Editing 2005 IDW timeline

[[File:ChaosTheory1 montage.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Let's see how far we've come.]]

Beginning as a simple reimagining of the traditional [[Generation 1 continuity family]] under the pen of [[Simon Furman]], the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]] has evolved over the course of thirteen years into the single longest-running continuity in the history of the brand, spanning numerous ongoings, miniseries, and one-shots. Almost every work ties into the overarcing '''timeline''', telling a single unified story that starts at the dawn of time, moves through to the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and eventually into a new era of post-war reconstruction. Naturally, such a long-running work of fiction is bound to contain occasional storytelling and artistic inconsistencies, though [[John Barber|certain writers]] have actively sought to correct these mistakes over the course of their careers.
 
In 2016, [[IDW Publishing]] announced the formation of the [[Hasbro Universe]], a shared comic continuity retroactively encompassing the Transformers, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], other Hasbro properties such as [[Rom|Rom the Space Knight]], and, in a stranger development, the events of the largely forgotten ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' miniseries. This chronology focuses largely on the adventures of the Transformers as they relate to the timeframe of the larger Hasbro Universe, with characters from other properties only dealt with in passing.

{{quote|The story never ends, Ironhide. It just changes into something else.|[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], having a nice [[Furmanism]]|[[Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia]]}}

==1,000,000+ years ago==
{{ongoing}}
===5 billion BCE===
[[File:MtMtEAnn2012-TheGuidingHand.jpg|thumb|right|300px|First, there was color.]]
According to legend, [[Primus]] creates [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}} and splits himself into the [[Guiding Hand]], a benevolent pantheon of deities encompassing himself, [[Mortilus]], [[Adaptus]], [[Solomus]], and [[Epistemus]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

===4.5 billion BCE===
The planet [[Earth]] forms. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}}

===16 million BCE===
The [[Stentarian]] civil war begins, pitting the heroic [[Terradore]]s against the villainous [[Ammonite]]s. {{storylink|Little Victories}} Their war precipitates the disastrous [[Shattering]], necessitating the creation of the [[Galactic Council]] to stabilize the galaxy and govern the planets who join its ranks. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

===12 million BCE===
Cybertronian religion holds that the first Transformers were created around this time by the Guiding Hand. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} According to legend, the very first Cybertronian, in the land that will one day become [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], realizes that he can [[Transformation|transform]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} The creation and subsequent proliferation of the Transformer race leads to the planet's first golden age. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Primus supposedly delivers the [[Prime Pastoral]] at the future site of [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} One myth holds that, in ancient times, Primus battled against "his opposite", bolstered by three gigantic Transformers known as [[Titan (IDW)|Titan]]s: [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], and [[Chela]]. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} 

In other religious circles, the devout believe that [[Mortilus]]' ambition sparked a "war between the gods", pitting himself against the other members of the Guiding Hand. The conflict is supposedly great enough to tear [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] from its orbit and send the moon hurtling away through space, and though Mortilus is killed, the gods are left weakened by the conflict. Supposedly, Solomus's prison becomes the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], Epistemus and Adaptus become the [[brain module]] and the [[transformation cog]] respectively, and Primus himself retreats into the core of Cybertron to become [[Vector Sigma]]. From these sacrifices, the Cybertronian race gains sentience, wisdom, intellect, change, and immortality. The first generation of Cybertronians present to witness these supernatural feats supposedly go on to become the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]], {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} who go on to turn the planet into a paradise. Among their many feats involve defeating the monstrous [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], rumored to be a creation of Mortilus, {{storylink|The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation}} alongside [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the First [[Titan (IDW)|Titan]]. Trypticon's body is sealed away beneath the [[Toraxxis Plains]]. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}}

Eventually, after turning Cybertron into a utopian haven for both the mind and spirit, the Knights leave Cybertron to spread enlightenment aboard a fleet of [[Titan (IDW)|Titan]]s, and subsequently vanish from history. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Whether or not the Knights really existed has yet to be determined; either way, only a handful of artifacts and texts from this time are known to exist, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} though some evidence suggests that the Knights split into different clans during their voyage across the galaxy to found the mythical [[Cyberutopia]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} 

Most successive generations of Cybertronians do not believe in the Knights as concrete beings, instead viewing them as mythological folk heroes. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:Heavy-TheThirteen.jpg|thumb|left|300px|...and then there was not.]]

With the benevolent influence of the Knights no longer guiding its progress, Cybertronian civilization reverts to a primitive state, and a new dark age of barbarism falls as the formerly-unified planet splinters into a multitude of smaller tribes and societies. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} As a result of the destruction of his [[chronal drive]], the [[Decepticon]] [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] is flung twelve million years into the past from the moment of his defeat in the year [[#2012-2013|2013]]. Grievously injured, he spends years wandering the barbarian land until he is found by a peaceful "shepherd" named [[Onyx Prime|Onyx]], who Shockwave recognises as the Cybertronian who will one day be known as Onyx Prime. Shockwave murders Onyx and takes on his identity; he also takes control of Onyx's "flock" of mostly [[beast mode|beast-mode Cybertronians]], taking one particularly fearless individual under his wing as a student and naming him "[[The Fallen|Megatronus]]". Inspired by [[#10,000 BCE|a previous encounter]] in his youth, Shockwave uses his knowledge of future events to manipulate history on a grand scale, guiding it along the course he learned in his youth, while simultaneously manipulating those around him in the hopes of analyzing why his species falls to civil war. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}} Prominent tribal leaders soon arise, chief among them the [[Prime (rank)|Primes]]. Five of these Primes—[[Solus Prime|Solus]], [[Nexus Prime|Nexus]], [[Alchemist Prime|Alchemist]], [[Vector Prime|Vector]], [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and their followers—join forces to commemorate Primus by founding the small village of Crystal City. 

Around the same time, Megatronus—now a powerful warlord in his own right—aims to expand his territory of the [[Darklands]], and after invading and annexing [[Protihex|Protohex]] he recruits the twin gladiators [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]], who slay their capricious master [[Septimus Prime]] and pledge allegiance to Megatronus. His legions conquer the [[Forgotten Plains]], but when Megatronus marches on the Crystal City, he is met by the armies of the Primes, bolstered by the [[Liege Maximo]] and Onyx Prime's bestial legions. Their fighting awakens the original three Titans before Onyx "realizes" that their enemy is his "old friend" Megatronus, leading to ceasefire and a truce—all of which Onyx planned, having unleashed Megatronus on Cybertron to force an alliance between the tribes that would build Cybertronian society. To celebrate the new alliance, Onyx Prime creates a new flag for Cybertron, supposedly based on the visage of Primus himself, but actually based on his foreknowledge of the symbol of the [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

The alliance is joined by five more Primes, and together they become known as the [[Thirteen]], {{storylink|The Crucible}} each ruling a group of followers that come to be known as the [[Thirteen Tribes]] and commanding the loyalty of gigantic Titans and diminutive [[Titan Master]]s. {{storylink|White Light}} The Primes become the archetypes for future Cybertronians to pattern themselves after, {{storylink|Heavy}} but it doesn't take long before the Thirteen grow drunk on their own arrogance and begin to think themselves above other Cybertronians: indeed, it soon becomes common belief that the Primes are so powerful that only a Prime can kill another Prime. {{storylink|The Crucible}} {{storylink|Origin Myths}} 
{{-}}

===8 million BCE===
[[File:TheMindBomb-GalvatronKillsHeadmasters.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Off with his Headmaster.]]
As the Primes govern their planet peacefully, Shockwave, in the guise of Onyx, advises [[Prima]] to spread Cybertron's "enlightenment" to other worlds, with the expedition being the first to leave the planet since the Knights of Cybertron. The first planet they land on ends in brutal conflict, and Prima blames Megatronus for the expedition's failure; acting on Onyx's orders, Liege Maximo stokes Megatronus's resentment, leading him to turn on Prima. Solus Prime intervenes in the fight to save Prima's life, but is killed by Megatronus with the Star Saber. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}} The betrayal ignites tensions between the thirteen tribes and escalates into the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]]. {{storylink|The Crucible}} {{storylink|Heavy}} Megatronus flees the planet, while Liege Maximo is captured by the Primes and imprisoned within his titan, [[Vigilem]], whom the other Titans deem unworthy of remembrance and exile into space. A repentant splinter of Liege Maximo's old tribe agree to keep their former leader and his Titan permanently interred, renaming their dormant Titan "[[Vigilem|Carcer]]". {{storylink|Rubicon}} {{storylink|Heavy}} {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

Onyx Prime allies first with [[Micronus Prime]], {{storylink|White Heat}} and later, [[Nexus Prime]]. Onyx and Nexus utilize the [[Enigma of Combination]] to create an army of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]: [[combiner]]s between beast-bots and humanoid Transformers. {{storylink|The Crucible}} {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} The joint faction proves powerful, and the Headmasters see action on distant worlds such as [[Spindrift]]. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 3|Heart of Darkness #3}} 

Onyx Prime and Prima hunt down Megatronus aboard Prima's Titan [[Emissary (IDW)|Emissary]], finding him on the planet [[Tsiehshi]]; Megatronus kills Prima before being slain by Onyx, his usefulness to Shockwave's machinations at an end. Emissary carries Prima's body to the stars, but Onyx ensures that he will crash on [[Elonia|a faraway planet]]. On returning, Onyx tells Alpha Trion that Megatronus and Prima slew each other in final battle. Megatronus's name is soon forgotten by history, and he becomes known only as "the Fallen". {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

Disgusted by this fusion between beast-bots and his own kind, [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] deserts his post in Megatronus's army to begin his own campaign against the Headmasters—a campaign that ends with him killing Nexus Prime. {{storylink|The Crucible}} Disgusted by the idea of combination, Galvatron conceals the Enigma to prevent any future combiners from coming into being. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} {{storylink|The Crucible}} The realization that they are not as invulnerable as they thought provokes many of the Primes to flee Cybertron, with the exception of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. {{storylink|The Crucible}} Nexus Prime's most devoted servant, a diminutive Titan Master named [[Infinitus]], vows revenge for his master's death and swears allegiance to Onyx Prime before going into hiding. {{storylink|White Light}}

With the war over and the Primes gone, Trion brings together Galvatron and [[Prima]]'s follower [[Nova Prime|Nova Major]] in hopes of reuniting Cybertron. Nova Major agrees, noting that under the principles of [[functionism]], everyone will "know their place". {{storylink|The Crucible}}

[[File:Windblade1 Caminus.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The lack of tail fins was a dissapointment.]]

During this time, an office worker named [[Censere]] leaves his original job to retrain as a forensic pathologist. The death of [[Tusk|an old friend of his]] goes unreported; as a result, Censere did not discover it until years later. The incident moves him to begin a lifelong mission: chronicling the deaths of every Cybertronian. After losing his hometown in the war, he relocates to a [[Necroworld|distant planet]] where he sets up a base of operations, equipped with a [[teleport chamber]] to allow him to record every fatality. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}

Shortly afterwards, the remaining twelve Titans leave Cybertron, each one the former servant of a Prime. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} They embark on millennia-long deep space voyages, intending to find and colonize distant worlds in an attempt at spreading [[Pax Cybertronia]] across the cosmos. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} Subsequent expeditions succeed in colonizing far-flung worlds that will one day be known as [[Caminus]], [[Velocitron]], and [[Devisiun]]. {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}} {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} Eventually, however, the [[space bridge]] network between the Titans fails and the colonies are permanently cut off from Cybertron and each other. In their absence, the colonists begin developing their own societies that invariably venerate the Thirteen—and, by extension, all Primes—as deities. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}}
{{-}}

===7 million BCE===
[[File:AllGoodThings-NovaPrimeAndFriends.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Pastel Age was a soothing time.]]
Alpha Trion and Metroplex work together to explore the surface of Cybertron, {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} until the Titan eventually goes dormant beneath the city of [[Nyon]]. {{storylink|Ruins}}

Nova Major declares himself "Nova Prime". Accompanied by Galvatron, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], and [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], he embarks on a quest into the planet's lowermost reaches. There, they discover the ancient [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who allies himself with the Prime in the hopes of returning their wartorn planet to its former glory. With Omega Supreme's aid, Major Prime ushers in Cybertron's "Golden Age". {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} Under his direction, the Cybertronian empire expands into space, with the [[Primal Vanguard]] serving as offworld peacekeepers. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} 

At some point following the departure of the colony Titans, [[female Transformer]]s disappear from Cybertron under unknown circumstances. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} Aiming to reintroduce female Transformers to the now "genderless" Cybertronian species, Jhiaxus experiments on his follower [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]], altering her CNA and giving her a "maelstrom of contradictory sensory input", as well as impelling other Transformers to use feminine pronouns to refer to her. Though Jhiaxus is successful in his primary objective, Arcee is left disoriented and homicidal by the process, and the scientist abandons her. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

===6.7 million BCE===
[[File:Tyrest and the matrix.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"It consisted of our Top Bots."]]

Nova Prime aims to further expand the reach of the Cybertronian race and, inspired by the legends of the Knights of Cybertron, begins planning what he calls the "[[Expansion]]", a massive wave of interplanetary colonization and conquest aimed at establishing "[[Pax Cybertronia]]" across the known galaxy. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} To do so, he requires a fresh generation of new Cybertronians, but, around this time, the life-giving, [[hot spot]]-igniting pulse waves of Vector Sigma slow down. Nova tasks a team of scientists, led by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]], with extracting new sparks from the [[Matrix of Leadership]], exponentially boosting the Cybertronian population and dividing Cybertronians along [[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|"forged" or "cold constructed"]] lines. A "first wave" of new Transformers is created; additional Sparks are stored until bodies can be created for them. 

The process ends after a scientist has a crisis of conscience, steals the Matrix, and replaces it with a forgery while hiding the real one underground. The team simply assumes that they have bled the Matrix dry and the project is abandoned. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

Hoping to rediscover the lost art of combination, Nova Prime conspires with Jhiaxus in an attempt to replicate combiner technology, seeking a process that allows sentient minds to be merged into one in the pursuit of peace—eliminating all free will save his own, a society where "all are one". {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} Galvatron, still opposed to the existence of combiners, secretly launches Nexus's [[Enigma of Combination]] into space to put it beyond Jhiaxus's reach. It lands on [[Earth]], in the region that will one day be known as [[Mesopotamia]]. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

In deep space, Onyx Prime and his Titan [[Chela]] make planetfall on [[Eukaris]], an uninhabited jungle world. Using the [[hot spot]] within his Titan, Onyx oversees the development of a new civilization of [[beast mode]] Transformers, free to live without the stigma surrounding beast modes. He eventually departs, but instructs Chela to guard his colony from any intruding "standard-formers". {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} 

Aware of Galvatron's gambit from his past experiences as Shockwave, Onyx correctly deduces that Nexus's artifact has landed on Earth and dispatches a Titan Master named [[Sovereign]] to find the artifact and summon the Prime when he had found it. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 3: Helden|Helden}} {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

Abandoning his colony Titan, [[Prion]], [[Micronus Prime]] creates and then retreats into the sub-atomic realm of [[Microspace]]. {{storylink|White Heat}} {{storylink|O Ship of State}} {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}}

===6.5 million BCE===
With the Cybertronian population growing exponentially under [[Nova Prime]]'s program of expansion, Jhiaxus's student [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] begins planning for an inevitable energon shortage by developing a [[Ore-14|self-regenerating energy source]]. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

===6 million BCE===
[[File:AllGoodThings-Monstructor.jpg|thumb|right|200px|They did, in fact, ask for this.]]
After a long period of experimentation, Jhiaxus creates [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] from six volunteers. Though physically powerful, Monstructor is also violently insane as a result of the crude combination process, and Nova Prime's enthusiasm for the creature prompts Omega Supreme and [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] to turn on him. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}}

While Omega Supreme is occupied battling the beast, Nova Prime and Jhiaxus depart Cybertron in the first ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' to begin their work, with notable crew members Galvatron, {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]], {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}} and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|Rebirth}} A young 'bot named [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], born only two weeks previously, is part of the crew responsible for cleaning out the craft's coolant tubes before take-off. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} He runs late and tries taking a shortcut across the fragile [[Mitteous Plateau]], which results in him falling into stasis underground for several million years. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

[[File:DarkCybertron01-setcoursefortheanomaly.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"We'll simply set a new course, for that empty region over there, near that blackish, hole-ish thing."]]

After a prolonged battle, Omega defeats Monstructor and locks him away in an inter-dimensional prison {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} and entrusts [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], one of two remaining Titans on Cybetrtron, to Dai Atlas. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things}} The [[Crystal City]] is destroyed, but not before Shockwave plants a seed of [[Ore-14]] within. The defeat of Monstructor allows Shockwave to realize that his old teacher had flaws of his own; Shockwave takes up the mantle of his teacher, striving to study and better his erstwhile master's works. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} Around this time he begins to investigate the history of ancient Cybertron. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

Nova Prime's ''Ark'' is subsequently lost in the [[Benzuli Expanse]], transported to the [[Dead Universe]]. All aboard perish and are resurrected as undead creatures to serve the will of the [[D-Void]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

With Nova Prime gone, Cybertron enters a brief period known as the [[Interregnum]]. Unaware that it's a fake, [[Delta Magnus]] of the Primal Vanguard safeguard the Matrix of Leadership until a new bearer can be found. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Cybertron suffers from a lack of energy in the wake of Nova's expansion program, and tensions emerge. 

