you must '''understand'''... there are consequences to using it on '''me'''." 
"Wait. '''My son.''' Tell my son—" 
''(CHOOM!)'' 
"I hope your sun shines in whatever '''Afterspark''' awaits you, General Daniel."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Daniel Witwicky'''

"''Ah.'' "Son". An '''offspring.''' How... '''charming''' a method of procreation."
:—'''Galvatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The departure of Metroplex from Cybertron was previously seen in a flashback in [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|issue #28]].
*Ramjet and Thrust have been dead for quite some time in IDW continuity; Ramjet was torn to bits by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] in his [[Spotlight: Ramjet|self-titled ''Spotlight'']] seven years prior, while an injured Thrust was left to burn by human police in ''[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]'' four years ago. EDC has evidently been able to get ahold of their remains to make this army of duplicates; in the case of Ramjet that's partially Megatron's fault, as he rather unwisely and rather prominently spread Ramjet's dismembered parts around the world.

===Transformers references===
*The title page of this issue is an homage to the poster for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's sub-title is taken from the Gary Numan song, "I Dream of Wires".

===Errors===
*Prowl calls Scavenger "Scrapper" while explaining how he ordered them to leak information to the Decepticons.
*On the second-to-last page "Josh Boyfriend" is consistently misspelled as "Josh Boyfreind".

===Other trivia===
*This is labeled "chapter 5"; every other installment of "Earthfall" has been a "part", not a "chapter".

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Optimus Prime, Thundercracker and Buster, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Optimus Prime versus Prowl, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' Optimus Prime kneels by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s dead body during [[Unicron]]'s rampage, as seen in [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics series]], by Casey Coller and [[John-Paul Bove]]
<gallery>
File:RID32 regcvr.jpg|
File:RID32 subcvr.jpg|
File:RID32 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''Robots in Disguise'' #33
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Slaughterhouse|#32]]
*''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #2
*''Spirit Animals''
*''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/21909-transformers-robots-in-disguise-32-preview.html Preview]

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Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires