Editing Homecoming (episode)

{{disambig3|Homecoming}}
{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=48
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=49
|title="Homecoming"
|japanese=サイバトロン大集結
|romaji=Cybertron Daishūketsu
|translation=Great Cybertron Gathering
|image=Cyb_ep48_starships.jpg
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Kazuhiko Sōma]]
|director=[[Hiroaki Kudō]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[December 10]], [[2005]] (Japanese)<br>[[September 26]], [[2006]] (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''With the black hole causing chaos across the universe, it is time for the children of Primus to unite or be destroyed!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyb ep48 jungle planet dragged.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]

Having returned to their home universe, the [[Autobot]]s divide their forces to deal with the threats plaguing the universe. While the crews aboard the ''[[Atlantis]]'' and ''[[Lemuria (Cybertron)|Lemuria]]'' head off to search for [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and his forces, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s team board the ''[[Ogygia (Cybertron)|Ogygia]]'' head to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to review the situation. And the situation is not good at all: [[Primus]] is running low on power thanks to his periodic attempts to keep the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] in check, and the dark energies of the singularity are running amok across the universe, causing chaos on [[Earth]], [[Velocitron]] and especially [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]]. [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] head for Earth while [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] returns to her homeworld, but as the Autobots survey the chaos on Jungle Planet, they are shocked to see tendrils of dark energy reach out of the black hole and drag the very planet through the [[space bridge]] that has so long lain open above it. In a flash, the Jungle Planet is next to Cybertron, at the mercy of the black hole...for little do the Autobots realize that the object of their search, Galvatron himself, is now within the black hole, using the power of the [[Omega Lock]] to control its evil energy.

[[File:Cyb ep48 planet leaders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, can no longer stand the terrible destruction plaguing our planet! She sends five special rings to five special young people!]]

Acting quickly, the Autobots connect a space bridge to Jungle Planet and begin evacuating the natives to the relative safety of Primus's body. [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], however, refuses to leave his homeworld, intending to "go down with the ship," as it were. [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] accuses him of giving up on his people, and the two old friends begin to fight as Snarl tries to knock some sense into Scourge, even as the space bridge starts to malfunction. His own doubts plaguing him, Scourge loses the fight, and as he looks around at his followers, realizes the truth of his comrade's words. Addressing the Jungle Planet natives, Scourge tells them that while their planet may die, together, they can make sure its ideals live on: never give up without a fight! As the assembled Transformers cheer, [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] congratulates Scourge for finally learning the lesson he has so long tried to teach him. Now truly the leader his planet deserves, Scourge suddenly finds himself enveloped with Primus's light, as do the other four planet leaders at their different locations in the galaxy. Seconds later, [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] arrives with the ''Ogygia'' to help the evacuation, but the space bridge shuts down before Scourge, Snarl and Backstop can escape across it. Beneath their feet, the mountain atop which Scourge's temple rests begins to crumble, and they believe their world is coming to an end...but in truth, it is the fourth great starship, the ''[[Hyperborea]]'', revealing itself! 

[[File:Cyb ep48 galvatron on the move.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Hey yo, what you be lookin' at?]]

On Earth, Jetfire and Evac, co-ordinated by [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]] and [[Lucy Suzuki]], are doing a fairly good job of evacuating humans and minimizing damage, but it's an uphill battle, and they soon have to rope the civilian Autobots into action as well. As they work, however, they also observe the plight of Jungle Planet, which is soon drawn into the black hole itself. With this, Colonel Franklin decides that the threat must be taken out at the source, and Jetfire agrees, intending to return to Cybertron to retrieve the Omega Lock from Galvatron. Before joining him, Evac and [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] head for the North Pole, to once again liberate the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s of Earth so they can lend a hand in the battle.

[[File:Cybertron Ark Homecoming.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Why, this image is not suggestive at all!]]

On Cybertron, the Autobots are alerted to the approach of Galvatron and the Decepticons, who have come to strike at Primus while he is at his weakest. While [[Cybertron Defense Team]] hold off the other Decepticons, Optimus Prime and [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] combine into Sonic Wing Mode, but even they are no match for an Omega Lock-powered Galvatron. Thankfully, just as Prime is staring down the barrel of Galvatron's cannon, the Autobots arrive—and we mean all of them! Through space bridges, aboard starships...Autobots from Earth, from Velocitron, from the Jungle Planet, from Gigantion, from all across the universe...all converge on Cybertron, leaving the Decepticons no option but retreat. The light of Primus shines down upon Optimus Prime, and the god announces that the time has come for all to be as one. In a burst of holy energy, Primus fuses the four starships into the magnificent ''[[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]]'', and the united Autobots assemble upon the mighty craft's bow, vowing to defeat Galvatron and save the universe.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Vector Prime]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (5)
*[[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]] (6)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (8)
*[[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] (9)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]](10)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (11)
*[[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] (12)
*[[Quickmix (Cybertron)|Quickmix]] (13)
*[[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]] (14)
*[[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]] (27)
*[[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]] (32)
*[[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] (33)
*[[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] (34)
*[[Brakedown (Cybertron)|Brakedown]] (36)
*[[Clocker (Cybertron)|Clocker]] (37)