Those who were constructed cold face institutionalized apartheid; {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} although this eventually ends due to mounting public pressure, including mass protests and marches. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} However, intrinsic prejudice against constructed cold Transformers persists in among a sizable percentage of the population. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

After a period of unrest, [[Nominus Prime]] becomes the next Matrix-bearer, though by this point the office of "Prime" is largely subordinate to the new, but increasingly corrupt, [[Senate]]. {{storylink|Interiors}} {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} At some point around this time, Cybertronian datekeeping switches to a [[New Calendar]]. {{storylink|Before & After}} [[Functionism|Functionist]] sentiment becomes an institution of society overseen by the [[Functionist Council]], with robots expected to stick to a single job determined by their [[alternate mode]]. [[Militant Monoform Movement|Monoformers]], those without alt mode, face shape-hate. {{storylink|Interiors}} {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Unable to determine what [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] does, the Council classifies him as an "[[Ornament class|ornament]]". {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[File:RID17 senator shockwave.jpg|thumb|right|250px|You can tell it's advanced because it's glowing.]]
The Senate use the sinister network of secret facilities known as the [[Institute]] root out and quash dissent through [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgical]] techniques like [[shadowplay]]. The Functionist Council becomes fond of subjecting criminals to a barbaric head-and-hand replacement ritual known as [[empurata]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Shockwave joins the Senate in the hopes of precipitating real change on Cybertron and founds the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology]] in memory of his old teacher. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

As a result of their increasingly stagnant and moribund society, neighboring alien races start calling the Cybertronians "Autobots": an insult, meaning "automatons". {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}
{{-}}

===5 million BCE===
[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Would you kill baby Megatron?]]
The experimental ship ''[[Lost Light|Unitrex-1]]'' is commissioned and constructed in the city of [[Unitrex]], designed to house a prototype [[quantum generator]]. Before it can launch, [[time travel]]ling [[Autobot]]s from the future infiltrate the vessel, searching for a way to recharge their [[time case|time machine]]. Hoping to use the ship’s engine to provide the necessary jump-start, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] uses [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]]'s knowledge of future quantum science to upgrade the ''Unitrex-1''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s generator so that it can perform the task, and retroactively creates the very first quantum generator. A reaction between the case and generator causes the vessel to quantum jump away through time and space. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

A watchmaker named [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] attempts to leave the [[Aerial Corps]] and follow his true passion as a awatchmaker. Though initially successful due to a moderate functionary pemitting the change, the Council catches word of his blasphemy and engineer his downfall via a local criminal syndicate. In the aftermath, he is subjected to [[empurata]], leaving him destitute, and, eventually, he is convinced to join the Senate's security forces. {{storylink|Interiors}} {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}}
[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] is constructed cold in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], intended to house a spark from the Matrix of Leadership. The same Autobots from the future interfere with his development, extinguishing the original spark. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

The time travel misadventure creates a [[Functionist Universe|divergent timeline]] where Megatron was never constructed at all. Before this alternate universe can overwrite reality, the future Whirl replaces Megatron's spark with a forged [[Point One Percenter]] spark harvested from the future. This action returns history to its proper course and gives rise to the first and only "hybrid" Transformer. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron spends his early life hoping to become a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but the tenants of Functionalism means that he instead becomes a miner, working at [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Sickened by the caste-based brutality of Nominus Prime's Cybertron, Megatron writes a [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|treatise]] arguing in favor of non-violent dissent and the peaceful exchange of ideas. His ideas prove popular among Cybertron's menial classes, attracting a growing movement that threatens the sovereignty of the Senate. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

While discussing his ideas with his friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]], the two are caught in a bar brawl {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} accidentally caused by the same time-hopping Autobots from the future. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} The fight sees both Megatron and Impactor arrested; hoping to use the event to silence Megatron, the Senate send Whirl to visit Megatron's cell to permanently silence him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} 

[[File:ChaosTheory2 orion addresses senate.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Lend me your audio receptors.]]
Local police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] manages to arrange for Megatron's release before Whirl can finish him off, saving his life. Orion discovers Megatron's readings, and, moved by them, decides to confront the Senate, deciding to 'reclaim' the slur Autobot as short for "autonomous robot". Orion's diatribe inspires Shockwave, who has been searching for promising young Cybertronians, to befriend the police captain in the hopes of nudging him into bearing the Matrix of Leadership. Shockwave arranges for his release and repair, adding a new Matrix chamber to his chest in the repair process. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

Megatron, however, comes to the realization that peaceful dissent will not be enough to unseat the Senate—and that violence makes a more powerful statement. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} 

Shortly afterwards, several Senators make a grab for more power by ordering an attack on Nominus Prime, using it as an excuse to obtain the Matrix of Leadership and enforce more control over an increasingly unruly Cybertronian populace. During the [[Primal Procession]], Nominus is attacked by a suicide bomber and rendered comatose. The public is told that Nominus is merely in hiding while the Senate investigate the comatose Prime, hoping to use their head of security [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]] to tap into the power of the Matrix. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} Unbeknownst to all, "Sentinel" is, in reality, a false identity constructed by [[Infinitus]], using his [[Titan Master]] powers to disguise himself as a normal Cybertronian. {{storylink|Last Light}}

Sentinel's attempts prove fruitless, but expose an ancient secret: Nominus Prime's "Matrix" is a fake holdover from the days of Nova Prime's reign. Realizing this, the Senate sees no use keeping the Prime around and kill him, releasing a cover story that he passed away from a [[rust]] infection.
Thus bolstered, the Senate impose the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], limiting the rights and social mobilities of all Cybertronians. Ostensibly, this is to root out terrorists and tighten security, in reality, it is an opportunity for Senators to track down and silence those who contest their rule. The injustice proves useful for the growing "[[Decepticon]]" movement, basing themselves off Megatron's [[w:Samizdat|samizdat]] writings. 

[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."]]
As part of attempts to limit any future Decepticon uprisings, the Senate has Megatron transferred to an offworld mine on [[Messatine]] to limit his influence. {{storylink| Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} There, he meets [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly miner who encourages him to keep writing. Terminus helps smuggle each new work back to Cybertron, continuing the spread of the Decepticon movement. The Senate eventually tries to cut the problem off at the source, deploying [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] to try and rewire Megatron's mind through shadowplay. Megatron escapes the procedure due to a nearby explosion and subsequent evacuation—in reality, the explosion is caused by [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] jumping backwards through time. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}} Afterwards Megatron publishes his magnum opus, ''[[Towards Peace]]'', which will eventually become the Decepticon manifesto. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:Shadowplay3-SenatorWho.jpg|thumb|right|250px|We can rebuild him. Better than he was before. Better. Stronger. More logical.]]
As part of a complicated plan to eliminate the threat the Decepticons pose to their social order, Senator [[Proteus]] promises to recognize the Decepticons as a legitimate political entity if 10,000 of them register as such, actually a method of gathering names for future shadowplay. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} To discredit the growing movement, the Senate intends to stage a bombing that will be pinned on the Decepticons. The scheme is foiled by Orion Pax, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and a trio of [[outlier]]s comprising [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Damus]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]. They succeed, but as a repercussion, his friend Senator Shockwave is brainwashed and subjected to empurata and shadowplay by the Institute. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Realizing that he has been "liberated" from the constraints of emotions, Shockwave continues his [[Regenesis|energy research]] in secret. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

Thanks to the influence of the Senate, Sentinel is installed as the new Matrix-bearer and becomes “Sentinel Prime”. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Sentinel reorganizes the Senate's security forces into the [[Cybertron Elite Guard#IDW Generation 1 continuity|Elite Guard]], a collection of thuggish bruisers. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} Infinitus quietly uses his Titan Master talents to assemble a legion of sleeper agents that will join his side should the need arise, including [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] joins his security services and eventually becomes Sentinel's second-in-command. {{storylink|Last Light}}

Hoping to take out the bot responsible for the heist, Sentinel Prime's forces try to track down Orion Pax and his friends, forcing them to go on the run. While on the lam, he meets the ambitious [[Zeta Prime|Zeta]], another of Shockwave's handpicked wunderkind. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}}
{{-}}

===4.2 million BCE===
On [[Moonbase Two|Luna Two]], [[Thymesis Energon mining facility]] workers [[Frak]] and [[Rushcut]] uncover a [[Point One Percenter]] [[spark]] beneath the moon's surface, the first in ten generations. The spark will become [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

===4 million BCE===
[[File:BirthsDeathsAndInterventions-OutlawPax.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"You seem familiar. Ain't I killed you before?"]]
By this time, Cybertronian society is growing increasingly secular, and as a result the role of the Functionist Council in society has greatly diminished. When the Senate catches wind of a new hand-shaped [[hot spot]] in [[Alyon]] that seemingly proves the existence of the supernatural Guiding Hand, they send the Elite Guard to secure the site, cover its existence from prying Functionist eyes, and use the newborn sparks within for experimentation. Orion Pax and his fugitives clash with the Senate for control of the hot spot, and with the help of some time-travelling Autobots they are successful in defending the location. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} 

With Messatine abandoned, Megatron is transferred to [[Mining Outpost C-12]] on [[Croteus 12]]. Growing increasingly frustrated with his life, he works there for a period of time until Senator [[Decimus]] automates the mine, leaving the miners unemployed. When Decimus and his thuggish police force arrives to announce the closure of the facility, the reaction sparks a riot—and in the chaos, Megatron takes his first life. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}} Megatron and his fellow miners escape in a shuttle to join the illegal [[Gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial games]] beneath the city of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. Megatron takes over the games and is approached by [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]], an emissary of Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], to cause terror throughout Cybertron. Thousands of new Decepticons join the cause, including the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s, who help rebuild the motley collection of gladiators into full-on warriors. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} 

During this period, Shockwave is approached by Starscream, who brings him before Megatron. Realizing that Shockwave has a goal of his own, but with no interest in what it actually ''is'', Megatron offers the former senator the freedom and resources that the Senate cannot provide. In exchange, Shockwave will use his scientific talents to study and improve on Jhiaxus's technology in the hopes of creating a functioning [[combiner]] for the Decepticons. Shockwave accepts the offer, though he notes that it will take a very long time. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|thumb|right|250px|"I could make a giant purple griffin out of stolen automobiles..."]]
Megatron unites his gladiators under the Decepticon banner and arranges their "capture" by Sentinel Prime's forces. Once captured, [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] and Soundwave's forces massacre the Senate, and release the Decepticons from prison so they can overrun the security force's HQ. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} News of the Decepticon uprising reaches Sentinel Prime, and the Prime dons his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex Armor]] to make a final stand against the Decepticons in Kaon. He loses the ensuing duel with Megatron, and the Decepticon leader fashions his defeated enemy's armor into a throne. With Kaon now a Decepticon stronghold, the security forces withdraw to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

Sentinel Prime's body is laid to rest within the [[Primal Basilica]]... but while "Sentinel Prime" has publicly perished, ''Infinitus'' lives on, and the tiny head-bot abandons his old body and goes into hiding underneath Kaon. Neither the Senate nor the Decepticons are able to explain the mysterious loss of the corpse's head. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

Zeta subsequently steps up as the next Prime. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} His leadership—relying heavily on pageantry and theatrical displays of force—restores a semblance of order to Cybertron, forcing the Decepticons back underground for the time being. Orion Pax returns to the force, helping to keep the peace in these troubled times; {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} he asks [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] to teach him how to be a ''soldier'' and not just a cop. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Old Ways}}

Orion Pax and Zeta help to reshape Cybertron's disorganized security forces into a counter-terrorism army dubbed the "[[Autobot]]s". {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} Zeta begins reorganizing Cybertron in ways large and small, "pushing Cybertronian society as fast as it can go". {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}} Among other things, he gives more rights to members of the [[disposable class]], a political move spurred in part by the writings and campaigning of noted adventurer and rhetorician [[Dominus Ambus]]. {{storylink|Before & After}} Under his leadership, Zeta brings back the Senate as the "New Senate", but he also secretly resuscitates the [[Institute]] and turns it into "The New Institute" for his own uses. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

With the Decepticon movement now publicly recognized as a terrorist movement, Zeta takes numerous actions to root out illegal activity, which eventually leads to shutting down popular venues like racetracks. This temporarily puts star racer [[Blurr (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Blurr]] out of the spotlight. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} Orion Pax later oversees a hostage exchange with the Decepticons. This is a trick to capture the wise [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], so the Decepticons can use him to find a Titan and gain spacebridge technology. Pax prevents this. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax}} 

[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] is stranded in the [[Rust Sea|Rust Spot]] and develops a fear of solitude. {{storylink|The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist}} Blurr gets caught in Autobot/Decepticon crossfire, but Orion convinces him to turn his self-confidence to the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}}

[[File:DanceAmongTheShadows-zetaprime.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Ah, I could just look at myself all day.]]
On the Decepticon side of things, growing tension causes ideological rifts among the community. a sizeable portion of Decepticons maintain that their movement should be one of pacifism, but others—bolstered by Megatron's recent actions—begin preparing for all-out war by amassing weapons from offworld. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|Behind My Bleeding Back}} Decepticon gunrunner [[Hefter]] finds himself on the wrong side of the law when Zeta's forces crack down on the Decepticons, and his death in police custody sparks a larger inquiry that involves Orion Pax. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} With the help of [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and conflicted Decepticon pacifist [[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]], Orion succeeds in uncovering exposing [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Horri-Bull]]'s Decepticon cell, but his experiences leave him embittered and ready to go to war against the Decepticons. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}

A young Cybertronian named [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] joins the Autobots after the Decepticons trick him into delivering explosives through his dreams. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}}

With war looming on the horizon, Prowl forms an alliance with the neutral scientist [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]]. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} Together, they create many weapons and devices that will see use in the upcoming conflict, but Prowl eventually has a crisis of conscience and recruits Impactor to dispose of his increasingly depraved comrade. Impactor does so in exchange for having [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] released, but finds himself unable to kill "Ostaros", an artificial Cybertronian created in the lab. Instead, he inducts the young "Transformer" into the Autobots as "[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]". {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|Sins of the Wreckers #5}}

Megatron holds [[Declaration Day]], officially announcing the commencement of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Zeta and Orion work to fight back against the Decepticons, but Zeta Prime's ruthlessness pushes him to create the [[vamparc ribbon]], which drains energon from his own citizens and other insurgents. Horrified by his leader, Orion Pax turns on him and forges an alliance with Megatron to overthrow the tyrannical Prime. {{storylink|The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy}}

[[File:Autocracy9 pax becomes prime.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He's getting The Touch.]]
They succeed, and Megatron kills Zeta in an action later remembered as "the gunshot that killed a civilization". {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Megatron immediately betrays Orion, casts him into the depths of Cybertron, and declares himself ruler of the planet. Lost underground, Orion discovers the long-lost true Matrix and is turned into [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus uses his new connection with the Matrix to awaken the dormant Metroplex and rally a new army against Megatron's dictatorship. The new army of Autobots drive the Decepticons out of Iacon, setting the stage for all-out war. {{storylink|The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy}}

[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] is finally (reluctantly) accepted for a scouting mission and crashlands on [[LV-117]]. He spends a period of time getting beaten up by giant spiders, picking his arm out of giant lizard dung, and sending a distress signal.<ref>In "[[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination]]", Rodimus claims that Wheelie disappeared shortly after Rodimus joined the Autobots, which he did in ''Autocracy''.</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

Megatron is overthrown and exiled to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who destroys Cybertron's last major source of energon and awakens the ancient monster [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Aided by the [[Quintesson]] [[Pentius]], Megatron is able to return and defeat the beast alongside [[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity}}

[[File:Drift2-somewhereinconspicuous.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Are you ''sure'' this is the Heleus Cluster?]]
Alarmed by the energon crisis and escalating hostilities, numerous Cybertronians began evacuating the planet in the [[Exodus (G1)|Exodus]], a mass diaspora of neutrals, conscientious objectors, and other non-participants in the war. Dai Atlas and Tyrest oversee the safe evacuation of approximately 10-20 million refugees. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} Among the evacuees are the [[Circle of Light]], who secretly depart Cybertron aboard [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] and establish a hidden city on the planet of [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} A group of [[Mortilus]]-worshiping neutrals discover the drifting ''Unitrex-1'' near [[Vela Pulsar]]. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} They take custody of the abandoned ship for the duration of the war, keeping a mutated [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] aboard docile by feeding it [[turbofox]]es. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

Megatron revives Trypticon using Pentius's spark and gathers the scattered Decepticon forces for a full-scale assault on the Autobots, but Optimus Prime cleanses him of the Quintesson's influence and captures him. {{storylink|The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy}}

At some point after this, the original [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] dies under mysterious circumstances. Hoping to keep the legend of the immortal lawman alive, Tyrest creates the [[Magnus Armor]] and recruits [[Point One Percenter|load-bearer]] Autobots to wear it, effectively becoming Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

With both sides searching for a way to bolster their numbers, Cybertronians discover reserves of cryogenically frozen [[Spark]]s created via Nova Prime's Matrix bleeding. These new sparks are used to create new Transformers which become known as "[[M.T.O.|Made to Order]]" soldiers for specific campaigns in what is later termed the "Silver Harvest". {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

The Decepticons move to conquer several nearby cities, and their string of major victories is remembered as the [[Fall of the First Five Cities]] —the conquests of [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], [[Helex (polity)|Helex]], Kaon, and [[Tesarus (polity)|Tesarus]]. {{Storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} These cities become the inspiration for the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], who name their five operatives after the cities. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}}

Optimus Prime and Megatron repeatedly clash over the course of the war; their very first showdown at the Battle of [[Sherma Bridge]] (2nd Cycle 087) becomes legendary. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} Early into the war, Optimus Prime turns down Megatron's first and only invitation for an Autobot surrender. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to say Goodbye and Mean It}}
 
[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] is injured saving Optimus Prime from an [[Axer (G1)|assassin]]. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}
Tyrest attempts to broker peace between the two sides. His efforts ultimately fail, but do result in the creation of the [[Tyrest Accord]], limiting the spread of Transformer technology to other races. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

[[File:ALonelyPillarOnThePlain-BattleOfJunkion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|You weren't there, man. You don't know.]]

