Transformers Armada: The Battle Begins

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	"The Battle Begins" {{#if: \| {{#if: \|; (')}} {{#if:\|; ""}}}}
Publisher	Reader's Digest Association Inc.}}
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Imprint	Reader's Digest Children's Books}}
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First published	February 26, 2003}}
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Writer	Michael Teitelbaum}}
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Illustrator	DreamwaveStudios (interior pencils and cover painting)}}
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ist}}{{#if: \| by}}	}}
and Elements }}by	}}
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ISBN	ISBN 0-7944-0102-3}}
TPB ISBN	ISBN }}
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Page count	64pp}}
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{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

Three children stumble across an ancient spaceship, housing three robots. The robots' awakening scions the coming of much larger, and more dangerous robot warriors to Earth.

Synopsis

In the distant past, in a distant galaxy, Cybertron housed a civilization of Transformers, whose purpose was to explore and gather knowledge. This knowledge would be returned to their homeworld, where it could be downloaded into the collective consciousness of the entire race, and that of Cybertron itself. Aiding the larger mechanical beings were a separate, smaller race, called "Mini-Cons" who could impart onto their larger brethren addition strength and energy by attaching themselves to their bodies.

Four millions years ago, a civil war erupted on the planet as the larger robots split into two factions; the benevolent Autobots and the power-hungry Decepticons. The Mini-Cons ultimately became central in the conflict between the two factions. The war came to a head when the Mini-Cons came to be gathered in a giant orbiting storage facility as the ultimate prize. However, during the course of the battle, Cybertron's moon was obliterated, giving both sides pause. They called a truce, and the Mini-Cons were sent away from Cybertron so that neither side could continue using the small robots in battle. As a contingency against the Mini-Cons being used by any other race who might intercept their ship, a warp gate was included within it, which would teleport to its location representatives of both the Autobots and Decepticons should the need arise. But gathering the Mini-Cons together had an unexpected side effect; their collective intelligence grew, leading to the small robots to develop feelings of independence and solidarity. The Mini-Cons traveled to what would one day be known as Earth, though their ship impacted the Moon, leading to dormant Mini-Cons being scattered atop the satellite's and the planet's surface. Millennia passed, and the Mini-Cons' existence became a half-forgotten legend amongst the other Transformers. War nonetheless ignited once more between the Autobots and Decepticons...

On Earth, local timekeeping denotes the year as 2010. The Cosmo Scope Research Center and Interstellar Observatory in Colorado is the workplace for many of Earth's greatest scientist, and the community surrounding the station housed their families. Three of the students at the local school, Carlos, Rad, and Alexis are readying themselves to go trail-exploring in the nearby mountains after school. As the trio depart the school grounds, they are spotted by Billy and Fred, two other schoolboys who decide to follow the "smart kids" with the intent to start trouble. Finding a trail they had never noticed before, Rad, Carlos and Alexis find their way to a cave entrance. Embracing the possibility of going on an adventure, the three children delve into the cave. Following the trio's trail, Billy and Fred soon come upon the same cave, and enter its dark corridors as well.

Within a large underground chamber, Carlos, Alexis and Rad stumble upon ancient drawings etched upon the cavern walls. Instead of the usual subject matter depicted in cave paintings, however, the drawings represent giant robots battling one another. One of the drawings depict three small robots, not partaking in the carnage surrounding them. Instinctively, the three children reach out to touch these figures, triggering flickering lights and rumbling within the cavern. The rumbling within the cavern frightens both Fred and Billy, who decide to scramble out of the cavern and ride away on their bikes, all the while convincing one another that the other three kids probably never went in the cave anyways. Inside the cave, the wall depicting robots begins to slide upwards, revealing the inside of a spaceship beyond it. Within the metal chamber is three panels. The panels begin to shine brightly before being replaced by robots who introduce themselves as High Wire, Grindor, and Sureshock in a series of beeps and electronic noises. Nearly overwhelmed with curiosity, the children question their new partners, and learn of the Mini-Cons' history. The ship's systems then begin to boot up, triggering the sequences that will both bring to Earth the Autobots and Decepticons, and activate the rest of the dormant Mini-Cons.

