maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}
[[{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
#| }}{{#if: |issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category
[[Category:IDW {{#switch:{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}}}
{{#switch:prime
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:primeadaptation
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:ragedinobots
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
ragedinobots}}=Prime
{{#switch:rid2015
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
rid2015}}=Robots in Disguise (2015)
{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=War for Cybertron
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Fall of Cybertron
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)|primeadaptation|prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Prime
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Prime – Rage of the Dinobots
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers
transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012)
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron
the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade
transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers
lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light
till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One
revolution=Revolution
revolutionaries=Revolutionaries
action man=Action Man
gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5
g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
first strike=First Strike
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
rom=ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers
{{#if: DNA, you're in my heart. DNA, in fact you're in every part of my body. | DNA, you're in my heart. DNA, in fact you're in every part of my body.}}}}
Things haven't been going well for the Minions of Unicron lately. In the twenty-five stellar cycles since the upstart "Darksyders" have popped up, they've been losing more and more ground, more and more influence, more and more respect. But thanks to Cryotek's forethought, one of those Darksyders, a no-name called Doom-Lock, has been caught and interrogated, giving Cryotek Megatron's home address. Gathering his top enforcers, Cryotek goes on the offensive, making his way inside Megatron's domicile. As they make their way in, something bothers Cryotek. Once they arrive on the second floor, Cryotek learns why: Megatron has been expecting them. He gives the Minions the simple offer of joining him, or dying. They chose not joining him, only to realize they've been talking to a hologram. At that point, the Dropkick drones lying in wait spring into action, neutralizing Cryotek's underlings, but leaving him alive. With little choice left, Cryotek reluctantly accepts Megatron's renewed offer. But the gang boss has to make certain Cryotek won't get any ideas, and sends in a mnemosurgeon named Psychobat.
Later, Scorponok crows about how, with the Minions of Unicron under their thumb, all of Cybertron's underworld is theirs. But this isn't enough for Megatron, needled by a computer simulation inside his head. Outside, the Uprising is still ongoing, and the Darksyders are just wasting their time with petty crime. If the Maximal High Council and the Tripredacus Council can take advantage of the chaos, then surely they can do even more, right? He asks Scorponok about why the Builders made Maximal and Predacons fight as they did. Ultimately, the answer comes down to energy. There just isn't enough, and as long as they can't make their own, they'll always be someone's slave. And that's when, as Megatron remembers an ant-farm he used to have, the inspiration hits. What if they didn't need processed energon? What if they could make their own like mechanimals? They could just get rid of the Builders, and be their own people. With this, Megatron declares the time has come for Maximals and Predacons alike to evolve, to become beasts themselves.
At the Hydrax Plateau, newly minted Darksyder Packrat is on a mission. That mission is to find and grab a stasis pod. No easy task, since the spaceport's under heavy guard. As he watches, he sees one delivery truck making small talk with all the various guards. Having found his way in, Packrat follows the delivery 'bot as he leaves.
The delivery-bot in question, a twitchy sort named Powerhug, makes his delivery to Fort Scyk, then decides to use what little free time the Builders give him to hit the nearest bar. As he's on his third drink, he notices an altercation over a card game, and decides to get involved. The Maximal claims not to be much good at Triad, then asks Powerhug to join in. The sight of the more expensive cyber planet keys in the mix tempts Powerhug in. After all, he reasons, he does need the money. And what harm is there?
In the corner, Packrat's little scam is watched by a seething Nucleon. The Cyberdroid and former Powermaster is still bitter about what's become of Cybertron, and of the loss of his old partner, none other than theGalvatron himself, killed after the failure of the Great Push, and Nucleon condemned to obscurity and menial labor. As he sulks, a newcomer enters the bar, one who looks like Galvatron himself. The newcomer walks over to Nucleon and, as Nucleon realizes it can be no-one other than Galvatron, tells him to get his stuff and prepare.