The Autobot-Decepticon war expands beyond Cybertron and encompasses many other worlds, and thousands of battles occur both on and off Cybertron over a period of time. During this period, Soundwave leads a detachment back to Junkion in order to recruit the natives. They are opposed by Prowl; the struggle goes on, neither side able to gain an advantage over the other, until one faction decides to detonate the planet entirely to keep it out of the other's hands. The surviving Junkions, led by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Rum-Maj]], flee the destruction of their home aboard a [[Quintesson Cruiser|gigantic vessel]] and become galactic nomads. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 2: A Lonely Pillar on the Plain|A Lonely Pillar on the Plain}}
{{-}}

===3 million BCE===
A battle takes place on the planet [[Clemency]] for control of the [[Nightmare Engine]], and a flight of [[K-Class]] Decepticons succeed in killing a bearer of the Magnus Armor. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

The early phases of the war culminate in the destructive [[Simanzi Massacre]], a cataclysmic battle over the [[Crucible]]. Details are unclear, but the fallout from the conflict irradiates a sizeable percentage of the planet whiele cutting the Cybertronian population in half. Among the casualties is a bearer of the Magnus Armor. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} The Simizani Massacre leads to the [[Forced Flood]] and the [[Endless Retaliation]]. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} 

[[File:Omniglobes.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Electrohamster balls were a popular accessory for the well-equipped commanding officer.]]
Bolstered by their victories, the Decepticons form the [[Constellate]], marking the peak of Decepticon power. In this brief period, the Decepticons conquer and colonize many worlds, using grandiose weapons of war like the gigantic [[Worldsweeper]]-class warships. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} The devastation visited on other races is enough to prompt the [[Galactic Council]] to permanently blacklist the Cybertronian race, {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} and develop anti-Cybertronian weapons to safeguard their member worlds from future destruction. {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}

With both sides now defending on-planet and offworld footings, the conflict enters a state of total war as both sides pour all available resources into defeating the other. Optimus and Megatron seal themselves inside [[omniglobe]]s to direct the war effort. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} Eventually, the Constellate collapses, marking the decline of the Decepticon's imperial phase. Imperial assets are recalled to Cybertron to fight on the home front. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}}

[[File:Mtmte 48 grindcore.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Comes with its own cheerful [[The Empyrean Suite|theme tune]]!]]
Skids joins the Autobots as a "bomb negotiator", disabling [[anti-personal mine]]s. One negotiation session goes wrong and lands him in the notorious [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]]. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}} There, he befriends [[Quark]] and catches the attention of Decepticon Damus—Skids's old friend, now a Decepticon. Damus plays a sadistic game where the Autobot repairs the camp's "teleporter", in reality a smelting chamber, and then kills the fifty Autobots he promised to send away, including Quark. The experience proves traumatic enough for Skids to suppress the memory. {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}} At some point after this, Damus is promoted and joins the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] as "Tarn". {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Skids eventually escapes prison and joins the Autobot [[Diplomatic Corps]], working to persuade other races to support the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} 

After several other Magnus Armor wearers succumb to battlefield injuries or ailments, [[Minimus Ambus]] becomes the latest and longest-serving bearer of the Armor. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}
{{--}}

==100,000+ years ago==
===650,000 BCE===
Shockwave realises Cybertron will soon die and fully launches [[Regenesis]], distilling [[energon]] into a catalyst which he then launches at various planets, including prehistoric Earth.<ref>"Six Hundred Thousand Meta-Cycles Ago"</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

===500,000 BCE===
Shockwave leaves Cybertron to begin examining the fruits of Regenesis. Over the ensuing thousands of years, he discovers that the ores that have formed on the different planets have taken on wildly different attributes, and begins formulating a scheme to use them in conjunction to achieve his dream of fuelling Cybertron forever. {{storylink|Syndromica (1)}} Alpha Trion takes Metroplex off Cybertron to keep him out of Megatron's hands and investigate Shockwave's plot. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}

Still searching for usable Titan technology, Megatron has a team of Decepticons led by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] search outer space for Metroplex. Crew member [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] finds the Titan, but has a crisis of conscience and ends up letting him go. {{storylink|The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party}} Another member, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], is able to find and injure [[Necrotitan|another Titan]], causing it to teleport to [[Gorlam Prime]] where it goes dormant. {{storylink|Homecoming (IDW)|Homecoming}}

===18,000 BCE===
The Eukarian ship ''[[Axalon (BW)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|Axalon]]'', headed by [[Domitius Major]], departs on a deep-space mission to locate the [[Enigma of Combination]] at the behest of Onyx Prime {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 1|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #1}} Believing the mysterious [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] will provide the crew with protection against an unidentified threat, Onyx entrusts it to Domitius. {{storylink|Strange Visitors}} {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

===10,000 BCE===
[[File:StrangeVisitors-IceAgeWars.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''All this has happened before<br>All this shall happen again'']]
The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] attack a Decepticon-held Energon silo in [[Sub-Sector-Nine]]. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1}} Later, they depart Cybertron to hunt down Shockwave in pursuit of revenge for a past defeat. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

The ''Axalon'', needing to refuel, stops by prehistoric Earth after tracking the energon surges from Shockwave's experiments. Shockwave, present to check on his work, shoots them down, and the crash scrambles their memories. As an experiment, he brainwashes and retrofits the crew to think they are prominent Autobots and Decepticons so he can run the "[[Ice Age Wars]]", a control experiment of the Great War while he studies the Talisman.<ref>A caption says [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] hasn't been on the ''Axalon'' for "twenty thousand years", which clashes with ''Spotlight: Shockwave'' but does put this nicely in the Ice Age.</ref> {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} {{storylink|Strange Visitors}}
{{-}}

===8390 BCE===
[[File:Shockwaveg1idw.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"A six-inch retractable claw, like a razor, on the the middle toe. He doesn't bother to bite your jugular like a lion, say... no no. He slashes at you here, or here..."]]
The Ice Age has ended<ref>The real Ice Age ended several thousand years earlier.</ref> and Ore-13 has started to grow unstable. Shockwave abandons his miniature Great War to stabilize Ore-13 but the Dynobots—seeking revenge and sporting energon-shielded beast modes—have finally tracked him down, and they engage him in combat. While he defeats them, he is deactivated by a failsafe set by Grimlock, as the Dynobots' ship triggers a volcanic eruption which buries all six in what would later become [[Eureka]], [[Nevada]].<ref>Shockwave specifies in [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|''Maximum Dinobots'' #5]] that he has been waiting for "ten thousand, three hundred and ninety-six years, two months and three days".</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} The abandoned ''Axalon'' crew fight on for a time, but low energon levels eventually force them all into hibernation in secluded regions. {{storylink|Strange Visitors}} Megatron assigns Bludgeon to investigate Shockwave's projects {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}—and Soundwave to watch over Bludgeon. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} 

[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] is rescued from the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] by an [[Jazz (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|unknown Autobot]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] crashlands on an unnamed planet and spends a period of time there watching over young aliens named [[Kita]] and [[Coll]] until Kita dies when Cliffjumper is discovered by Decepticons. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cliffjumper}}

A Decepticon named [[Drift (G1)|Deadlock]] leaves [[Turmoil]]'s command when he feels disillusioned by what the civil war had become, and he stumbles across the Circle of Light. {{storylink|Drift issue 1}} His coming prompts the Circle to raise their hidden city above ground. {{storylink|Drift issue 4}}

===3000 BCE===
At some point before this period of time, ancient humans discover the Enigma of Combination. The influence of the Enigma "combines" their thoughts and ideas, allowing them to to work together and found the city of [[Uruk (Earth)|Uruk]].<ref> Issue 37 of ''The Transformers'' claims that this only happened 2000 years ago, which contradicts historical events alluded to in later issues ''and'' real life; Uruk existed as far back as 4000 years ago, and was far from the first civilization. </ref> {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} 

Sumerians develop an early civilization. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===2560 BCE===
The [[Pyramid]]s are constructed. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}} Around this time, the Talisman somehow winds up underneath the [[Tomb of Altomec]] in [[Dahshur]], [[Egypt]]. {{storylink|The Secret of the Mummy's Tomb}}

==100+ years ago==
[[File:GhostStories-onyxprime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|[[Tirac|Tirek]] got a big makeover for his ''[[My Little Pony|Friendship is Magic]]'' appearance.]]
Over time, the colony world of Caminus runs low on resources and energon, becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the galaxy. {{storylink|Windblade issue 3|Windblade #3}} At an indeterminate point in time, while Caminus still has functioning interstellar ships, the inhabitants detect an emergency beacon from the planet [[Antilla]]; however, the explorers find the planet dead and rusted, and inhabited only by Onyx Prime and his army. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} The surviving explorers flee back to Caminus, but after some years are followed back there by Onyx, who attacks the village [[Parvus Oppidum]] and claims the life of [[Praesidia Magna]], leader of the [[Torchbearer]]s and one of the explorers. Her subordinate [[Pyra Magna|Pyra]] steps up as leader, {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} while the [[Mistress of Flame]] covers up the attack. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}}

===603 BCE===
The [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]]s put down local resistance in the [[Skomiloch Territories]]. They remain while [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] rules a mini-empire there. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Snare's personnel evaluation}}

===27 BCE===
Octavian establishes the Roman Empire as {{w|Emperor Augustus}}. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===220===
The Han Dynasty in Ancient [[China]] ends. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===1320===
[[Dante Alighieri]] publishes ''{{w|The Divine Comedy}}''—in reality, an allegorical warning about the ancient conspiracy [[Cobra]] and its long-term goals. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===1408===
Fortress Maximus is instated as warden of [[Garrus-9]]. {{storylink|Last Light}}

===1516===
Runaway [[blacksmith]] turned adventurer-archeologist [[Anode]] and her conjunx endura [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] travel to [[Moonbase Two|Luna Two]] at the behest of their employer, the mysterious "[[Grand Architect]]", in search of a rare piece of "[[Living metal #IDW Generation 1 continuity|widowed metal]]". They run afoul of a Decepticon [[Cybernought]], but [[Censere]], as the "Necrobot", intervenes. He spirits Anode away through time and space, but Lug is left behind and perishes. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}}

===1550===
[[File:Thunderwingwhathaveyoudone.jpg|thumb|250px|{{w|Pod People}}.]]
Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] comes to the conclusion that Cybertron—between ever-dwindling supplies of energon and the fallout caused by millennia of warfare—will soon be entirely uninhabitable. Believing that the Transformers must find a way to adapt to changing planetary conditions, he develops an upgrade based off of "[[Pretender|polydermal grafting]]" procedures. Unfortunately, he uses himself as a test subject for the process and, driven mad, he ends up destroying the planet even faster before perishing.<ref>700 stellar-cycles ago, so if a stellar cycle is ~7.5 months, then presumptively ~437 years ago.</ref> {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}} 

Shortly after Thunderwing's rampage, Soundwave uses [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to take control of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]. Beachcomber attempts to assassinate [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], leaving him adrift in space. The Decepticons began a massive offensive against the demoralized Autobots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}} It's all for naught anyway as the planet is soon abandoned, a lifeless, radiation-saturated wreck. With Cybertron now completely uninhabitable, the war does not abate, but moves permanently off-planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}} 

Following the loss of Cybertron, the nature of the war changes, becoming a series of cloak-and-dagger operations on alien worlds. The Decepticon war machine reorganizes around the [[infiltration protocol]], a step-by-step process by which Decepticons covertly infiltrate a planet's society and manipulate events to bring it down from within. As part of this process, three of the [[Warriors Elite]] are promoted to [[Phase Sixer]]s, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]—who promptly deserts from the Decepticon army. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}}
{{-}}

===1586===
[[United Kingdom|England]] creates the original [[Action Man]] Programme. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===1610===
{{w|Galileo Galilei|Galileo}} charts the moons of [[Jupiter]]. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

===1700s===
Incumbent Magnus Armor wearer Minimus Ambus is critically injured in the line of duty, requiring him to step down as Ultra Magnus for a prolonged period. He is replaced as the armor's wearer by [[Convoy (G1)|Convoy]], a hot-headed Autobot with a disdain for organic life. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 5|Shining Armor #5}}

Around this time, the [[Prysmos]]ian sorcerer [[Merklynn]], disgusted by his home planet's technological advancements, plots to reverse their technological development and does so by casting a spell that brings the system's three suns into alignment with one another, shutting down machinery across the planet. {{storylink|Cybertron No More}} In the ensuing "Age of Magic", he and his "[[Visionaries]]" keep the peace until Merklynn's own miscalculations turn fatal: as the suns move back out of alignment, the gravitational forces unleashed tear the world apart, and only a handful of Prysmosians escape its destruction. Merklynn goes out into the galaxy in the hopes of finding a new world to colonize: a quest that, eventually, leads him to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Schismatic}}

===1800===
Following the destruction of his homeworld [[Elonia]] at the hands of the evil [[Dire Wraith]]s, [[Rom|Rom K'atsema]] joins the [[Solstar Order]]. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention|Revolutionaries #1 timeline}}

Shortly afterwards, the Dire Wraiths discover Earth, drawn to Shockwave's supplies of [[Ore-13]] to amplify their powerful dark magic. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} Using their shapeshifting talents, Dire Wraith scouts begin infiltrating the worlds' governments and militaries, preparing for an eventual encounter with the Space Knight. {{istorylink|Earthfall: Part Three}}

===1830s===
[[File:Shining Armor 4 - Ultra Vekktral vs Starscream.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"]]
A Galactic Council ship destroys a Camien vessel in the [[Gray Area]]. One protoform survives, recovered by [[Rom]] and taken to the Solstar Order, where the protoform matures into [[Stardrive]]. After some years the Cybertronian joins the Order's Space Knights as a cadet, though she is often excluded and made to feel unwanted thanks to anti-Cybertronian prejudice.

The [[energon synthesizer]] the Order have developed for Stardrive draws the attention of [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], whose Decepticons ally with the Dire Wraith [[Vekktral]] and attack the attack the [[Orchid Crossing]] space station in order. The battle draws the attention of an Autobot ship commanded by Convoy's Ultra Magnus. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 1|Shining Armor #1}} The ensuing fight sees the Autobots team up with the Solstar Knights to counter the Decepticon/Dire Wraith alliance as both parties battle it out on the frozen world of [[Xetaxxis]], Wraith leader [[Vekktral]] using his [[magic]] to create monstrous Wraith-Cybertronian hybrids. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 3|Shining Armor #3}} The battle ends with Starscream destroying the energon synthesizer and sterilizing half of the planet in the process, forcing the heroes to retreat and wiping out Vekktral and his Dire Wraiths. The experience leaves Stardrive unwilling to continue fighting in the Space Knights' war; abandoning her allies, she takes up residence on a distant planet... unaware that she has been infected by a fragment of Wraith biomatter.

Bumblebee returns with the Magnus Armor to the Autobot fleet, where Minimus Ambus—recovered from his injuries—takes up the mantle once more. The Galactic Council and the Solstar Order formally decide to keep to their own sectors of space rather than getting caught up in each others' wars, while Starscream determines that the Dire Wraiths are too dangerous to risk allying with—and the Wraiths themselves decide to rely on their magic rather than turning to technology in future. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 5||Shining Armor #5}}

===1867===
[[File:BeeandJohnHenry-HOS2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''John Henry was a man just six feet high<br>Nearly two feet and a half across his breast<br>He'd hammer with a nine-pound hammer all day<br>And never get tired and want to rest'']]
Still believing themselves to be the Autobots and Decepticons, the lost Eukarians are roused from their slumber by [[human]] activity sometime in the late 19th century.<ref>The ''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' would lay down that the events of ''Hearts of Steel'' took place 150 years before the present date. This date contradicts real-world historical information; In the story, Mark Twain lives in San Francisco, as he did from 1864 to 1866, but refers to a daughter in [[Hearts of Steel issue 4|issue #4]], who would not be born in the real world until 1872.</ref> [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] (believing himself Bumblebee) awakens to the sound of [[John Henry]] laying railroad track. While Centurion takes the form of a steam locomotive and makes contact with John Henry and his friends, the brainwashed "Shockwave" fools disgraced scientist [[Tobias Muldoon]] into helping him create a "Golden Age" of progress. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

Muldoon realizes he's been tricked in time and manages to alert mankind by reaching [[Mark Twain]], helped by "Ravage" following him and Twain defeating him. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}} Human industrialists [[Vanflint]] and [[Jacob Lee Bonaventure]] collaborate with the Decepticons in Muldoon's place, while John Henry and his friends join the Autobots in heading out to stop the Decepticon's "[[Astrotrain (G1)#Hearts of Steel|Astrotrain]]" reaching [[New York City]] (running through [[United States Army]] blockades). The Autobots fight a running battle down the railroad tracks before knocking the Astrotrain, and the human collaborators riding it, off a cliff. With the threat over, the "Autobots" return to their slumber. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4|Hearts of Steel #4}} {{storylink|Strange Visitors}}

===1887===
Dormant Eukarians are found by the [[fish people|Deep Ones]] that lurk in our oceans and taken to their unearthly city to join the forces of a slumbering [[Elder God]]. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}}

===1888===
[[File:TFInfestation2.2 Optimus Prime vs Elder God.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Iä! Iä! Optimus primhagn!]]
Shipping is being sunk by the fishy foes and their "Seacon" slaves, and "Ironhide" (riding the [[USS Miskatonic|USS ''Miskatonic'']] identifies the threat. The steam-powered "Autobots" are rallied again and seek 1,000,000 volts to power up "Optimus Prime" (actually Domitius Major) with the help of Muldoon and [[Nikola Tesla]], but [[Port Cenotaph]], [[Canada]] is overrun before they reach it. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}} Domitius Major is awoken just as a combined naval fleet of the world's powers reaches Port Cenotaph and runs into the Elder God. Domitius Major joins the battle and wounds the Elder God badly enough to provoke a retreat, leaving the Royal Navy bemused and questioning Tesla and Muldoon. {{storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 2|Infestation 2: The Transformers #2}}
{{--}}

==1900s==
[[File:SpotlightHotRod rush.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Wheeeeeee!]]
[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]] leads a team to secure the [[Magnificence]]. [[Doubledealer]], posing as an Autobot, sabotages the raid. Hot Rod hides the Magnificence. He later infiltrates the Decepticon penal colony [[Styx]] to rescue "Dealer", who befriends him. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hot Rod}}

Over the course of his travels, [[Sixshot]] is challenged by the alien [[Reaper]]s. He refuses to join them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sixshot}}

Meanwhile, [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] crash-land on the planet [[Tsiehshi]], one of Shockwave's Regenesis test planets. The barren, uncharted planet is covered with radioactive crystals of [[Ore-8]]. Outback is killed in the crash, and Kup is slowly driven insane by the radiation. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

The massacre at [[Babu Yar]] takes place, which sees the deployment of the controversial bioweapon [[Gideon's Glue]] against [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Bullets}}

===1914-1919===
The Eukarian Autobots are, by this time, slowly dying off, though several beginning to shake off their reconditioning and realizing that they are not who they believed themselves to be. Several of the Eukarians try to find the Talisman and perish in the attempt. [[World War I]] breaks out on Earth, and Domitius Major and Centurion stumble on a battleground. Seeing real conflict causes their artificial memories of the Great War to unravel; Domitius perishes, but Centurion, confused and enraged, dedicates the remainder of his life to hunting down and killing the remaining Eukarians on Earth. {{storylink|Strange Visitors}}

===1941===
[[Merklynn]]—who has arrived on Earth at some point before this time—has forged a [[human]] disguise and a new alter-ego as "Garrison Kreiger". Hoping to plot a new course, he joins the [[United States Army|US army]] at the beginning of [[World War II]]. {{storylink|The Origins of Evil, Part Five: One Unholy Machine|One Unholy Machine}}

[[Sgt. Savage|Robert Steven Savage]] also joins the military; after going above and beyond the call of duty in [[Galibi]], he receives a crack team of his own to command: the elite [[Screaming Eagles]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 2|Sgt. Savage profile}}

===1943===
With Garrison "Blitz" Kreiger now serving as an officer on the Screaming Eagles, the unit is deployed to fight in [[Kalistan]]. They are startled to find [[IRON Trooper|robot drones]]—in reality, creations of the Talisman—fighting for the Axis. [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]], recognizing them as the work of alien magic, becomes fascinated by them. {{storylink|The Secret of the Mummy's Tomb}}

===1944===
[[File:StrangeVisitors-CenturionVsFakeShockwave.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''We're leaving together, but still it's farewell'']]

In the winter of 1944, Centurion tracks the last of the ''Axalon'' crew—"[[Eukarian Shockwave|Shockwave]]"—to his hiding place in [[France]]. The two battle one another, and are witnessed by the Screaming Eagles, who have arrived in France to help out the local resistance. Centurion defeats his foe and takes his gun as a trophy. Centurion asks for their help in tracking down his old starship so that he can die in peace, and although Kreiger is horrified at the prospect of the "mechanical hell" the Eukarians embody, he convinces Savage to assist the alien... and so that he can learn more about the IRON Troopers.