'''[[Mini-Con]]s'''
*[[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] (3)
*[[Recon Mini-Con Team]]
**[[Six-Speed (Cybertron)|Six-Speed]] (21)
**[[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] (22)
**[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] (24)
*[[Undermine (Cybertron)|Undermine]] (25)
*[[Brimstone (Cybertron)|Brimstone]] (26)
*[[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] (28)
*[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] (29)
*[[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] (30)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (31)
*[[Dirt Boss (Cybertron)|Dirt Boss]] (35)
*[[Lugnutz]] (38)

|c3=
*[[Bud Hansen]] (1)
*[[Mike Franklin]] (17)
*[[Lucy Suzuki|Dr. Lucy Suzuki]] (18)
*[[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] (19)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (20)


|c4=
*[[Primus]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"The peace of one planet will become the peace over the universe. And the peace of the universe will become the peace over all universes. [['Til all are one]]."
:—'''Primus''' after Scourge has his epiphany


"Get hip to this, daddy-o. This universe doesn't belong to you. Stay cool, man. My friends and I may have done some things you consider bad, but we're here to help this time. See, we don't like anyone, Decepticons ''or'' Autobots, trying to take away our freedom. We cool? Can you dig it?"<br>
"I know, I can barely understand him myself, but he's agreed to help."<br>
"And it's a gas!"
:—'''Lugnutz''' joins the party, and with '''Evac''' providing translation


"Even that ''Sonic-burger mode'' is just a joke to him!"
:--'''Crumplezone''' talks smack about Sonic Wing Mode Optimus after the powered-up Autobot leader's failed attack on Galvatron.


"Gee, I hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart, so why don't I just bash your head in instead?  Eat plasma, Autobrats!"
:--'''Thunderblast''' sweetly, but none-too-subtly, indicates her next move to Scattershot.

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*''Galaxy Force'' includes a "previously on" segment that summarizes the events of "[[Guardian (episode)|Guardian]]".
[[File:Cybertron_thunderblast_thundercracker.png|thumb|right|No, really, just STOP.]]
*In the scene where Thundercracker is boasting about how successful Galvatron has been thanks in part to his awesome assistance, in ''Cybertron'', Ransack and Cumplezone tease him by saying that the extent of his help was "standing around" which prompts Thundercracker to angrily remind the duo that "this is the great Thundercracker you're talking to...ugh!" (Thunderblast shuts him up with a roundhouse kick to the torso.) In '' Galaxy Force,'' Thundercracker boasts specifically of his wonderous (exceedingly long-titled) ''hissiatsu'' finishing moves which Ransack brushes off as nonsense since he always gets defeated immediately. Here, as Thundercracker blows his top, he starts powering up, announcing a said move -- DBZ style-- "Super...Electric....." at which point Chromia (Thunderblast) instructs him to just STOP IT by doubling him over with her kick. The long-winded self-narration of his elaborate attacks has been a running gag with Thundercracker for much of the series. Seems that even his fellow Decepticons are a bit tired of it at this point.

*Snarl's speech to Scourge is much heavier on the "tough love" in ''Cybertron'', as he accuses the planet leader of not ''just'' giving up on his people, but being a coward who would rather give up than fight. Without this extra insult, Scourge's rallying speech is also a little different, as he also vows ''not'' to give up in ''Cybertron'', whereas in ''Galaxy Force'', he basically just talks about how the ideals of Jungle Planet must live on.

===Continuity notes===
*The newsreader seen reporting on the chaos on Earth is the same one who was seen covering Starscream's invasion back in "[[Invasion (episode)|Invasion]]" and "[[Retreat]]".
*It was only touched upon briefly at the time, but Crosswise re-sealed all the Ancient Decepticons in "[[Assault]]". Evidently, in the meantime, he has put them back in the large holding chamber in the North Pole previously seen in "[[Trap]]".

===Animation errors===
*When Galvatron blasts Optimus in the final battle scene, Prime is in Sonic Wing mode. When the rest of the Autobot forces arrive, he is suddenly in Super Mode with no indication of when he separated from Wing Saber. When Jetfire lifts him back onto to the deck of the Atlantis, he is back in regular robot mode. Perhaps the animators were getting as bored with the stock footage as the audience at this point?

===Transformers references===
*Thunderblast refers to the Cybertron Defense Team as "Autobrats", a smack phrase used in G1.
*As Megatron aims his gun at the fallen Prime, he declares: "I would have waited an eternity for this." While he previously stole this ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' quote from [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 Megatron]] back in "[[Trust (Cybertron)|Trust]]", this time around, it's even used in an identical scenario to the original.
*The ''Ark'' is, of course, named after the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot starship from Generation 1]].

===Real-world references===
*As quoted above, Crumplezone refers to Optimus's Sonic Wing mode as "Sonic-burger" mode. This is a pretty clever play on words, as [[Wikipedia:Sonic_Drive_In|Sonic]] is the name of a real world restaurant chain that sells fast food hamburgers, and calling something suffixed with the word "burger" (eg.a "nothing-burger") is a snarky way of belittling or downplaying a thing. Nice work, writers!
*As with the other starships, the ''Hyperborea'' is named after a "real" [[Wikipedia:Hyperborea|mythical lost land]].
*In ''Galaxy Force'', the ''Ark'' is named ''Noah'', in an obvious [[Wikipedia:Noah|Biblical reference]].

===Trivia===
*Scattorshot's long blue rifle makes one of its exceedingly rare appearances in this episode.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 13 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only.<br>
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]])<br>
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]