Some time later, Powerhug carries Packrat past the Hydrax Plateau security, having been coerced into helping the vermin by the large debt he now owes him. Once Powerhug's inside and loaded, Packrat slips away onto one of the nearby ships, looking for any stasis pods it might contain. Unfortunately, all the ones onboard have been moved, but Packrat quickly discovers the ship is part of a fleet, and one of that fleet, a ship called the Alchemor just happens to have some on board. Making his way there, Packrat manages to find a pod, take, and make his way out via the spaceport's sewer systems.
With their new, ill-gotten pod, Megatron prepares to test it on a former Minion named Overbite, who's hesitant. He likes being a submarine, even if he does like the look of oxide sharks. But, aware of his utter lack of choices, he reluctantly gets into the pod. Almost immediately after he does, things start going wrong. His body is violently reconfigured, and once done he finds being on land painful. A quick look in his reflection reveals Overbite has become a hideous, misshapen amalgam of beast and vehicle, not at all what Megatron wants. In what's almost an act of mercy, Megatron kills him.
Three abortive attempts later, and Megatron is less than happy, not helped by the voice of the original Megatron in his head taunting him all the while. After the failure of the unwilling subject no. four, number five reveals Megatron isn't the only one who's been tinkering with beast modes. Asking Terrorsaur as to where he acquired their latest "volunteer", Megatron realizes that the Darksyders are being shadowed. After a lengthy "Q&A" with the unlucky Paralon, Megatron learns the hapless bot was a member of the Predacon Secret Police. On the plus side, Megatron has learnt that the PSP have been hunting a rogue Autobot scientist named Leatherhide, who Megatron is certain will help unlock beast modes once and for all, once Terrorsaur finds him.
The result is Terrorsaur trudging through Leatherhide's last known location, the Toxic Sludge Swamps, with the help of a loud local named Darksteel. The two quickly come under attack from a group of Slicers. As they escape, the two find themselves caught in a net, the result of Leatherhide, who's eschewed a robot mode entirely, in favor of two beast modes.
Leatherhide is tempted by the offer of a lab, and the chance to make real hybrids, not just crude work like the Slicers. But the name Megatron gives the Autobot pause, and somehow Terrorsaur's assurance that he's totally different just don't sound convincing. But the scientist is taken in, convinced he can probably just tear Megatron a new one if it comes to it.
After setting up a shiny new lab for the Autobot, Scorponok is told that in order for the experiment to go further, Leatherhide will need a protoform in order to finish off, convinced the scanning will go easier on a form that hasn't taken any sort of mode before. Problem is, the Builders are pretty protective of them. Not helping is that Packrat's busy, and Megatron probably won't want to wait. So, Scorponok decides to recruit Bisk.
Bisk's enjoying a bit of downtime when a green and yellow PC approaches him with a new quest. Tempted by the swag the Darksyders hand out, and the promise of it being a solo mission, Bisk accepts. He makes his way to Nova Cronum, now home only to the Grand Mal, once a floating fortress belonging to Thunderwing himself, and now the Builders' military headquarters. Bisk is reasonably convinced that the protoform he's after is located in there. Using his infiltration skills, he manages to sneak in without being noticed by the Micromaster guards, and overhears a snippet of conversation that leads him to Sector 77-B. After several dramatic encounters, he makes it to Floor 77, Room B, where he finds a Builder arguing with some purple and black Maximal.
Said Builder, Eject, is chewing out Galva Convoy. Despite having created him to create a new race to replace the Maximals and Predacons, Galva isn't following through, claiming he needs to "learn to transcend" to master the Matrix in him. He does want to create a new race, which he's already named "Terrorcons", and he's pretty certain he's close to a breakthrough, but... he's troubled by what he's seen of Cybertronian history. Of constant wars and factionalism. So, nudged by a mysterious voice, he's got his own plan, to make an army not of sparks, but anti-sparks, created by a corrupted Matrix. Unaware of his creation's dark designs, Eject storms off, telling him to just get it done soon.
An undetected Bisk watches this, not terribly interested by all the exposition, before waiting to see whether to fight Galva Convoy or sneak past. It soon becomes clear to him he's in a stealth encounter. As he swipes the pod, he notices a nearby camera focusing on Galva Convoy, transmitting information to him. Bisk gets back to work, wondering if he'll ever figure out what he's just seen.