The trio eventually locate the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s frozen remains in [[Brasnya]], but are unprepared for an IRON Trooper ambush, or the sight of the robots puppeteering Domitius's corpse to attack the group. Though Centurion defeats his reanimated commander, energies unleashed by the Talisman caused the ship to vanish, with taking [[Sgt. Savage]] with it. A confused and upset Centurion agreed to assist Kreiger, who spends the next several decades grooming him as he begins a decades-long search for the Talisman. {{storylink|Strange Visitors}}
{{-}}

===1960s===
Disabled amateur sleuth [[Atomic Man|Mike Power]] accidentally stumbles on a ring of Brasnyan spies smuggling alien technology into the United States. Their plan is foiled by British super-spy [[Action Man]], who offers Power some words of encouragement. Bolstered by this praise, he goes on to study some of the technology he surreptitiously recovers from their base and eventually builds himself a new set of prostheses. {{storylink|Power and Glory}}

===1982===
[[File:Adventure Team Revolution.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"If it is there, at Tanis, then it is something that man was not meant to disturb."]]
After serving with the [[Green Berets]], [[Joe Colton|Joseph B. "Joe" Colton]] is selected to join the [[Adventure Team]], an crack team of American operatives. {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 1|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #1}} He serves alongside elite military assets such as [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] and [[Miles Mayhem|Miles "Mayhem" Manheim]]. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} They are eventually joined by superpowered operatives including [[Bulletman]] and Mike Power, now calling himself the "[[Atomic Man]]". {{storylink|The Secret of the Mummy's Tomb}} {{storylink|Power and Glory}} As "G.I. Joe", Colton and the Adventure Team enjoy numerous globetrotting escapades, on one occasion meeting Action Man. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

===1984===
Soundwave is sent to investigate Bludgeon's activities on Earth {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} but first makes a detour to Egypt to investigate unusual energy readings. 

Kreiger, having spent decades scouring the Earth for alien artifacts, finally tracks the Talisman to its resting place in the [[Tomb of Amtoltec]] and goes to retrieve it, disposing of his [[Elliot Marsh|guide]] along the way. A few days later, the Adventure Team is deployed to rescue him. The team battles IRON Troopers and runs afoul of Soundwave before before discovering Kreiger and the Talisman. The Talisman upgrades Mike Power's cybernetic limbs; thus empowered, the team is able to see the Decepticon off and recover the Talisman, entrusting it to British intelligence. {{storylink|The Secret of the Mummy's Tomb}}

Soundwave returns to his main mission on Earth, but is deactivated when Bludgeon, after some of Shockwave's Regenesis ore—which he calls "ultra-energon"—triggers the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]].<ref> In real life, the volcano erupted four years earlier.</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

===1985===
[[File:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|thumb|left|Decepticonism killed the radio star.]]
Soundwave, [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] are excavated by [[Skywatch]]. Interest is taken in the cassettes, found in "[[robot mode]]", but Soundwave, in cassette player mode, is apparently discarded. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

===1988===
[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] lands on the backwater planet [[Nebulos]]. The latest in a series of flagrant violation of the Tyrest Accords, he develops a working relationship with [[Zarak (G1)|Mo Zarak]] and the [[Zarak Consortium]] as part of his ''modus operandi''. The duo develop a variation of the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process involving hybridizing [[Nebulan]]s and Cybertronians. Ultra Magnus tracks Scorponok to [[Nebulos]], but despite taking severe damage, the Decepticon escapes.<ref>29 stellar cycles ago, or 18 years</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}

[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] constructs the supercomputer/judging machine [[Aequitas]], based off of [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]]' old designs. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} The [[Aequitas trials]] begin, a catalog of Autobot atrocities. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} What nobody but Tyrest knows is that every Autobot on trial is "[[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|constructed cold]]", a process he'd help develop. The revelation is enough to gnaw at his conscience, and eventually Tyrest vanishes from the public eye. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Skids eventually moves to Prowl's covert [[Special Operations]], necessitating faking his own death. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Partnered with [[Getaway]], he is sent to "assassinate" the rogue Tyrest by using a [[nudge gun]] to implant the impulse to resign in the Chief Justice's increasingly disturbed mind. The plan fails, and Skids barely manages to escape. Aboard his escape craft, he uses the gun to erase his own memory before setting the shuttle to hone in on the coordinates of his handlers, the [[Duobot]]s. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

===1990===
Obsessed with defeating [[Squadron X]], the [[Wrecker]]s track them down to the planet [[Pova]]. After capturing them, [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] is ordered to release them due to a technicality. Instead, he executes the prisoners, and as a consequence is himself imprisoned in [[Garrus-9]]. Springer subsequently takes over leadership of the Wreckers. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers}} {{storylink|Bullets}}

After a disastrous mission, a despairing Mike Power turns to Kreiger to further upgrade his limbs. Power disappears from the public eye as Kreiger, hoping to use Power for his own ends, experiments on him further. {{storylink|Power and Glory}} Though deprived of their most powerful member, Joe Colton reorganizes the team into the totally radical "Adventure Force". {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

===1994===
Kreiger eventually manage to upgrade Power's physiology to the point where he can interface with the Talisman; in doing so, he accidentally returns the ''Axalon'' to the timestream, along with a temporally displaced Sgt. Savage. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}} Adventure Force storms the base, and in the crossfire, Mike Power is assumed dead. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

Thrust fifty years into the future, Sgt. Savage joins up with that era's Action Man, forming "Team Extreme". {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

===1997===
[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and Metroplex return to Cybertron. Hoping to return the planet to habitability, Alpha Trion slowly begins cleaning Cybertron's polluted atmosphere.<ref>12 meta-cycles ago, or 13 years</ref> {{storylink|Any Old Iron}}

==2000s==
===2001===
[[File:What Its Really Like - Jazz likes jazz.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"The music was ''dope''."]]
The current era of Transformer activity on Earth begins. Starscream heads a unit on Earth as part of the now-standardized infiltration protocol, and the Autobots retaliate by deploying an Autobot cell led by Prowl. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}} Advance scout [[Jazz (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jazz]] is the first Autobot to make planetfall, {{storylink|What It's Really Like}} and is eventually joined by the rest of Prowl's team aboard the ''[[Ark-19]]''. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}}

Conspiracy theorists like [[Hunter O'Nion]] begin searching for evidence of extraterrestrials after the anomalous "Buchanan crop manifestations" in [[Iowa]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}} 

The Cybertronians discover that Earth is not as unaware of their presence as they might have thought—the Decepticons become aware of the [[Machination]]. In reality, this is merely a front for Scorponok's latest operation, intending to build off his Headmaster research on Nebulos in the hopes of supplying himself, by this point reduced to little more than a ruined head, with a new body. {{storylink|The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation}}

===2006-7===
[[File:Infiltration6 starscream on ultraenergon.jpg|thumb|left|200px|This is your Starscream on drugs.]]

Shockwave's hand is discovered in an excavation in Nevada. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} News of the dig reaches the conspiracy theorists but is considered a fringe theory, the "paleo-purists". {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}}

[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] is founded by General [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]]. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}} Skywatch discovers Bludgeon's volcano base and investigate the Transformers within, successfully reactivating [[Bugly (G1)|Bugly]]. As part of [[Project Hot House]], they retrofit the Cybertronian bunker into a Skywatch research lab. Joe Colton joins forces with Joshua Red to investigate the Talisman and whether it can be weaponized. Lured to Oregon by a false distress beacon, Savage encounters G.I. Joe, Bugly, and Centurion, who lead him into Skywatch's base. As part of Colton's experiments, Savage is saturated with more Talisman energy and thrust into the future once again. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

From the Dead Universe, [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] lures [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to the rapidly-evolving world of [[Gorlam Prime]] and implants a device in his brain. {{storylink|Spotlight: Nightbeat}} 

On Earth, Starscream's infiltration unit discover ripe samples of Shockwave's Regenesis ore, dubbing it "Ore-13". In [[Arizona]], wandering drifter [[Verity Carlo]] steals a [[SM-40|palm computer]] from a travelling businessman, unaware that her victim is really an agent of the Machination. Possessing a record of Cybertronian activity on Earth makes her, Hunter, and [[Jimmy Pink]] targets of the Decepticons, prompting Ratchet to intervene. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0|Infiltration #0}} {{storylink|Infiltration issue 1|Infiltration #1}} Ratchet brings them back to the Autobot base, and, learning that the Decepticons have preemptively initiated "siege mode", brings the humans along to investigate their abandoned base in [[Nebraska]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}}

[[File:Thunderwing stormbringer.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The thunder of guns<br>Tore me apart<br>You've been<br>Thunderstruck!'']]

The humans discover that Megatron has come to Earth; Megatron learns from the base's old files that Starscream plans on overthrowing his leader using Ore-13. Disgusted by the power games—and infuriated when [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Skywarp]] accidentally bomb their old base with him inside—Megatron sets off to the new command bunker in [[Oregon]] to retake command. Megatron quickly puts down Starscream's insurrection and announces the beginning of "phase 2". {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

Orbiting the dead husk of Cybertron, the crew of the ''[[Calabi-Yau]]'' pick up an anomalous energy burst. Jetfire and several [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s investigate the strange readings and discover that Bludgeon has used his "ultra-energon" to reanimate Thunderwing's corpse. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Thunderwing lays waste to Nebulos and overruns the Decepticon cell already located on the planet before returning to Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Optimus Prime calls in the Wreckers to combat the threat, and bringing their full firepower to bear the Autobots blast Thunderwing until he runs out of energon. Jetfire analyzes Bludgeon's files and discovers information related to Earth and the Regenesis project. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The news prompts Optimus to set course for Earth, and he arrives shortly after Megatron removes Starscream from command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

Meanwhile, Soundwave, still trapped in his alternate mode, is purchased from a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}
Springer orders a costly mission to rescue the stranded and demented [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]], whose Spark is beginning a fatal meltdown. They eventually succeed, but not without taking significant losses at the hands of the elderly Autobot, who mistakes his rescuers for [[zombie]]s. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Canon status: questionable.<br>Awesomeness: ''extremely''.]]
Shortly after Megatron arrives on Earth, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] joins the Decepticon's Earth unit. Megatron initiates a plan to increase political unrest on Earth using [[Psycho-Prism|technology]] stolen from [[Doctor Doom]]. Facing resistance from the Autobots and [[Avengers]], the Decepticons initiate [[mirror response mode]] and boost their powers by tapping into [[Spider-Man]]'s superhuman abilities. Megatron's plan is thwarted by the Autobots and Avengers, helped in part by Ramjet's increasing disloyalty to Megatron. {{storylink|New Avengers/Transformers|Man and Machine}}

While returning the humans to their normal lives, Machination forces successfully tail and capture [[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] and Hunter O'Nion while incapacitating [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} Prime, Jazz, and [[Wheeljack (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Wheeljack]] join Ironhide to search for the attackers. Meanwhile, the Decepticons proceed to phase two by activating numerous [[Facsimile construct|facsimile]] sleeper agents within world governments to further destabilize human society. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}}

The Decepticons use their facsimiles to, among other things, escalate tension between [[Brasnya]] and [[Russia]]. The Autobots intervene, and Prime summons Hot Rod, [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to Earth. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} During the battle, Prime is nearly killed and encounters the form of [[Nova Prime]] within [[infraspace]] as he shunts his consciousness into his trailer. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Ironhide, Ratchet, Jimmy, and Verity continue to search for Sunstreaker's disappearance, but Ironhide is severely damaged in the process and left behind. Unbeknownst to them, Sunstreaker and Hunter are sent to surgical prep to test the Machination's [[binary bonding]] process. {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}}

Skywatch takes over the excavation of Shockwave and the Dinobots, while also reactivating and reprogramming Ravage and Laserbeak into loyal Skywatch operatives. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}}

[[File:SLOptimus prime vs monstructor.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Quickly, give him your face and he'll go away!]]
With Megatron's other forces busy, Ramjet initiates an ambitious plan to overthrow the Decepticon leader and sieze control of the Decepticons, involving, among other things, a group of jive-talking [[Mini-Constructicon]]s. His bungled plan ends when Megatron returns from Brasyna, beats him to death, and throws his parts across the globe. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}

[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] is found drifting in space and returned to the Autobot fold. As he reintegrates into the Autobot command structure, he helps free [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] from Decepticon control. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

Optimus Prime briefly leaves Earth to meet with the ancient warrior [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], from whom he learns more about Nova Prime and the nature of Nova's original quest. Optimus winds up defeating and capturing Monstructor, and he sends the "Monstructor Six" into the care of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Fortress Maximus]] on [[Garrus-9]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} Around this time, Wheelie's original distress signal from LV-117 finally reaches Autobot space… only to be ignored due to more pressing concerns. {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

Galvatron briefly leaves the Dead Universe to travel to Cybertron to retrieve Thunderwing's body, defeating [[Hound (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hound]]'s unit on the way. He takes his trophy to [[Gorlam Prime]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

[[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]] initiates an attack on the Autobot prison facility at [[Garrus-9]] in an attempt to free the long-imprisoned Monstructor team. Realizing that they need another of Jhiaxus's creations to track down the unpredictable escapees, Fortress Maximus takes a gamble by releasing [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]] and sending the warrior-bot after them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

His defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime turns Megatron's behavior increasingly erratic, and so the Earth-bound Decepticons reactivate Starscream to help deal with the problem. Hoping to get an edge over Optimus Prime, Megatron summons Sixshot to Earth, violating the infiltration protocol. Sixshot, though internally conflicted, follows orders and opens fire on the Autobot assets stationed on the planet, destroying the ''Ark-19''. He is, however, followed by the Reapers. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}}

[[Wheeljack (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Wheeljack]] and Hot Rod attempt to rescue Ironhide but are attacked by the Machination's army of mass-produced [[Sunstreaker clone]]s. With Hardhead's help, they defeat them and rescue Ironhide. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[File:Devastation03-HeadmasterHunter.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"And I have freakishly long fingers now too!"]]
Meanwhile, Hunter awakens at Machination headquarters and finds Sunstreaker's head. He undergoes the Headmaster process as [[Abraham Dante]] does the same with [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Stealing a spare clone body, he links with Sunstreaker's mind to become a Headmaster and uses his new body to escape the facility. However, the Machination takes Sunstreaker's real head. The hybrid Sunstreaker/O'Nion entity agrees to search for Sunstreaker's real head in the hopes of undoing the process. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

From the [[Dead Universe]], Nova Prime orders Galvatron to Earth to deal with the Reapers, whom Sixshot has aligned with, before Starscream shuts him down using a failsafe trigger. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} The other Decepticons engage the Reapers, losing the [[Battlecharger]]s, before being covertly assisted by Galvatron. Triumphant in his mission, he returns to the Dead Universe with Sixshot's body. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

Learning of the breakout at Garrus-9, the majority of the Autobots prepare to leave Earth, though Hot Rod and Sunstreaker remain. Concurrently, Skywatch is notified of the battle and prepares to deploy their latest and most powerful asset: Grimlock. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} After he is awoken, he escapes from Skywatch and refuses an offer to join forces with Scorponok. {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}

On Cybertron, [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] arrives and attacks Hound's crew as revenge for the devastation wrought by the war. His attack is interrupted by Ultra Magnus, and he is forced to retreat to [[Corata-Vaz]]. After activating the [[Nega-Core]], Cyclonus is again set upon, and activates the Nega-core's reanimated guardian, Thunderwing. He is forced to return to the Dead Universe as his body has been in the "living" world too long. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

[[File:SpotlightCyclonus DeadUniversetransformers.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"Death walks among you."]]
In the wake of the attack, Optimus and his crew arrive at Garrus-9. They meet with [[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and head back to the ''Ark-32''. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

The forces of the Dead Universe—including Jhiaxus, Galvatron, Straxus and Grindcore—leave the Dead Universe to begin the [[Expansion]]. Leading the charge is Nova Prime, now calling himself "Nemesis Prime". {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Nightbeat and Hardhead travel to [[Gorlam Prime]] to investigate Nightbeat's missing memories, and they encounter a large group of [[Micromaster]]s trying to impede their progress. The pair makes it to the Dead Universe portal and Jhiaxus takes control of Nightbeat, forcing Hardhead to kill him, and dive into the portal himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Jetfire decides to use [[Pretender]] technology to enable [[Cloudburst]], [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]], [[Groundbreaker]], and [[Waverider]] to survive the Benzuli Expanse. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

Optimus receives a transmission from Dealer, who says that he's been monitoring the current situation, and he thinks that all of the answers they seek lie in the [[Magnificence]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Hot Rod agrees and both travel to [[Ki-Aleta]], the planet where Hot Rod had hidden it earlier. Using the oracle, Hot Rod discovers that Dealer betrayed him, and sends the traitor to his death moments before he could do the same to him. The Magnificence later provides useful info to Ultra Magnus about the machinations of Nemesis Prime. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

On Earth, Straxus and Grindcore mine energon in [[China]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} They are prevented doing this by Hound's team, primarily Sideswipe. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