On Cybertron, Megatron and Optimus Prime grapple while their respective armies fight around them. In the middle of the battle, both faction leaders and a fraction of their troops are teleported away to Earth. Once on this new planet, both sides continue their fighting, much to the surprise of the children. While the larger robots remain distracted by their enemies, the Mini-Cons take on the forms of the children's BMX bike, scooter and skateboard. First to spot the six small figures is Megatron, who tries to claim the Mini-Con trio for himself. Optimus steps in to thwart Megatron's efforts, leading the Decepticon leader to order his troops to grab the Mini-Cons on his behalf. The Mini-Cons, with their human companions in tow, flee the battleground, and head back to the cave containing their ship. The three Mini-Cons then combine into Perceptor, and project a force-field to protect the kids, Optimus and the cave entrance. Unable to breach the shield, Megatron decides to instead head for Earth's Moon, to the remaining component of the Mini-Cons' ship. Activating a warp gate built into his own body, he teleports himself and his troops away from the scene.

With Megatron gone, the Mini-Cons resume their individual configurations. Optimus addresses the children, admitting that he is saddened that the war is still ongoing, and will only increase in momentum with the rediscovery of the Mini-Cons. His mood improves when he learn that the Mini-Cons' ship was still mostly functional, as it could serve as a fortress for him and his soldiers on Earth. The Mini-Cons convey through the children that they are honored to help Optimus fight against the Decepticons. The children then agree on concocting a story of winning the Mini-Con vehicles in an extreme riding contest, before heading home. The next morning, the three kids go about their day at school as normal, despite Fred and Billy's inquiries, as they promised Optimus Prime to keep the Transformers' existence a secret.

Meanwhile, on the Moon, Megatron interfaces with the other section of the Mini-Con ship. Deciding to use it as his own fortress, he orders his soldiers to work towards fortifying it. He then thinks to himself that he will begin to collect the Mini-Cons on the Moon and on Earth, both for himself and his troops. Afterwards, he will face his old foe once more, and vanquish him once and for all.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Optimus Prime (10)

Red Alert (11) (illustration only)
Hot Shot (12) (illustration only)|

{{#if:* Optimus Prime (10)

Red Alert (11) (illustration only)
Hot Shot (12) (illustration only)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Optimus Prime (10)
Red Alert (11) (illustration only)
Hot Shot (12) (illustration only) }}{{#if:* Megatron (9)
Starscream (13) (illustration only)
Cyclonus (14) (illustration only)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Megatron (9) Starscream (13) (illustration only) Cyclonus (14) (illustration only)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:* Carlos (1) Rad (2) Alexis (3) Billy (4) Fred (5)\|	Humans }}{{#if:* Sureshock (6) Grindor (7) High Wire (8) Perceptor (15)\|	Mini-Cons }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Megatron (9) Starscream (13) (illustration only) Cyclonus (14) (illustration only) }}{{#if:* Carlos (1) Rad (2) Alexis (3) Billy (4) Fred (5)\|	Carlos (1) Rad (2) Alexis (3) Billy (4) Fred (5) }}{{#if:* Sureshock (6) Grindor (7) High Wire (8) Perceptor (15)\|	Sureshock (6) Grindor (7) High Wire (8) Perceptor (15) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}

Notes

This book contains collectible stickers for Autobot and Decepticon faction logos. If some little snot didn't already steal them when no one was looking, that is.
The book also features a flip-animation gimmick; if one flips through the pages quickly, it creates the illusion that a faction symbol spins at the top-right corner of the book, alternating between Autobot, Decepticon, and Mini-Con.

Errors

The Moon is described as having wind and clouds. In reality, the Moon does not have an atmosphere, without which neither of these phenomena are possible.

Trivia

Both Cybertron and its inhabitants, including the Mini-Cons, are explicitly stated to have been created by a powerful force known as "the Creator".
Cybertron itself is also said to be alive, possessing its own consciousness and life-force, capable of growing and learning just as its inhabitants are.
The kids at Rad, Carlos, and Alexis's school collectively call themselves "Cosmo Kids", due to their close ties to the research facility.
Carlos is stated to be 10 years old, whereas Rad is 12. Alexis is 11, as are Billy and Fred.
Rad's real name is said to be "Brad", but no one calls him that, save his mother.
Alexis is described and depicted as having black, straight hair.
Alexis owns a "powerful handheld computer" nicknamed "Rover". Despite the narration bringing special attention to it, it doesn't play a particularly vital role to the story.
Fred has red hair, and Billy sports a crew-cut.
The Mini-Con storage panel are rectangular in shape instead of pentagonal.
The children can only understand their personal Mini-Cons, not one anothers'.
Sureshock is female. Evidently, female Transformers are not overall uncommon, as Optimus recalls how his "Autobot brothers and sisters" once used the Mini-Cons simply as tools.
Megatron's Cybertronian alternate mode is stated to be a giant, mobile flame-thrower with treads. Optimus, on the other hand, transforms into a "powerful-looking spaceship".
Optimus displays arm-extending abilities for combat. He is also capable of smiling, despite being depicted with a face-plate.

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