"Say my name." "...you're Megatron." "You're goddamn right."
With their protoform, the mood at Darksyder headquarters is jubilant, Megatron promising Leatherhide whatever reward he wants, once they've distributed their upgrade to everyone, Maximal and Predacon alike. After choosing the protoform's alt-mode—the humble ant-droid, Leatherhide prepares to begin, warning Megatron that once the technology is out in the open, there will be no going back. Megatron, naturally, is perfectly okay with that. The protoform boots up, and soon the new Cybertronian, a Predacon named Formikon, swears undying loyalty to his "queen". Satisfied, Megatron asks how long it'll take to move on to already-existing Maximals and Predacons. Leatherhide tells him they're ready now.
Soon enough, Megatron's lieutenants have all been upgraded, with a highly reluctant Terrorsaur as the last to be subjected. And with Terrorsaur soon boasting a beast mode, it's Megatron's turn.
Time becomes a blur for Megatron, as the Transmetal upgrades take hold. Eventually, a triumphant Megatron emerges, instantly transforming into his new dragon mode, and takes to the skyline of Iacon. Bolstered by his newfound power, Megatron erases his mental copy of his namesake, before returning to the lab to lay down the law. By the next stellar cycle, he wants every Maximal and Predacon everywhere, regardless of affiliation, to be upgraded.
The events of "Identity Politics", wherein Gnashteeth became Megatron and established the Darksyders, are established to have happened twenty-five stellar cycles before this story. The outbreak of the Grand Uprising, as documented in "Broken Windshields", happened four stellar cycles ago. According to Eject later on in the story, the Resistance has now managed to take almost a quarter of the planet.
Escargon and Packrat being part of Cryotek's crew (here identified as the Minions of Unicron) was established back in Alone Together Part 2.
It is not identified by name, but Megatron's residence at the beginning of the story is the late Double Punch's mansion, Megatron apparently having taken it for himself after murdering the former occupant.
Terrorsaur mentions the Antares Eight, the group of Renegades Grimlock dealt with back at the beginning of "Micro-Aggressions". He mentions they've got unusual tech, a nod to their being from "out of town".
Megatron's pet ant-droid colony appeared in "Identity Politics".
Eject's plan to clone Lio Convoy was set up at the end of "Broken Windshields". His research on the G-Virus was revealed in "Micro-Aggressions".
Galvatron got a new lease on life at the end of "Micro-Aggressions", which also established his cause of death in this continuity.
Nucleon identifies Powerhug as a Class F or Class G, the first mention of Builder-ruled Cybertron's class system since its introduction back in "Broken Windshields".
The Grand Mal was offhandedly mentioned, along with its connection to Thunderwing, back in "Trigger Warnings".
Cryotek leads a gang called the Minions of Unicron, a nod to his Wreckers profile which bizarrely named him a Minion of Unicron despite that designation having nothing to do with him whatsoever, most likely done as a simple means of marketing consistency with having all of the villain profiles published in comic books sold under the Universe label given that designation.
When Cryotek storms Megatron's mansion, there's an unidentified yellow object left in a CR bath, none other than the Rubber Ducky, which later appears in the background of the story's final image.
The original Galvatron, partnered with Nucleon, Doomshot, and Clench, is described as one of only two Triple-Threat Masters active during the Great War; the other is Optimus Prime, obliquely referred to in "Trigger Warnings" and dubbed by "A Brush With Infamy–Prologue" as "Triple-Threat Prime", who was paired with Apex, Hi-Q, and Surge.
Nucleon is Galvatron's Titan Master (Headmasters renamed for trademark reasons) partner from the contemporary Titans Return toyline). Jim Sorenson reworked Nucleon from a head-former into an engine-former because he considered the name "Nucleon" to work better for someone who functioned as a power source.
Doomshot is the Titan Master partner to Megatron in the Titans Return toyline.
This story gives our first mention of the Maximal High Council and the Tripredacus Alliance, the reigning government bodies of both sides in the original Beast Wars cartoon.