[[File:IDWAutobotPretenders.jpg|thumb|left|250px|To infinity and beyond!]]
Galvatron and Cyclonus attack the ''[[Mirror-Manifold]]'', the ship of Cloudburst and crew. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} They are beamed out seconds before their ship explodes by the Technobots in the ''[[Nightbird (ship)|Nightbird]]'', who present them with their own personal Pretender carapaces. Using these, they battle Galvatron and Cyclonus, defeating one and allowing the other to escape. Using their shells as temporary shields, they cross into the Dead Universe and manage to seal the gate to the Dead Universe. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Nemesis Prime arrives on Garrus-9, and is faced by Optimus Prime. Optimus is attacked, using the [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} However, the Darkness reaches out to Optimus as a successor. Nemesis continues the attack but is blasted in the back by Galvatron and falls dead. The Darkness enters Optimus Prime. Galvatron offers Prime a choice: kill himself in the nearby Solar Pool, or willingly pass on the Darkness to him. Prime does both, passing on the Darkness ''and'' tossing Galvatron into the pool. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}} Meanwhile, Arcee manages to track down Jhiaxus beneath Gorlam Prime, and with some help from an undead Hardhead, defeats him. With Jhiaxus rendered functionally immortal due to the energies of the Dead Universe portal, Arcee gleefully kills him over, and over, and over, and over… {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}} 

Above ground, the residents of Gorlam Prime finally complete their evolution into wholly mechanical beings. In honor of their great leap forward, they rename their planet… ''Cybertron''. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

[[File:GrimlockMaxDino01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Because "Skree-onk" was copyrighted.]]
Back on Earth, Grimlock and the other Dynobots end up fighting Sunstreaker clones in [[Fallon]], [[Nevada]] in an event orchestrated by Scorponok and the Machination. Hoping to repair their ship, the ''[[Skyfire (ship)|Skyfire]]'', Grimlock calls the [[Monsterbot]]s for help. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}}

Hot Rod takes on Scorponok and fails, while Sunstreaker and Hunter try to reclaim Sunstreaker's original head. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Maximum Dinobots #2}} The Monsterbots arrive on Earth just in time to rescue the bedraggled Dynobots. The Dynobots begin to have misgivings about Grimlock's increasingly unstable leadership—feelings which come to a head when it appears [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] has died from a blast by Scorponok. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 3|Maximum Dinobots #3}}

Soundwave, Shockwave, Laserbeak, and Ravage plot together and free themselves from Skywatch's control; {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave involves himself in the battle with Scorponok, and both are ultimately are defeated by Grimlock and the Dynobots. Ultra Magnus arrives to arrest the group. Though Grimlock willingly goes with Ultra Magnus, the other four Dynobots walk free thanks to his sacrifice. Shockwave, Scorponok, and Grimlock are all sent to Garrus-9 after a trial, though Grimlock's sentence is shortened thanks to bringing in two wanted Decepticons. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

===2008===
[[File:Slowmotionmoviewalkahm5.jpg|thumb|left|250px|He's your huckleberry.]]
Hoping to bolster the Decepticon ranks, Megatron and [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] create the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s. The process is highly imperfect, however, and the thousands upon thousands of failed clones are abandoned on Cybertron to become the feral "[[Insecticon swarm|Swarm]]". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

Shortly after their creation, scientist [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] completes Shockwave's project regarding Jhiaxus's combination technology. The end result is [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]: a mentally stable, combat-ready combiner using the like-minded [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Perceptor rebuilds Kup using [[Pretender]] technology, reversing the deleterious effects of Ore-8 on his mind. At Prowl's insistence, however, Perceptor also adds technology into Kup's new body that will allow Prowl to take control of the elderly Autobot. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Everything in Its Right Place}} With his new lease on life, Kup organizes a team to rescue captured Autobots. They receive assistance from former Decepticon Deadlock, now known as [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} On their first mission, they rescue Hot Rod from Bludgeon and the Monster Pretenders; Perceptor is injured and upgrades himself into a sniper. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

Sixshot, freed from the Dead Universe following the defeat of Nemesis Prime, attacks [[Orvus Base]] to recover secret Autobot scientific research, only for the [[Throttlebot]]s to escape to the nearby planet [[Salvvatan VIII]]. Though Sixshot pursues them, they are rescued by Metroplex, who transforms from the city mode he was hiding as on the planet and stomped the six changer, temporarily incapacitating him. However, Metroplex immediately takes off with the object that he was on the planet to protect, leaving the Throttlebots on Sakvvatan VIII. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}} Unfortunately, Sixshot soon recovers and damages the team's shuttle as they try to leave; though the remaining Throttlebots believe they manage to kill the Decepticon before taking off, they soon crash land on the planet [[Botanica (planet)|Botanica]]. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}}

On Earth, Ratchet succeeds in separating Sunstreaker and Hunter. Horrified and disgusted by what humans did to him, Sunstreaker makes a Faustian deal with [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] to help him take out Megatron in exchange for the Autobots permanently abandoning Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #8}} Ratchet returns Hunter to his house and leaves, unaware that Bombshell is preparing to abduct the young human to gain access to the Headmaster technology still implanted in his body. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers1-Overlord.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"I come in peace. <small>Shoot to kill.</small>"]]

Using Autobot access codes acquired from Sunstreaker, Megatron launches "[[Surge (event)|The Surge]]": across the galaxy, Decepticons abandon infiltration protocol and launch an all-out attack on every major Autobot outpost. {{storylink|Bullets}} The Autobots on Earth are led into a Decepticon trap and are soundly defeated, leaving Optimus Prime in critical condition. Megatron takes the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and exiles them back to Cybertron while he and his Decepticons run amok on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #8}}

During the Surge, [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]]'s [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]]s assault [[Garrus-9]]. Rogue former Decepticon [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] kills Skyquake and takes over the prison, turning it into an arena for his own amusement. Former warden Fortress Maximus is lobotomized and repeatedly tortured. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} As part of a deal, Overlord releases Shockwave and restores him operational status; in return, Shockwave removes the [[Achilles virus]] implanted in Overlord's body as a failsafe. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|Last Stand of the Wreckers #3}}

Knowing that he is being targeted by the Decepticon Justice Division, Shockwave selects a crew consisting of ''other'' Decepticons on their "list", and offers them as a trade for his life when the DJD tracks him down; however, Tarn rejects his offer, intent on following the list in order despite its inefficiency. Unaware that the DJD is only there for Scorponok, three members of Shockwave's crew—Scorponok, Flame and Flywheels—eject themselves into space before Shockwave manages to shut off the transmission of Tarn's lethal voice. {{storylink|The Ties That Bind}} Flywheels is found by the crew of the [[Weak Anthropic Principle]] (aka the "Foragers"), while Scorponok and Flame are found and claimed by the Grand Architect, manifesting as an enormous spacebound heiroglyph. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}}

[[File:AHM2Devastator.jpg|thumb|left|200px|YOU—ARE NOT—PREPARED.]]

On [[May 29]], 2008, the Earth-based Decepticons make their presence known to humankind. Their combined forces demolish [[New York City]] and easily defeat the US military. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Colonel Daniel Witwicky]] is brought to New York to aid in its defense, though his troops can do little to defeat the onslaught. The Decepticons rampage across America and annihilate major cities across the nation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} Within a matter of hours, [[Washington, D.C.]] falls. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} College student [[Marissa Faireborn]], in New York as part of the {{w|Occupy Wall Street}} movement, has her worldview shaken by the scope and horror of the invasion. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}}

Mercy Gale, head of intelligence for the [[Action Man Programme]]—and, in secret, the AMP's greatest nemesis [[Doctor X]]—makes her own arrangements that prevent the Decepticon invasion from touching the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Origins of Evil, Part One: Redcliffe Club|Redcliffe Club}}

Over the next few days, the Autobots and humans struggle to get back on their feet while the Decepticons continue to ravage cities across the globe. On Cybertron, Kup's team crash-lands on the planet and joins the stranded Autobots, who are fighting off the Swarm. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} On Earth, Colonel Witwicky appoints a team lead by his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Spike]] to take out Megatron. Spike's team is killed by Ratbat and Spike is the only survivor. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} 

Without the Autobots, the Decepticons quickly grow bored and start squabbling among themselves. The [[European Union]] decides to end the threat by deploying nuclear weapons against New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} Frustrated by Megatron's sudden listlessness, Starscream plots with the Insecticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

On Cybertron, the Autobots decide to use their remaining energon to repair Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} The Autobots struggle to elude the Swarm, but Perceptor is injured. Guilt ridden, Sunstreaker makes the ultimate sacrifice and detonates a bomb to blow up a bridge (and himself) to keep the Swarm away from the other Autobots. Just before he does so, he reveals to Ironhide that it was he who brokered the deal with Starscream that betrayed the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

Sarah and Bridge run into Spike, and are later joined by [[Charles (G1)|Charles]], seeking revenge against [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] for killing his son. With a weapon reverse-engineered from Shockwave, Spike brings Rumble down with the help of his new friends. On Cybertron, Optimus Prime is repaired, along with the remaining Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

Bombshell builds a [[space bridge]] and reveals that he helped hack into the Autobots' defenses using technology gained by dissecting Hunter O'Nion. Starscream teams up with the Insecticons and Constructicons to attack Megatron, but they are not successful. The Autobots on Cybertron are saved by the arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and taken back to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

===2009===
{{note|According to "[[Ride-Along]]", the events of ''All Hail Megatron'' spanned over a year, though it's unclear exactly when the transition to 2009 happened.}}

[[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|thumb|right|250px|One Shall...oh, you know the drill.]]
The Autobots arrive on Earth and battle the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron gets the upper hand against Prime and orders a retreat, leaving the Autobots to be nuked by the humans… but Spike Witwicky, welding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Transformer technology, shoots Megatron in the face, allowing Prime to smash Megatron in the face with his own fusion cannon. With Megatron grievously wounded, Starscream takes command and orders a retreat. 

The Decepticons do so, but [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] stays behind to dispose of the EU's bomb. He succeeds, but [[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Skywarp]] blasts him out of the sky for his efforts. 

Discovering that his brother's old Headmaster partner has been horrifically mutilated under Bombshell's custody, Sideswipe mercifully terminates the vegetative Hunter. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} In the aftermath, Optimus Prime talks Ironhide out of retiring. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Old Ways}}

Believing the Matrix to be purely symbolic and now devoid of any power it might have once held, Starscream prepares to dump it into space. When [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] reminds him that the Autobots use it to choose their leaders, Starscream declares that with Megatron incapacitated, he will use the Matrix to lead the Decepticons to victory once more. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Though the Decepticons have been defeated and mostly driven off-planet, Earth is largely in ruins. More than a billion people have died worldwide from the invasion, and most major cities are left utterly devastated by the Decepticons. Military assets begin hunting for Decepticon stragglers; as part of these early missions, Spike defeats Ravage, but is injured. Faced with a persistent Decepticon threat, Skywatch is heavily reorganized, going from a clandestine paramilitary organization into a international peacekeeping unit designed to hunt down and eliminate rogue Transformers on Earth, wielding reverse-engineered Cybertronian technology. Sparkplug is made head of Skywatch and recruits Spike to work for him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|The Man of Steel}} This new incarnation of Skywatch does not differentiate between factions, and hunts both Autobots and Decepticons indiscriminately. Bumblebee briefly breaks cover to save some humans and is injured for his efforts. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|Hidden}}

[[File:SeasonsInFlight thundercracker discovers tv.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Eight years later and we still haven't gotten him off the couch.]]
Over the next two years, humans and Cybertronians alike struggle to recover from the Surge. With their infrastructure across the galaxy in shambles, many Autobots seek shelter on Earth. Humanity slowly repairs the damage caused by the invasion, but are enraged at the Cybertronians that remain on their planet. After witnessing a defenseless [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] executed by a group of police officers, Prowl decides that with their numbers so reduced by war, all Cybertronian life—even Decepticons—needs to be protected. {{storylink|Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl}}

Thundercracker survives his ordeal, but is badly damaged and unable to transform or fly. Stranded in the ruins of New York, Thundercracker takes refuge in an abandoned building and watches [[television]] to pass the time until he's rescued. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}}

[[File:Crashsuitsandtransports.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Geronimo!'']]
Skywatch continues its anti-Transformer operations, reverse-engineering Cybertronian technology to produce new weapons to safely combat rogue Transformers on Earth; this initiative culminating in the development of the unit's signature [[crash suit]]s. What Skywatch doesn't know is that this technology is secretly being provided to Skywatch via Spike Witwicky, whose disregard for the rules drives him to cut a deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}} [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] are amongst those captured. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}}

[[Dominus Ambus]], now a mole within the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], reports that the Decepticons have lost contact with [[Garrus-9]] and DJD scouting parties do not return. [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] authorizes [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to assemble a new team of [[Wrecker]]s. Their mission is twofold—to rescue any Autobot prisoners and to download data from the [[Aequitas]] supercomputer. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} {{storylink|Bullets}} At some point after this, the other four members of the DJD discover the mole in their organization and subject Dominus to "[[domestication]]", reducing him to a feral "Pet". Another Decepticon thus steps up to become the next "[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]". {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}}

Still marooned on LV-114, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] discovers a Decepticon shipwreck with surviving crewmembers [[Spectro]] and [[Spyglass]] ([[Viewfinder]] alas, didn't make it.) He saves an [[Varta|alien]] from them and in the process blows them and his escape ship to pieces. And so, he waits... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

At some point after Gorlam Prime's transformation, the malevolent Dead Universe entity known as the [[D-Void]] lures the entire population of the planet into his domain and devours their [[spark]]s. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}}

===2010===
[[File:Ongoing Issue 1-Optimus Surrenders.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Botkind, well, that was another story.]]
Thundercracker is rescued by a rag-tag team of Decepticons led by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. He discovers, however, that he has lost his taste for fighting, having come to respect humanity and its culture. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}}
 
Prowl is captured by Skywatch, and Hot Rod's rescue mission leads to Ironhide's death. Depressed, Optimus Prime resigns as Autobot leader and surrenders to Skywatch. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Frustrated by recent events, Hot Rod and a group of like-minded Autbots make preparations to leave Earth. They decide to join forces with Swindle's Decepticons, while the other Autobots chose to remain on Earth, and Bumblebee is elected the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers1-newrecruits.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cue the A-Team [[theme song|theme]].]]

Eight months after Dominus Ambus's report, the [[Wrecker]]s—bolstered by new recruits [[Verity Carlo]], [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]], [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]], [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]], ascended fanboy [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], and lead by a returned Impactor—arrive at Garrus-9 and begin their assault. Overlord retaliates by ordering the death of all Autobot prisoners upon the Wreckers' arrival save Grimlock, who has vanished. The Wreckers take heavy casualties over the course of their mission, but succeed in capturing Overlord and securing the data from [[Aequitas]]. Overlord is captured and the remaining Decepticons scatter, glad to be free of Overlord's oppression. The [[data slug]] that contains the various records from the Aequitas trials are entrusted to Prowl. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers}}

After dropping off the Wreckers on Garrus-9, Ultra Magnus arrives on Earth to investigate the death of Ironhide and surrender of Optimus Prime. Afraid of being arrested by Magnus, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and Blurr leave to join Hot Rod, but all except Blurr are captured by Skywatch and used as leverage by Spike for Optimus Prime to talk. Magnus leaves to find Hot Rod. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}}

Bumblebee's feelings of inadequacy, combined with the derision he faces from his fellow Autobots, pushes him into making a reckless deal with Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi]]. Horiuchi promises the Autobots protection from Skywatch if they capture Decepticons, but at the price of being immobilized if they disobey. Skywatch quickly forces Bumblebee's troops to capture other ''Autobots'', starting with [[Blurr (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Blurr]]. After Bumblebee's immobilizing badge is damaged, he locates the [[Sanjay Bharwaney|creator]] of the badges and personally destroys them, defeating Skywarp and proving his worth as leader of the Autobots in the process. {{storylink|The Transformers: Bumblebee}}

Ultra Magnus shows up and tries to arrest Swindle, but Rodimus defends his ally. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} Ultra Magnus takes several Autobots from Bumblebee's group with him to help him detain Swindle and the rebellious Rodimus. Swindle uses the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s to test some experimental [[combiner]] technology, and when Ultra Magnus arrives Swindle betrays Rodimus and unleashes [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to kill the Autobots. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 4: "Enemies of the System"|Enemies of the System}}

Spike releases Optimus Prime to battle Menasor, but the combiner is undone after the Stunticons fail to unite their minds into a workable gestalt. The battle prompts Spike to realize that the Autobots are not part of the problem. Skywatch forges a new alliance with Bumblebee's Autobots, while Rodimus steals Ultra Magnus's spaceship and strikes off on his own. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

The space-bound Decepticons fare little better than their Earth-bound counterparts; Starscream's poor leadership, combined with dwindling fuel sources, leads to the collapse of the Decepticon faction. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} On a desolate asteroid, the Decepticons scrounge for fuel and cannibalize each other for Energon and parts, {{storylink|All His Engines‎}} a barbaric practice encouraged by [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]] general [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]], who travels to space following a failed combiner experiment. {{storylink|The Iron Klaw}} The other Predacons remain on Earth, where they eventually join the government of [[China]] as border guards. {{storylink|International Incident Part 3: "Hawk Among the Sparrows"|Hawk Among the Sparrows}}

[[File:Ongoing Issue 13 - Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Well, I'm back, back<br>Well, I'm back in black<br>Yes, I'm back in black'']]

Tiring of Starscream's bungled leadership, Soundwave and Shockwave revive Megatron in a new body equipped with [[Titan (IDW)|Titan]]-derived [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] technology. His old body is used to create replicas of his old gun mode, which contain small pieces of the Decepticon leader's consciousness. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} 

Rodimus arrives at the Decepticons' asteroid base, intending to retrieve the Matrix. He succeeds in stealing it back from Starscream, but is confronted by the newly upgraded Megatron who blasts him and the Matrix into space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

In his new body, Megatron retakes leadership of the Decepticons {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}} and sends the Megatron guns to Earth, where they quickly spread amongst unsuspecting humans with anti-Transformer sentiments. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}

Spike disobeys orders and goes rogue, hunting down and executing [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] in an attempt to prevent Devastator from ever being formed again. {{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}}

On Cybertron, Alpha Trion continues his project to clean the desolate world, though these efforts are threatened by the increasingly ravenous Insecticon swarm. Trion decides to resurrect a copy of the one Autobot most suited for the job: Ironhide. The confused duplicate lacks all of Ironhide's memories from the war, but does his job well. He also recovers Sunstreaker, having survived his sacrifice years earlier. Alpha Trion and Metroplex take off for parts unknown, leaving Ironhide and Sunstreaker on the planet to finish off the Swarm. Over the course of their campaign, Sunstreaker adopts one of the failed clones as a pet, which he nicknames "[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]]". {{storylink|The Transformers: Ironhide}}

As Rodimus floats through space, the Matrix bonds with him, saving his life. He crashes on the planet [[LV-118]], where he meets Wheelie. Together with him and the alien [[Garnak]], Rodimus steals a ship and heads to Cybertron. {{storylink|Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|The Stars My Destination}}

[[File:TFInfestation2-BrittKup.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Alas, neither a pirate nor a ninja.]]

