Sun Raid (Listen 'n Play)

This article is about the Jazz-centered audio adventure. For the Cliffjumper-centered audio adventure, see Sun Raid (Listen 'n Fun).

Colorforms
Guests of Transformers fly American Airlines!
Sun Raid
Publisher	Hasbro Bradley, Inc.
First published	1985
Writer	Dr.Z
Artist	David Schleinkofer (painted)
UPC	0 38976 08132 7
Page count	15pp

The Decepticons abduct humans to ransom for fuel.

Vital Statistics

Audio duration: 0:16:15

Synopsis

Out patrolling the Arizona desert for signs of a Decepticon base, Jazz tunes in to a news bulletin about a number of passenger jets going missing with everyone aboard. Moments later, he finds a man lying by the side of the road in the scorching heat and since he doesn't have any records of this being a human recreational activity, places the man in his passenger compartment. The man is confused by the talking car and passes out, so Jazz takes him back to the Autobot base.

Optimus Prime has Ratchet try to treat the man, though as Ratchet's not familiar with human physiology, the best he can offer the man is a drink of water. On recovering, the man assumes he's died, but Optimus corrects him and fills him in on the back story of the Transformers and their four million year war. The man identifies himself as Steve Guymo, and under questioning, reveals that he was checking over a plane when a talking jet rolled up, and an insect started talking in his ear. The Autobots take this as proof the Decepticons are behind the plane thefts, and figure that the Decepticons intend to use the humans to ransom the government for fuel. As Guymo says that Phoenix International is the only big airport in the area, the Autobots decide that's where the Decepticons will strike next.

At the Decepticon base, Starscream asks to be allowed to lead the next mission, and Megatron agrees, ordering Soundwave to send their demands to the President of the United States as soon as Starscream's mission is complete. Starscream heads to the lab where Frenzy seals him into a passenger jet disguise, using more heat in the welding gun at Starscream's insistence. The Air Commander heads for Phoenix International with Skywarp and Bombshell, unaware that at that moment the Autobots are assaulting the warehouse where the Decepticons are holding the hostages, guarded only by Rumble. The three Decepticons find the airport deserted, so decide instead to head to the warehouse, only to find the Autobot force waiting for them. Starscream, sealed into his metal disguise, finds himself unable to transform or fire his weapons, and when Bombshell is injured, the three Decepticons retreat.

The Autobots and Steve return to the Autobot base, where Optimus announces that the Decepticons' plan has been foiled, and Jazz makes a terrible, terrible pun.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Jazz (1) Optimus Prime (2) Ratchet (3) Trailbreaker (11) Hound (12)	Megatron (4) Starscream (5) Soundwave (6) Frenzy (7) Skywarp (8) Bombshell (9) Rumble (10)	Steve Guymo (2)

Quotes

"Let me out of here! A talking car? You're with them, aren't you? First the plane spoke to me, then a horrible insect bit me, and now a car is talking! The world's gone crazy! Let me out of here!"

—Steve Guymo reacts well to meeting Jazz.

"We can't survive too much more. How did this happen? Megatron's plans have never failed before. Could this be part of the scheme? Is he afraid that I've become too powerful? Did he plan this trap for me?"

—Starscream's paranoia goes into overdrive.

"Someone must have goofed and used too hot a welding gun on that metal disguise. That's how Starscream got trapped inside. It just goes to show. You are what you heat."

—Jazz ends the adventure with pain.

Notes

Errors

• The electronic processing applied to the Transformers' dialog makes it incomprehensible at times, and many of the characters with speaking roles go unnamed.
• If Phoenix International is the only big airport in the area and it hasn't been hit yet, where was Steve Guymo when he first encountered Starscream and Bombshell? Did the Decepticons go there and then leave without kidnapping anyone?
• How do the Autobots know where the hostages are being held?

Continuity notes

• The Autobot base is located in Arizona.

Trivia

• Sun Raid is an audio adventure, though there are, in fact, two audio adventures with the same name. There was a "Listen 'n Fun" adventure giftset which featured a red or yellow Cliffjumper and a "Sun Raid" tape, and also a Colorforms "Listen 'n Play" giftset which featured the Colorforms book and a "Sun Raid" tape. This adventure appears to have been the adventure paired with the Colorforms book. The Listen 'n Fun "Sun Raid" features a different voice cast, and concerns a Decepticon attack on a solar energy plant. Why the name was recycled for this book and story is unclear.
• Jazz somehow picks Steve up and puts him in the passenger seat without transforming to robot mode.
• While Side 1 of the cassette contained the prerecorded story, Side 2 was blank for recording your own stories.