The failed Beast Upgrade test gives Overbite a broken, malformed alternate mode that combines aspects of both a shark and a submarine: in other words, his Universe toy, redecoed from Hellscream. The other failed test subjects have also traditionally had "misshapen" beast modes: Crow Convoy is trapped in mid-transformation, Gnash's raptor mode is damaged with exposed metalwork, and Max-B, as a Cyborg Beast, has exposed machinery in wolf mode; this presumably gives some insight into how the upgrade failed for each of them.
Bisk, complete with gamer persona and unusual outlook, is a direct import of his counterpart in Robots in Disguise. Darksteel and Psychobat are similarly imports of the Prime, and Adventure characters, respectively.
"Wasp" as a pre-beast mode name for Waspinator originates with Animated Waspinator; it was first applied to the Beast Wars incarnation of the character in his Hall of Fame profile.
Cybertron has a moon named "Artemis", named for the BWII character of the same name, who lived on the moon of Gaia. The moon's skin being described as "gouged-out" is likely a reference to the moon seen in the Beast Machines cartoon that had a huge gash on its surface. "Derailment" would clarify that Artemis is an alternate name for what other continuities call Moonbase Two.
Galva Convoy's metaphysical attempts to master the Matrix and "transcend" at the request of a higher power evokes Optimus Primal's spiritual quests in Beast Machines. This time around, the reference is turned on its head, as it's an evil entity who's guiding Galva's thoughts for evil purposes.
While talking with Galva Convoy, an exasperated Eject unwittingly quotes Primal's last words to Cheetor from that series, to "transform and transcend".
Galva Convoy's plan to name his new faction "Terrorcons" probably should raise a few eyebrows. Over the years, the name has been associatedwith a certain Chaos Bringer several times, although the true identity of the entity would be hinted at in the next chapter.
Formikon is Inferno's Italian name. Just in case his identity goes over any reader's head, it's followed up by Megatron's comment of "by the Inferno," and "I like him."
The three Beast Wars show characters shown to undergo the Beast Upgrade all take on forms that they didn't in the show: Scorponok has the appearance of his "Transmetal" Happy Meal toy, while Terrorsaur has his unused-on-screen Transmetal design, and Megatron takes on his BotCon 2016"TM3" body. All these designs have mechanical beast mode elements, reflecting the forms being taken from mechanimals instead of organic Earth creatures.
Bisk uses a lot of video game lingo in this story. He considers important characters to be PCs (player characters) and unimportant ones to be NPCs (non-player characters), refers to events prior to the Uprising era as "backstory" and "metalore" (a term for history of a game's setting that doesn't impact on gameplay), considers the rise of Megatron to be a "new storyline" (found in [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Massively multiplayer online game|{{#if:MMO games|MMO games|Massively multiplayer online game}}]] that receive ongoing updates and new content)... really, if you're unfamiliar with gaming terminology you might want to have Google handy.
Bisk's "tree" of dialogue options while talking to Megatron is a staple of several games, most notably [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}BioWare|{{#if:BioWare's|BioWare's|BioWare}}]] [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Mass Effect|{{#if:||Mass Effect}}]] series. (As a bonus, Bisk references "romance options", another notable feature of the Mass Effect games.)
Bisk hiding from guards using a metal crate pulled from subspace is a reference to the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Metal Gear|{{#if:||Metal Gear}}]] series, whose protagonist Solid Snake hides under cardboard boxes to evade detection during stealth segments.
As Bisk lifts a protoform from its container, he mentally plays a jingle composed by [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Takashi Tezuka|{{#if:||Takashi Tezuka}}]] and [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Shigeru Miyamoto|{{#if:||Shigeru Miyamoto}}]]—in other words, the iconic "item get" jingle from [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}The Legend of Zelda|{{#if:||The Legend of Zelda}}]].
And, as a lone example not from Bisk's narration, Twitcher earning his fortune in simultronic games is a dual reference to his alternate mode and to [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Twitch.tv|{{#if:Twitch videogame streaming|Twitch videogame streaming|Twitch.tv}}]].
{{#if: DNA, you're in my heart. DNA, in fact you're in every part of my body. |