Galvatron frees himself from the solar pool, fully fused with the Darkness. He tracks down the Dead Universe Transformers trapped on Gorlam Prime, Cyclonus and Scourge. Using his new powers, he revives Scourge, using him to create a personal guard in the form of the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|Rebirth}} They investigate the planet's missing inhabitants, {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 1|Heart of Darkness #1}} and upon learning about the D-Void's plans to destroy all Transformers, set out to raise an army to oppose it.<ref>The point at which Galvatron escapes the solar pool is never made explicit, but it can be inferred from several pieces of evidence: it occurs after ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' (per ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'''s epilogue), Autobot guards are present on Garrus-9, and it has been "years" since Galvatron's defeat.</ref> {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 2|Heart of Darkness #2}}

Galvatron and his men discover a block of ice in space, unaware that it contains a [[zombie]] virus brought from another dimension by the extradimensional vampire-zombie [[Britt]]. Several of Galvatron's crew members are infected by the zombie virus, and his ship crash-lands on Earth in [[Las Vegas]], forcing the Autobots and Skywatch to pitch in and contain the infestation. Kup is infected by the virus and transformed into a zombie, but uses Prowl's mental link to thwart the swarm and warp Britt, her virus, and himself through time and space to the dawn of the Dead Universe. The Autobots refuse to join Galvatron's army. {{storylink|Infestation (IDW)|Infestation}} 

Though physically unharmed by his experience, Kup is stranded within the Dead Universe and spends the next several billion years on a barren asteroid. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} He encounters the similarly stranded Nova Prime, who tries and fails to turn his body into a space bridge back into the living world. {{storylink| No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}}

Galvatron takes his new army to Cybertron, declaring it the first line of defense against the D-Void. Rodimus also arrives on the planet where he meets Ironhide and Sunstreaker and learns of Galvatron's presence. The assorted Autobots leave Cybertron to warn Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 4|Heart of Darkness #4}} {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

Four months later, [[North Korea]]n leader [[Kim Jong Du]] strikes a deal with three of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], providing them with energon in exchange for their services. Under his orders, the Combaticons attack [[South Korea]], prompting the United States government to declare the employment of Cybertronians equivalent to the use of weapons of mass destruction. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|The Land Ironclads}} Skywatch and the Autobots move out to defeat the Combaticons. To keep the public from learning that the US also employs Cybertronians, the Autobots remain in their vehicle modes throughout the battle, and are easily defeated. {{storylink|International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"|Ranks of Bronze}}

[[File:TheDemolishedMan-BumblebeeGetsShot.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"NOTHING BAD EVER HAPPENED. ''EVVVVER''."]]

Bumblebee meets with Thundercracker, who is now only interested in watching TV, and convinces him to help them. [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] hacks the spy satellites above Korea, allowing the Autobots to fight in [[robot mode]]. Backed up by these resources, the Autobots defeat the Combaticons. {{storylink|International Incident Part 3: "Hawk Among the Sparrows"|Hawks Among the Sparrows}} As the Autobots are attacked by the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], who have a similar contract with [[China]], Skywatch agent [[Sandra (G1)|Sandra]] breaks the encryption on one of the satellites. The secret alliance between Skywatch and the Autobots is revealed to the world, and [[Russia]] attempts to nuke the Transformers, though Cosmos saves them. The energon factories in North Korea and China are destroyed, ending the threat from the Combaticons and Predacons. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|All My Sins Remembered}}

The incident turns into a PR nightmare for both Skywatch and the Autobots. Bumblebee holds a press conference, but fails to contain the unruly crowd and is grievously injured by [[Joe Gladki]]. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|All My Sins Remembered}} Megatron's Decepticons return to Earth, attacking the Autobot-Skywatch base and freeing the Decepticon captives within. The plane carrying Optimus Prime, Spike Witwicky and the rest of the Korea team is shot down over the Pacific Ocean. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} Ultra Magnus takes charge and has the base evacuated. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} He and his troops attempt to regroup, but are defeated by Megatron himself. Meanwhile, Starscream tries and fails to convince Thundercracker to return to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}}

After two days, Optimus Prime's team emerge from the oceans alive. Prime confronts Megatron, who is holding Magnus hostage, and causes him to flee by injuring Soundwave. Jazz is forced to kill [[John Powell|a human]] in order to save his comrades, furthering Autobot distrust among human civilians. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} After another meeting with Prime, Megatron surrenders himself so that he can watch from the inside as the Autobots are crushed by the humans they protect. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}
{{-}}

===2011===
[[File:PoliceActionPrologue-Prowl.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Prowl discovered his "Summon Leggy Dame" spell had failed.]]
Six weeks later, Rodimus and his crew arrive on Earth and return the Matrix to Optimus Prime. Learning about Galvatron's invasion of Cybertron, Optimus takes most of the Autobots and Megatron with him, Prime leaves Earth on Omega Supreme. Bumblebee, Prowl, Ultra Magnus, and several others remain behind to investigate Megatron's claims that Spike murdered Scrapper. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}}

Prowl investigates Spike by following him around. {{storylink|Police Action: Part 1}} While investigating the site of Scrapper's death, he is attacked by [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], but defeating and interrogating yields nothing about his motives. The Autobots bring in Sandra, who enlightens them on Spike's sociopathic past. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Bumblebee and the other Autobots keep busy by tracking down rogue Decepticons, and Bumblebee singlehandedly takes down a Decepticon plot to activate a space bridge. {{storylink|The Question}} The defeat proves so humiliating that [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] quits the Stunticons forever. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}}

After four months of investigation, {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Spike shamelessly admits to killing Scrapper, but Prowl's fair share of questionable actions makes him unsure on what to do about it. During an attempted arrest of anti-Autobot pundit [[Ben Simpson]], the Autobots learn that he was a [[Facsimile construct|facsimile]] created by Swindle. Under interrogation, Swindle reveals that he had been selling weapons to Skywatch via Spike for years. The alliance between Skywatch and the Autobots quickly dissolves and Spike becomes an international fugitive. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}}

En route to Cybertron, Optimus Prime must choose life imprisonment or execution for Megatron's punishment in anticipation of his future trial. He tries to talk to his nemesis, but is only goaded into torturing him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} When he asks Megatron what he would choose, Megatron chooses death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

Cyclonus and the Sweeps take over [[Kimia Facility]]. The Autobots arrive on Cybertron, where Optimus Prime again declines to join Galvatron's army, causing Galvatron to responds with violence. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} In order to reach Cybertron's core, Galvatron uses Kimia to fire on the planet's surface until the facility is destroyed from within. As the Autobots fight Galvatron's army, Megatron escapes from captivity and powers himself up using his Megatron-guns. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}}

[[File:Deceptigod Chaos part3 Kings.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Excuse me sir, do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior Deceptigod?]]

Megatron uses the space bridge technology in his body to summon his Decepticon army to Cybertron. The D-Void, acting through Galvatron's [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]], mind-controls them into combining with Galvatron's troops to form the "[[Deceptigod]]". {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} While Megatron fights and defeats the Deceptigod, Galvatron reaches [[Vector Sigma]] and inserts the Heart of Darkness into it, hoping this will stop the D-Void from entering the universe when in truth it does the opposite. Optimus Prime stops the D-Void from turning Cybertron into a portal to the Dead Universe by opening the Matrix of Leadership into the planet's core, emptying the artifact completely. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}} 
Galvatron and his forces are defeated, and the cleansing of Vector Sigma has the unexpected side effect of "resetting" Cybertron back to a living, primordial state. Though the planet is habitable once again, it is also wild and untamed, and all indications of Transformer civilization have been lost. Every Cybertronian in the universe receives a simple message, courtesy of Vector Sigma: "come home". With the Decepticons in shambles and Megatron missing, the Great War is considered over, though the Autobot victory proves pyrrhic. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

Over the next three weeks, Bumblebee's team returns to Cybertron, taking care to remove every piece of Cybertronian technology they can find on Earth before they depart. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} Joining up with the other Autobots on Cybertron, they successfully inter the weakened and disoriented Decepticons within the wreckage of the Kimia satellite and plant them with [[Inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chips]] to keep them docile. Before they can begin rebuilding society, however, they are joined by tens of thousands of neutrals, deserters, refugees, and other assorted noncombatants. Prowl dubs the hordes of civilians "[[NAIL]]s".

[[File:DoOP matrix bequeathed.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Remember to share, kids. Peace, I'm out.]]

Tensions between the three groups grow until Optimus Prime, having inadvertently time-jumped three weeks forward following his defeat of Galvatron, arrives in the shantytown that was once Iacon. The Autobots bring him up to speed, though ex-Autobot [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], ''de facto'' speaker for the NAILs, makes it clear that his people want neither the Autobots nor Decepticons on "their" planet. When riots break out in the streets due to his presence, Prime departs the planet and entrusts the empty Matrix halves to Bumblebee and Rodimus, who are split on whether to stay and rebuild Cybertronian society, or go in search of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] in the hopes of starting anew on [[Cyberutopia]] . Prime leaves, and declares that, without the Matrix, he is "Orion Pax" once more—and that Optimus Prime is dead. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

Though the Cybertronians have left Earth alone for the time being, the effect they have on the shellshocked planet is profound. Embroiled in controversy, Skywatch is considered defunct and is shut down by the United States government. Several operatives are shunted into its successor, the international [[Earth Defense Command]], headed by [[Marissa Faireborn]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} {{storylink|The Iron Klaw}} Determined not to let another invasion happen on her watch, Faireborne and the EDC reverse-engineer what technology they can find, producing new anti-Cybertronian weaponry such as [[mind bomb]]s and particle-based warheads. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} Around this time, eccentric tech industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] comes to prominence, head of the [[Onyx]] software and engineering firm. Unbeknownst to anyone on Earth—including ''himself''—Blackrock is a false identity constructed by [[Sovereign]]. As "Blackrock", Sovereign succeeds in collecting dozens of Transformer artifacts from their recent conflicts on Earth, including the corpses of [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and the Enigma of Combination. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} From the former two artifacts, he creates an army of [[Seeker clone]]s for the EDC, which are augmented to combine through the energies of the Engima. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}}

[[File:SecretRaiders-GIJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it."]] 

Among their many anti-Transformer initiatives is "Project Spectrum", a series of experimental weapons designed to use the Transformers' chameleonic natures against them. Following the mysterious loss of Cornelius Trakker, Adventure Team alumni [[Miles Mayhem]] steps up and refines it into the "[[M.A.S.K.]]" program. {{storylink|O Ship of State|Matt Trakker profile in Revolution #3}}

The Transformer war is soon overshadowed by a new crisis on Earth: the threat of [[Cobra]], an omniscient human conspiracy centuries in the making. Joe Colton becomes the head of a [[G.I. Joe (team)|special missions team named in his honor]]. G.I. Joe's victory turns pyrrhic when their conflict leads to the nuclear devastation of [[Nanzhao]], remembered as second only to the destruction of New York in modern history. Though Cobra is no more, G.I. Joe is mothballed shortly afterwards, with some operatives like [[Ayana Jones]] transferred into the ranks of the EDC. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}
{{-}}

===2012-2013===
[[File:Mtmte-01-liarsatod-p19-panel345-boom.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wait for it...wait for it...]]
Rodimus gathers a crew of two hundred Autobots and purchases the ''Unitrex-1'' during the [[Festival of Lost Light]]. The event inspires him to rename the vessel the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Hoping to learn more about the secrets behind creating [[Phase Sixer]]s, Prowl manages to convince Rodimus to take Overlord with them in the hopes of using [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]]'s [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgical]] skills to probe the Decepticon's memories. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} Before they depart, Chromedome, his [[Conjunx Endura]] [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]], and Ratchet discover Tailgate and take him aboard. The ''Lost Light'' departs Cybertron shortly afterwards... but the quantum engines malfunction shortly after the ship launches due to a mishap involving Overlord's slow cell {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}, and the vessel vanishes in a fiery explosion. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

[[File:TheAutonomyLesson-spaceport.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."]]
The loss of the ''Lost Light'' causes ructions between the Autobots, Decepticons, and NAILs; the latter faction believing that the Autobots are now publically discouraging anyone from leaving their shantytown. Having made the difficult choice to release the Decepticons to help keep the peace, Bumblebee is forced to put down [[Horri-Bull]] when the Decepticon oversteps his authority. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} 

Around this time, war hero and all-around do-gooder [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] decides to strike out on his own search for the Knights of Cybertron aboard his own ship, the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]''. He discovers the lost colony of [[Caminus]] and recruits three of the inhabitants—[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]—to join him on his quest. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}}

An attempt on Bumblebee's life via [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] leads to the latter's death and prompts Starscream to start working with Bumblebee's Autobots in their efforts to rebuild a functioning government. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] secretly continues Shockwave's old combiner experiments, which results in Prowl, at the end of his tether and increasingly emotionally closed-off, seemingly executing him. {{storylink|Devisive}} Ironhide salvages the situation by petitioning to have the [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chips]] installed in the Decepticons deactivated. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}

After [[Barrel Roll]] dies, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and his crew of [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] leave Iacon to start anew in the wilderness beyond. {{storylink|Stick Together}} Ironhide then recruits the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to try and find the missing fliers; they discover that the lands beyond Iacon have a disorienting effect on Cybertronians. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt}}

[[File:Sparkeater rips The Chaos of Warm Things.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''HEEEEERE'S JOHNNY!'']]

Meanwhile in space, the ''Lost Light'' rematerializes, ''twice''; the peculiar quantum engines mean that the explosion creates a duplicate ''Lost Light'', one on-course and one off-course. The on-course ''Lost Light'' and its duplicate crew embark on a series of improbable adventures that ends when the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], on the trail of the traitorous Overlord and tipped off to his location by conflicted double agent [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]], kill everyone aboard save Rewind. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

The ''other'' ''Lost Light'', however, materializes near the edge of the galaxy, where the crew meets Skids and contends with the Sparkeater. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} The Sparkeater's rampage accidentally damages the [[slow cell]] containing Overlord, which alerts paranoid security director Red Alert to the stowaway. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

[[File:MTMTE ROE Grimlock.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Grimlock in stained glass.]]

On Cybertron, Wheeljack investigates a mysterious time machine brought to the planet by [[Turmoil]]. {{storylink|Interference Patterns}} This has repercussions across the galaxy; far away from Cybertron, Orion Pax, Hardhead, [[Garnak]], and Wheelie discover that Jhiaxus, Bludgeon, and Monstructor are carrying out a part of Shockwave's Regenesis program to alter the future using the chronologically-destabilized world of [[LV-117]], a plan involving Turmoil's time machine. Thought they thwart Jhiaxus's scheme, the planet is destroyed. {{storylink|Syndromica (1)}} {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} 

On the planet [[Clemency]], a [[Scavenger (group)|band of misfit Decepticons]]—the former Foragers—stumble on [[Fulcrum]], a cowardly [[K-Class]] suicide bomber. Together, they investigate an anomalous [[Worldsweeper]] ship containing numerous strange experiments and a brain-damaged Grimlock, whom they reactivate to battle the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. The Scavengers reluctantly take him on. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} 

Shortly afterwards, the ship chances on the planet [[Theophany]], former home of the now-missing [[Circle of Light]]. The crew discovers [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], and help the struggling Titan return to Cybertron by using Brainstorm's [[mass-displacement gun]] to shrink him to a manageable size so he can safely teleport away. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:RID16 heavyisthehead.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This can't end well.]]

Metrotitan materializes within the ruins of [[Crystal City]], where his arrival interrupts the search for the missing Autobots. Starscream investigates, and the Titan proclaims him the "chosen one" before his destabilized molecules explode and teleport him away {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} to [[Monument Valley]] on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above... So Below}} Before Starscream can use his new standing to tip upcoming elections in his favor, Iacon is thrown into chaos when Megatron returns. {{storylink|City on Fire}} 

Having experimented with [[combiner]] technology in the wake of the D-Void's defeat, Megatron has secretly collaborated with several Decepticons to perfect the process and create a new, more powerful Devastator from the remaining Constructicons... and using Prowl, who has been under Bombshell's mind control all along, as a guinea pig. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head|Heavy Is The Head}} 

The new Devastator lays waste to Iacon, but is defeated by Ironhide, the Dinobots, and the Aerialbots, the latter group having accidentally combined into a new combiner named [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} Wheeljack sacrifices himself to neutralize Megatron, while Superion helps defeat Devastator and return Prowl to his senses. Starscream kills Metalhawk to exploit the NAILs and uses the political leverage to declare himself as the sole ruler of the "[[Republic of Cybertron]]", casting both Autobots and Decepticons out into the wilderness. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head|Heavy Is The Head}} Starscream recruits [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] as his second-in-command and finds a useful stooge in the religiously-inclined [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] {{storylink|Three Monologues}} after taking custody of the comatose Superion and secretly placing Wheeljack into stasis. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head|Heavy Is The Head}} 

A subsequent stopover on [[Hedonia]] {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} brings the ''Lost Light'' crew into contact with a group of [[Ammonite]]s, and a game of one-upmanship goes wrong when [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] annihilates [[Terradore]] commander [[Imperius Drax]]. With Drax's successor pushing the Terradores towards a dangerous conclusion, the Ammonites join forces with Shockwave. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Megatron's defeat pushes Shockwave into accelerating the development of his Regenesis program—having evolved into an ambitious plan to end the universe so Cybertron can live forever. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

Not far away, Metroplex detects [[Ore-7]], and Shockwave dispatches his Ammonite army to reclaim the sample. The Ammonites prove incapable of bringing the Titan down, but ''are'' successful in incapacitating him with a sample of [[Ore-2]]. Having contracted an [[alchemical virus]] from exposure to the deadly ore, a grievously wounded Metroplex jettisons his thumb and the Ore-7 sample before splashing down beneath the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] to recuperate. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}}

Metroplex's thumb impacts the ''Lost Light'', leaving a reluctant [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] to fight off [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] and his crew of [[Titan Hunter]]s. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}} Meanwhile, [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and a crew of Autobots cope with a leftover [[phobia shield]]. {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}

[[File:ThisCalamitousLife-legislatorfight.jpg|thumb|left|250px|";"]]

When Rewind is grievously injured in a battle on [[Temptoria]], the possibility of losing his beloved sends Chromedome into a grief spiral that eventually sees him tapping Overlord's memories. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Unfortunately, Chromedome accidentally allows Overlord to escape, and Rewind has to sacrifice himself to jettison the monster from the ship. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Not wanting to jeopardize a great destiny he has forseen for Rodimus, Drift volunteers to take the fall for the incident and is exiled from the ship. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} Overlord's drifting body is found and taken in by the [[Galactic Council]], who rebuild and recruit him into their service. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}}

Ultra Magnus is also fatally wounded in the battle, but his body disappears from the ship's Medibay. The crew track the Magnus Armor and discover lost moon of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} where they discover Chief Justice Tyrest, who has gone rogue and constructed a [[universal killswitch]] designed to eliminate all Transformers who were constructed cold in an act of religious genocide, helped by mad doctor [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] and knight Templar [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]. The crew discovers the secret of [[Minimus Ambus]] and eventually defeat Tyrest by using their half of the Matrix to overwrite the killswitch, sacrificing their map to Cyberutopia in the process. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

[[File:BurningBright-Windblade.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''They're Windblade and the Brain<br>Windblade and the Brain<br>One is a Titan, the other's a plane!'']]

Alpha Trion makes contact with Thunderclash and persuades him to send his Camien crew members to Hydrophena, where [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] uses her [[cityspeaker|cityspeaking]] talents to tend to Metroplex's many injuries. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}}

Believing that Shockwave's plans will involve the [[Enigma of Combination]], Alpha Trion correctly deduces it to be on Earth. He travels there to retrieve it, but his vessel is shot down by the [[Earth Defense Command]] and he is taken hostage to forward the development of the EDC's weaponry. {{storylink|The Crucible}} {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}}

With his pieces in place, Shockwave puts the final pieces of his plan into play. At the request of his old student, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] manipulates Orion Pax into awakening a Titan slumbering beneath [[Gorlam Prime]] and transports it to Cybertron, transforming it into a [[zombie|undead]] "[[Necrotitan]]" that lays waste to Iacon by unleashing a "death plague" that brings the dead back to life, including Metalhawk. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} 

[[File:BlackPlanet-bigfight.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Our arrows will blot out the sun!"<br>"Good; then we will fight in the shade."]]

Shockwave creates a portal to the [[Dead Universe]] to summon Nova Prime and his ancient Cybertronians. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Bumblebee makes an alliance with Soundwave to stop this, but their strike on Shockwave's base proves only partially successful, as Galvatron reemerges before they can close the gate. {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}} Gorlam Prime collapses into a Dead Universe portal, and Orion and his crew are saved by the ''Lost Light''. Orion and Hardhead venture into the rift to stop Shockwave's plot. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Though Hardhead perishes, Orion succeeds in rescuing both Nightbeat and Kup from the thrall of the Dead Universe. In the ensuing fight against Nova Prime, Prime finally kills his villainous predecessor and retakes the title of "Optimus Prime". {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} 

With the ''Lost Light'' on Jhiaxus's tail, the ship makes a detour to [[Hydrophena]], where they encounter Metroplex's body, {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} his Camien caretakers, {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} and an army of Ammonites. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The crew use their ship's engines to power up the Titan and return him to Cybertron. In the ravaged remains of Iacon, Bumblebee and Megatron form a strange alliance, {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} and the Decepticon leader uses his internal space bridge to teleport Metroplex's thumb back to its rightful owner, giving Metroplex the energy to kill the Necrotitan and counter the plague. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

Unfortunately, all of this plays right into Shockwave's metaphorical hands; having lured all of the elements in his final plan to Cybertron—and having eliminated Nova Prime's control over the Dead Universe—Shockwave begins his final endgame, using Jhiaxus's [[chronal drive]] and the power of all fourteen ores to collapse all of reality into a singularity that will feed Cybertron for all eternity. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|WHAT.]]

Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron confront Shockwave beneath Crystal City {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} while Metalhawk sacrifices himself once again to destroy the Ammonite army. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} Shockwave shoots Bumblebee {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} but the Autobot's sacrifice moves Megatron—having slowly realized the error of his ways—to announce that he is changing sides. Shockwave's incredulity breaks the shadowplay, and, horrified at what he has become, he allows Optimus Prime to put him down. Crystal City collapses into a singularity and drags Bumblebee's body with it. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} Unbeknownst to anyone, however, Shockwave is not dead, instead having been sent [[#12 million BCE|twelve million years back in time]], to the dawn of Cybertronian civilisation. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

Though the Transformers have saved reality, the events of the crisis have changed Cybertron forever. In the aftermath, Autobot Megatron allows himself to stand trial for his crimes against the species, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} while the three Camiens struggle to adjust to their new lives. With the Decepticons left betrayed and rudderless, a new warrior steps up to take command... [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}
{{-}}

===2014===
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Cast in the name of Primus.]]
Megatron's trial in the [[Raskol Arena]] lasts for five months, and though Megatron initially pleads guilty, Starscream's blustering testimony convinces him to change his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} The ex-Decepticon escapes immediate sentencing on a technicality. Requesting to be judged by the Knights of Cybertron, he joins the crew of the ''Lost Light'' as co-captain alongside an annoyed Rodimus. Before leaving Cybertron, he announces that the Decepticon cause has failed and that all active Decepticons are to stand down. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}

[[File:DetonationBoulevard-galvatronandedc.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Awkward!'']]

Those Decepticons still loyal to the cause rally under Galvatron's new banner. Soundwave joins Galvatron's splinter group, announcing that they will follow the ''true'' Decepticon path and seek peace. Galvatron leads his new troops to [[Earth]], where they meet with [[Sparkplug Witwicky|General Witwicky]] and [[Marissa Faireborn|Director Faireborn]]. The neo-Decepticons convince the skeptical humans of their good intentions by telling them that Megatron has defected to the Autobots, though Galvatron openly chafes under the idea of working alongside humans. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} In exchange for aid against the Autobots, G.B. Blackrock sponsors the construction of [[Sanctuary Station]] in orbit around Jupiter, which will house the new Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} 

As the Autobots and their new allies settle in, Optimus Prime decides to lead a small crew of Autobots (and Prowl's Constructicon hangers-on) back to Earth aboard the ''[[Ark-7]]'' in search of Alpha Trion. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}

Metroplex transforms into his city mode and links up with the ruins of Iacon, providing housing, power, and infrastructure for any in need. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} In time, a "ghetto" of Decepticons springs up around his outskirts, while the Autobots and NAILs live inside the Titan. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Though alive, Metroplex is barely functional, and over several months Windblade slowly nurses him back to health. {{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}} As Metroplex recovers, he begins searching for his Titan brethren, scattered throughout the galaxy. Eventually, he locates [[Navitas]] on [[Velocitron]], [[Chela]] on [[Eukaris]], the remains of the dead Titan on [[Devisiun]], {{storylink|Windblade issue 4|Windblade #4}} and [[Vigilem|Carcer]], disguised as Metroplex’s lost brother [[Tempo]]. {{storylink|Rubicon}} Though most of the colonies have survived their millennia of isolation unscathed, one world is not so lucky: [[Micronus Prime]]'s colony world of [[Mini-Con]]s is sterilized by the robophobic [[Black Block Consortia]]. The sole survivor, a young female named [[Nickel]], joins the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] when they happen on the planet days after the attack. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}

[[File:ABotAndHerCity-metroplexsbrain.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''They're Windblade and the Brain<br>Yes, Windblade and the Brain<br>Their robotic campaign, is easy to explain'']] 

[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] comes to the conclusion that Cybertron is too dangerous for Windblade to stay, and engineers a public crisis that will allow her access to Metroplex's space bridge by surreptitiously bombing districts within Metroplex. {{storylink|Windblade issue 4|Windblade #4}} Windblade investigates and repeatedly clashes with Starscream {{storylink|A Long Way Down}}, who has by this point established the [[Badgeless]] troopers as enforcers of his will. {{storylink|Windblade issue 3|Windblade #3}} Windblade is horrified when she learns the truth, but strikes an uneasy deal with Starscream in the name of the greater good: in exchange for keeping Chromia's crimes hidden, Windblade will allow Starscream to contact the ''other'' lost colony worlds, help her impoverished home and rebuild the Cybertronian empire with himself at the helm. Though her friend walks free, Windblade is left conflicted by her friend's duplicity and her own moral compromise. {{storylink|Windblade issue 4|Windblade #4}}

[[File:Full Fathom Five Alpha Trion.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Old Primes never die, they just get to be lab rats.]]

Entering Earth's orbit, the ''[[Ark-7]]'' runs up against post-invasion humanity, who deploy sophisticated orbital defense systems derived from Cybertronian technology against them. Sneaking to Earth aboard Sky Lynx, Optimus, Kup, and Jazz encounter [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]], who has gone native on Earth and turned his love of television into a career as an aspiring screenwriter. Thundercracker and his new pet [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] are bait, however, and the Earth Defence Command arrives to arrest the Autobots. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} The Autobots flee to the town of [[Poverty Flat]], where Prowl and the Constructicons deploy Devastator against their foes. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} The Autobots escape custody and return to their ship, where they trace the development of the "[[mind bomb]]" to an EDC base on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]]. The Autobots manage to infiltrate the facility, where they discover and free Alpha Trion. In the conflict, Galvatron kills General Witwicky. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}}

Trion explains the sordid history behind the Enigma of Combination, prompting the Autobots under Prowl's command to search for it {{storylink|The Crucible}} while Optimus returns to Cybertron. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}} 
A globetrotting chase across the world ensues as Prowl's Autobots race Galvatron's Decepticons to find the artifact before the Decepticon leader can destroy it. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs.}} {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} As they close on the Enigma, Prowl and his Constructicons form an unlikely alliance with Spike Witwicky to infiltrate Blackrock's Onyx facility in [[China]]. Devastator's hatred of Spike jeopardizes the mission and causes him to lose control of the Enigma to the Decepticons… who in turn, lose it to Starscream's double-agent Scoop, who has been working within the Decepticons as a mole. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|ONoffON}} {{storylink|The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|The Obliterati}} 

[[File:TheRoadNotTaken-ChromedomeRewind.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''[Feels intensify]'']]

In deep space, Megatron continues to grapple with his legacy while dealing with the less-than-accepting crew of the ''Lost Light'', including his old nemesis [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} A freak transmission and a mysterious coffin causes the ''Lost Light'' and its crewmembers to start disappearing, a phenomenon caused by their approach to the quantum duplicate of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The ''Lost Light'' crew investigates the wreckage of the ship and discovers the "other" Rewind, who is reunited with his beloved Chromedome. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} {{storylink|Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} Immediately afterwards, Brainstorm, who has been perfecting the development of a portable [[time case]], takes the ''Lost Light'' crew out of commission and escapes backwards through history with the intention of talking Megatron out of starting the war and saving [[Quark]] from his eventual fate. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} A team of Autobots chase Brainstorm across time to prevent a [[Functionist Universe|alternate timeline]] from overwriting reality entirely and succeed in preventing the increasingly desperate scientist from killing Megatron at the moment of his creation—but not without creating some critically important time loops along the way. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} 

[[File:ThePermanentRevolution-goingtowar.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Good god, y'all.]]

Ratchet decides, after some soul-searching, to leave the ''Lost Light'' and go off in search of his friend [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} He tracks the wayward Autobot to the outer rim of the [[galaxy]], and joins Drift in confronting his old commander [[Megatron (RID)|Gigatron]] and [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] over an [[Stone Army|army of ancient automatons]]. Ratchet agrees to help Drift, but only if he promises to return to the ''Lost Light'' at the conclusion of their adventure. {{storylink|The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift: Empire of Stone}}

Learning of Megatron's defection from a postwar edition of his [[Towards Peace|manifesto]], Tarn briefly despairs, but his grief hardens into a resolve to kill Megatron, whom he considers a traitor. He joins forces with [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s troops in preparation for all-out war against Megatron. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}

With Windblade's repairs on Metroplex nearing completion, Optimus arrives on Cybertron and helps bring Autobot serial killer [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], who has been exerting vengeance on war criminals who went unpunished, to justice. {{storylink|The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment}}
{{-}}

===2015===
[[File:TheSumAndItsParts-OptimusMatrix.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Starring: Space Jesus, Space Peter, and Space Judas.]]
Starscream resuscitates Wheeljack to help repair Superion with the help of the Enigma and aid Windblade on Metroplex's space bridge. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}} Having established a stable link between the two worlds, Cybertron prepares to make official "first contact"with Caminus after millions of years of mutual isolation. Starscream uses both Menasor and Superion to stage a combiner attack on the planet to win them over, but discovers that the Camiens, like most colonists, consider Optimus Prime to be a divine being, and immediately fall behind him on learning of his existence. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} Caminus's leader, the [[Mistress of Flame]], comes to believes that Optimus is the "Arisen", the legendary Thirteenth Prime, a belief not held by Pyra Magna or her Torchbearers. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}} 

[[File:Optimusmaximus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"You have failed. We will find another way."]]

Windblade and Optimus collaborate to undermine Starscream's imperialism from within, and manipulate him into announcing the formation of the "[[Council of Worlds]]", a democratic parliament where Cybertron and its colonies will all have an equal voice. {{storylink|The Possible Light}} Infuriated by news of Starscream's scheme, Prowl and the Constructicons arrive on Cybertron to forcibly cut the planet off from the rest of the galaxy, but Starscream stops them by creating [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] from the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], a group of ''Lost Light'' delegates. {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}} Starscream takes custody of Devastator and rebuilds him to incorporate Scoop, forcing the combiner into obeying him. Rattrap, who is secretly a double agent working for Prowl, releases Prowl from prison and gives him the Enigma. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} 

When Devastator and Menasor go berserk, Prowl uses the Enigma on himself, Prime, and several other Autobots to create [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]], who battles Devastator in a fight that spans across the lost colonies. Swindle leads a riot at Metroplex's space bridge; he is shot and presumed dead,{{storylink|All That Remains}} but Rattrap and Wheeljack secretly hide the brain-damaged Cybertronian, knowing that he has incriminating information on Starscream. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} The rogue combiners are defeated, paving the way for the creation of the Council of Worlds. Across the other colonies, the inhabitants are alerted to the fact that Cybertron still exists, and prepare for their own first contacts with their ancestral homeworld. {{storylink|All That Remains}} Optimus visits Prowl to try and reconcile, but the increasingly unstable tactician rejects his attempts. Their disagreement escalates into a full-on fistfight, and Rattrap has no choice but to spirit Prowl's broken body to safety. On Earth, Galvatron and Arcee arrange a clandestine meeting, where Galvatron reveals the otherworldly source behind [[G.B. Blackrock]]'s Onyx operating code. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}} 

[[File:TheWillOfTheFew-councilofworlds.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Bots of the Square Table.]]

Arcee travels to Cybertron and steals the Enigma, hoping to ensure that nobody else can be changed against their will. Windblade and Chromia track her to the [[Rust Sea]], where they encounter Pyra Magna's group of Torchbearers. An accident leads to the creation of [[Victorion]], the first Camien combiner. The Enigma is returned to its proper place, with Starscream none the wiser, while the Torchbearers opt to remain in the Rust Sea. {{storylink|An Uneventful Night}} Starscream and Windblade race each other to try and recruit more colonies into the Council of Worlds; after some adventuring, they succeed in convincing the citizens of [[Velocitron]], [[Devisiun]], [[Eukaris]], and "[[Vigilem|Carcer]]" to join. {{storylink|The Will of the Few}} 

In space, a visit to the Vis Vitalis for Thunderclash's "pre-wake" sees the legendary Autobot, and the Camien medic [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]], join the Lost Light's crew after they save the other ship from an infestation of "[[personality tick]]s". {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} A series of whimsical events leads to the ''Lost Light'' crew braving the holographic "[[Swearth]]" in search of Swerve {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}, which, in turn, leads them to the [[Necroworld]], where they meet [[Censere]]. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} A discussion regarding the Necrobot's passivity inspires Censere to use one of Brainstorm's discarded [[time case]]s to start travelling back in time and rescuing the "Disappeared" before they can vanish from history, storing them in stasis pods before they can overcome their timesickness. Among those brought to the present are [[Anode]] and [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

[[File:SinsoftheWreckers3-Tarantulasspider.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Come into my Noisemaze, said the spider to the bot.]]

At some point after this, Prowl is kidnapped by his old comrade [[Tarantulas (BW)|Mesothulas]], who has escaped from the [[Noisemaze]] and recruited [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]], a post-war terrorist group sporting experimental biomechanical [[beast mode]]s, to capture a terminally ill [[Verity Carlo]] and [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] for the Aequitas data they carry. Prowl's capture necessitates the return of the Wreckers, who assemble to rescue the disgraced strategist. Their mission takes them into the Noisemaze, where Prowl rejects Tarantulas's offer of an alliance. The Wreckers manage to free Prowl; Kup and Arcee finally sever ties with him and return to the ''Ark-7''. {{storylink|The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers}}

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', crewmember [[Getaway]] decides that enough is enough and makes a move to incriminate Megatron by grooming Tailgate into performing a suicide mission. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} In case this fails, he also plans a large-scale mutiny, taking advantage of the crew's resentment of Megatron's presence and Rodimus's increasingly erratic leadership; Getaway also convinces them that the captains plan to have him locked up on trumped-up charges, which results in the crew having doubts when he is imprisoned for his attempt to manipulate Tailgate into his death. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}} A subsequent encounter with [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] results in a super-powered Tailgate, while Megatron decides to permanently lay down arms in the name of pacifism. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}} {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

===2016===
[[File:AHO-earthannexed.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Got tired of whining<br>A grander scheme with silver lining<br>For every boy and girl'']]
The formation of the Council of Worlds brings great changes to Cybertron; Transformers from all five colonies start immigrating to Iacon, and the mix of cultures and traditions bolsters the rebuilding city. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} {{storylink|Choose Me}} This new optimism has little effect on the increasingly frazzled Starscream, who starts experiencing recurring hallucinations of Bumblebee—who, unbeknownst to anyone, still lives within the Crystal City singularity. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} Unsure of his place in this rapidly changing society, Optimus Prime finds a sympathetic ear in [[Aileron]], a young Camien who persuades him to seek out the Torchbearers. They do so, and Pyra Magna vows to build the agnostic Optimus into a worthy Prime. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} At the same time, Galvatron begins recruiting new Decepticons on Cybertron, intending to restart the war on Earth via the space bridge network. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} 

The Dinobots accept a secret mission from Camien-turned-Decepticon sympathizer [[Swift (G1)|Swift]]: transporting a payload of Sparks into the Cybertronian wilderness. They contend with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s latest wave of experiments and succeed in reigniting [[Alyon]]'s old hot spot, gaining [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] as the newest member of their team. {{storylink|The Transformers: Redemption|Redemption}}

[[File:RageRage-Megatronappears.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The old man's back again.]]

The faith the colonists place in Optimus pushes him into making ever more reckless decisions, and when Galvatron launches a unilateral attack on Earth, Optimus responds by using his authority to annex Earth into the Council of Worlds, permanently placing it under Cybertronian protection {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}} His actions throw both worlds into chaos; on Earth, the Earth Defense Command forms an alliance with the [[People's Liberation Army Mecha Force]] to prepare for total war against the Cybertronians, while on Cybertron, Starscream galvanizes the Council against Prime's actions. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}} Blackrock, his status as a mechanical imposter fully revealed, forges an alliance of convenience with Galvatron's Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} Seeking a new advantage, Optimus travels to Sanctuary Station and blackmails Soundwave's Decepticons into joining him and taking down Galvatron. The Autobots battle the Decepticons underwater, where Galvatron uses the powers of the Enigma against his foes before Superion sacrifices himself by de-combining for good to neutralize Blackrock's Enigma code. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above... So Below}}

On Earth, events come to a head in [[Monument Valley]], where Optimus, at Alpha Trion's urging, uses his control over Titans to summon Metrotitan. Optimus summoning a holy Titan convinces the colonists that Prime is, indeed, the Thirteenth Prime, and that Earth is a lost colony of Cybertron, which swings public opinion back his way. Prime, Arcee, and Soundwave subsequently pursue Galvatron to [[Jupiter]], where Prime finally kills the ancient warrior. Hoping to repair relations with humankind, Optimus orders Metrotitan to transform and dubs the Titan "[[Autobot City (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|Autobot City]]", an embassy for Cybertronians on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}}

In space, the mutinous crew of the ''Lost Light'' make their move against Rodimus and his crew by luring them to the [[Necroworld]] under the guise of a psychic attack and stranding them there. What they ''don't'' know is that Getaway has made a deal with the [[Galactic Council]] to hand over Megatron—and even he is unaware that the Decepticon Justice Division has finally tracked down Megatron, and that the Decepticon forces have assembled to take out the traitor and his allies. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} The Galactic Council arrives and deploys their new asset Overlord against Megatron. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}} With the help of the returned Ratchet and Drift—and through Skids's own self sacrifice—the crew manage to repel Deathsaurus's troops; Megatron renounces his pacifism and takes up arms once more to finally put down the DJD for good. In the aftermath, the crew discovers the fate of the time-hopping "Disappeared". Megatron is finally reunited with his old friend [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]... moments before a GC [[geobomb]] detonates inside the planet. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

On the Lost Light, the crew are shocked to learn both about Getaway's deal with the council and that he used his nudge gun to erase the memories of those who would not agree to the coup. Getaway pacifies them by lying that the council promised not to harm anyone but Megatron, but his subsequent efforts to alter the terms of the deal ends in failure. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

[[File:ModesOfProduction-tractorbeam.jpg|thumb|left|300px|They're heeeere!]]

The detonation of the geobomb shunts the entire Necroworld into an [[Functionist Universe|alternate reality]] created by Brainstorm's time-travel misadventures. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 4: Bad Moon Rising|Bad Moon Rising}} Rodimus and a small crew of Autobots attempt to teleport back to Cybertron, only to find themselves on the wrong Cybertron! {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}} The [[Functionism|Functionist]] Cybertron stands on the brink of extermination, and the arrival of the Autobots threatens to push the uneasy peace completely over the brink. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}} The [[Functionist Council]] eventually deploy their [[Moonbase Two|ultimate weapon]] against Cybertron, and Megatron steps up to lead the counterattack and rallies the [[Anti-Vocationist League]]. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} Most of the Autobots return to their home universe, but Megatron and Terminus are accidentally left behind. Megatron joins the League and begins again, this time basing his revolution on "peace through empathy". On Necroworld, Anode—having been hallucinating Lug still being alive thanks to her timesickness—manages to resurrect her using the widowed metal "snowflake" and traces of Lug's spark energy in Necroworld's flowers. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}

On the "real" Cybertron, Windblade and the other Council members continue to keep the peace {{storylink|07:00:00}} while Starscream hires exiled [[Eukaris|Eukarian]] [[Fateweaver]] [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]] to search for Swindle's body in the hopes of permanently silencing the loose end. {{storylink|The Price of You}} {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Increasing tensions between the [[Badgeless]] and the civilians prompt [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] to step up and reform Cybertronian security. {{storylink|Applicable Skills}} Chromia and Windblade continue to search for Swindle's body as Airachnid surreptitiously racks up a mnemosurgical murder spree, while [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] joins the Badgeless to bring down their organization from within. {{storylink|Things We Said We'd Never Do}} Their inquiry ends when Rattrap and Wheeljack reveal the location of Swindle's body. The Combaticons use the Enigma to probe Swindle's mind and merge into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who attacks Iacon. Ironhide's new recruits bring down the combiner, but in the aftermath Chromia confesses to her old crimes and is sent to jail. {{storylink|The Line Between Us}}

Prompted by Getaway, Perceptor manages to find "the [[Warren]]", a series of quantum tunnels that the Lost Light crew can use to reach Cyberutopia, but this "victory" is stymied by the Lost Light finally receiving the "last will and testament" of the crew, broadcast from Necroworld, which reveals their apparent imminent deaths at the hands of the Decepticon Justice Division. Despite Getaway's flustered insistence that the transmission is a fake, the crew is horrified and wants to go back for them, leading Getaway to use his nudge gun to memory-wipe Thunderclash and Riptide, though—unbeknownst to him—it fails on the latter. Getaway has Froid and Sunder released from the ship's brig so that Sunder can use his remote mnemosurgery abilities to trap Thunderclash in a memory loop and make the crew forget the transmission; though Getaway initially balks at Sunder's demand for twenty-five [[life cord]]s to feast on in exchange, he quickly comes around. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

The [[President of the United States]], furious at the EDC's recent failures, dissolves the organization in favor of [[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]], leading a revitalized team of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] veterans. {{storylink|White Light}} What she doesn't know is that Joe Colton and several G.I. Joe troopers have been replaced by [[Dire Wraith]]s. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} The real Colton, having survived the Dire Wraith attack, takes on the identity of Baron Ironblood and joins up with Garrison Kreiger, intending to solve the Cybertronian problem by other means. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[File:WhiteLight-bodyjackinginfinitus.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"SHUT UP, DAMMIT!"]]

Metrotitan broadcasts a message to the galaxy at large... a message that reaches Cybertron and awakens [[Infinitus]] from his long slumber beneath [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. Disgusted at what Cybertron has become, "Sentinel Prime" returns to life and rampages through Iacon before bridging to Earth. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}} There, he captures G.B. Blackrock and forcibly awakens his "Sovereign" persona {{storylink|White Light}} before leaving for [[Prion]] with Soundwave and Optimus. Claiming to be the herald of Onyx Prime's return, Sentinel attempts and fails to convince Optimus to stand with him. {{storylink|White Light}} Subsequently, Infinitus and Sovereign travel to [[Moonbase One|Luna One]], where Infinitus uses his powers to reactivate the Titan graveyard and send them to "cleanse" Cybertron. Infinitus perishes and Fortress Maximus, Red Alert, and Prowl manage to send his fleet of Titans off-course so that it will take months for them to reach Cybertron. {{storylink|Last Light}}

On Necroworld, the stranded ''Lost Light''ers prepare to attempt re-contact with Cybertron using a [[Skip|convenient alt-mode]] they found amongst the dead Decepticons. Tailgate accepts treatment for his [[Outlier|hyperactive spark]], but a vengeful [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] buries him for another six million years {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}} before taking control of the Necrobots with his fellow Decepticon Disappeared, until Fortress Maximus and his team arrive in response to Team Rodimus's "last will and testament". {{storylink|Sardines}}

The "Rod Squad"'s first stop is [[Troja Major]], where they seek to obtain a new map to Cyberutopia from [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s contact [[Agonizer]]; however, Nautica has an ulterior motive for travelling to the planet, seeking to use the [[Carthasian]] [[Mengel]]'s Resus Cradle to resurrect Skids from his brain module. Meanwhile, Anode and Lug meet up with her old co-worker [[Wipe-Out]], but soon find themselves under attack from both the Black Block Consortia and the forces of the [[Grand Architect]], led by [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]]. {{storylink|An Axe to Break the Ice}} Anode, Lug and Wipe-Out escape, and Flame's troops instead pursue their more important target—a newborn Transformer known as the "[[Infinite]]", capable of turning into anything—to Mengel's lab. Nautica manages to break out of Mengel's siphon and escape from the Grand Architect's men before losing her friendship with Velocity, which Mengel had demanded as payment for Skids's resurrection, but loses her emotional connection to her memories of Skids in the process. Flame and his men recover the Resus Cradle, which is actually the Magnificence, and deliver it to Scorponok. {{storylink|Chasing the Infinite}}

[[File:TheNewColossus-thisendsnow.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Behold the power of brand synergy*!<br><small>(* [[Synergy]] not included.)</small>]]

Several months pass, and humanity and Cybertronians uneasily coexist on Earth in spite of the Autobot's continued humanitarian efforts. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} All this changes when extradimensional warlord [[Baron Karza]], hailing from [[Micronus Prime]]'s dying dimension of [[Microspace]], sets his sights on Earth's ample supplies of [[Ore-13]], which he can use to save his universe. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} He cuts a deal with the [[Dire Wraith]]s and [[Miles Mayhem]] and begins transporting supplies of the ore into his dimension, which has the side effect of destabilizing the ore on Earth and threatening the planet with nuclear annihilation. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} Believing the Cybertronians at fault, “Colton” seeks out Miles Mayhem, who gears up to deploy [[M.A.S.K.]] in the field by using his captive [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] as a source of scientific development. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

Colton deploys G.I. Joe in [[Portland]] against Jazz and Arcee; during the battle, [[Rom]] arrives and immediately kills the false Colton. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} The Autobots pursue Rom while [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] relocates to Earth to deal with the malfunctioning Metrotitan, and a [[Cityspeaker|cityspeaking]] session catapults her into Microspace. {{storylink|Informed}} Thundercracker defends the President from a Dire Wraith incursion {{storylink|Thundercracker & Buster Save the World}} while [[Action Man]] leads a daring heist to rescue Kup from MASK captivity. {{storylink|The Modern World}} The heroic [[Micronaut]]s cut a deal with their nemesis Karza and travel to our dimension. {{storylink|The New Colossus}}

[[File:ValleyForge-MonsterKarza.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"''Enerchange''."]]
The Scavengers briefly stop by Earth, where they befriend washed-up G.I. Joe recruit [[MP3]] and Crankcase's [[CONS4EVA|online boyfriend]]—in reality a pacifistic Dire Wraith—as part of a mystical "[[Crossover]]". {{storylink|Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!}} Abandoned by Galvatron's Decepticons, Skywarp throws his lot in with the newest incarnation of G.I. Joe, a grudging alliance until the humans can repair the Seeker's onboard teleportation systems. {{storylink|D.T.A.}}

Miles Mayhem, M.A.S.K., and the Dire Wraiths launch an assault on Autobot City, which turns into a free-for-all when Baron Karza arrives. Only by teaming up do the heroes manage to force the villain back into Microspace and neutralize Earth's remaining stores of Ore-13. In the aftermath, Optimus Prime and his new allies realize that they will have to defend Earth together, as equals. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

[[File:Desperate Times - Depth Of My Pettiness.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Nothing more need be said.]]

Windblade returns to Cybertron just in time for Sentinel Prime's fleet of [[zombie|undead]] titans to make planetfall on Cybertron. The Republic of Cybertron musters its defenses and prepares to fight back… {{storylink|Ping}} but their efforts aren't enough, and as a result Starscream orders his troops to storm [[Vigilem|Carcer]] against the wishes of its commander [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] and force the Titan to transform. {{storylink|Desperate Times}} Windblade joins the infiltration team, but is horrified when she learns she has awoken Vigilem after years of slumber. {{storylink|Desperate Measures (Till All Are One)|Desperate Measures}} Vigilem destroys the zombie Titans, but proves too much for Windblade to control. Metroplex releases Chromia to help her, and Elita One manages to kill the Titan… but not before Vigilem disgorges Liege Maximo, the Prime teleporting away to places unknown. {{storylink|Rubicon}} 

Baron Karza, having built a new army after being sent back to Microspace, invades Earth to create a new home for his people; Enerchanging with Micronus Prime's body, Karza uses its power to defeat and capture Optimus Prime, Arcee and Jazz, while his forces neutralise M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe. {{storylink|Wrath of Karza issue 1|Wrath of Karza #1}} Though his armies almost manage to conquer the planet, he is stopped by the Micronauts, who release the Autobots from Karza's orbital prison to fight him. {{storylink|Wrath of Karza issue 4|Wrath of Karza #4}} Karza is forced to team up with the Autobots when his wife, [[Shazraella]], starts using the power of the Entropy Cloud that has consumed Microspace, but they are unable to defeat her. Shazraella is eventually stopped when the Micronauts' leader, [[Oziron Rael]], ascends to become one of the Time Travelers and separates her from the source of her power; the Time Travelers arrange to have spacebridges created between Microspace and Earth, with Optimus pledging to help welcome any ambassadors of Microspace to the planet. {{storylink|Wrath of Karza issue 5|Wrath of Karza #5}}
{{-}}

===2017-2018===
[[File:ToWalkAmongTheChosen-NewAutobots.jpg|thumb|right|250px|They'll let anyone be 'chosen' these days.]]
Optimus Prime's adventures prove inspirational enough to recruit a whole new generation of idealistic Autobots, recruited from the colonies and religiously devoted to their leader. With his new recruits, Prime and the Autobots continue their mission of global peacekeeping while preparing Earth to join the Council. This uneasy status quo is thrown into doubt when the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s arrive on Earth, hoping to rebuild their world using Earth's supplies of Ore-13. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} A series of mutual misunderstandings caused by Prime's increasing ruthlessness escalate the crisis to the point of all-out war between the Transformers and Junkions, as Soundwave uses Megatron's ''original'' words to turn the Junkions' servant [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] against their masters, {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}} but Optimus salvages the situation at the last moment by convincing his troops to lay down arms. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}
 
The Junkions relocate to an abandoned EDC base to start the construction of "[[Little Cybertron]]", but [[Slide]], who has lost her brother [[Oiler]] in the hostilities, is unable to forgive the Junkions and finds herself being groomed by an increasingly ambitious Pyra Magna, who has grown tired of Prime's leadership, {{storylink|What It's Really Like}} even as Optimus and Pyra tentatively bury their hatchet...for now. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} Jazz, in an effort to increase understanding between humans and Cybertronians, agrees to an interview with [[Hector Ramirez]], but the interview is used as a trap by G.I. Joe, who seek to apprehend him for his killing of John Powell years before. Jazz escapes thanks to a tip-off from Optimus Prime. {{storylink|What It's Really Like}}

[[File:LostLight12 smite the abomination.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Who would win?<br>a) A powerful gestalt being formed of six Autobots through mystical and ancient technology<br>b) One sword-wielding boi]]
After months in space,<ref>James Roberts intended the time-span between "The Dying of the Light" and "[[Sardines]]" to be only three weeks, but that is ''right'' out; as "Sardines" takes place parallel to [[the Mutineers Trilogy]] and "[[The Ties That Bind]]"/"[[Kill All 'Cons]]", it has to be after ''[[Revolution]]'', which is set months after the events of "All Hail Optimus" and "The Dying of the Light".</ref> the Protectobots and [[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] catch up with the ''Lost Light'' where they are all, First Aid in particular, caught off guard by the change in command and the resulting changes aboard ship as well the myriad of suspicious activities and attitudes. At a private meeting, they are approached by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] who confesses the truth behind the mutiny against Rodimus and his role therein. Simultaneously however, Getaway and his loyalists corner them forcing the Protectobots into a running firefight to try and escape the ship only to be subdued and placed within a memory loop, {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|Full Circle}} while Riptide is forced into the ship's oil reservoir, which has been filled with [[scraplet]]s. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}} To secure his control of the ship, Getaway contacts Star Saber, hiring him as an enforcer.

In order to deal with his co-conspirator [[Atomizer]]'s growing doubts, Getaway forces him to execute the comatose [[Rook (Generations)|Rook]] to prevent the Protectobots from forming Defensor; however, Riptide, who survived his dip in the oil reservoir, awakens the comatose Autobots to help them escape. The Protectobots retrieve the corpse of Ambulon from the ship's morgue to use as the combiner's leg, but even the combined might of Thunderclash, Mirage and Defensor is no match for Star Saber, who cuts them down where they stand. Thunderclash, Riptide and First Aid are able to escape the ship thanks to Atomizer turning on Getaway, but the captain murders Atomizer with his bare hands in response. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

During a misadventure on the planet [[Frayus]], the Scavengers are caught in a three-way fight between the Galactic Council, the Black Block Consortia, and Deathsaurus and Nickel's Decepticons. They are rescued by Agonizer, who uses a portal to bring them to Troja Major, with Nickel inadvertently being brought with them. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}} Agonizer hires the Scavengers to retrieve the Magnificence from Flame on the planet [[Confluence]], but after they arrive they are captured by Flame's master Scorponok, who renders Grimlock unconscious with a word. When Grimlock is reawakened, the enraged Autobot attacks the Scavengers, {{storylink|The Ties That Bind}} but Nickel realizes that Grimlock is more communicative in dinosaur mode, and is able to have Spinister surgically replicate the effect in his robot form, restoring Grimlock to his "old self". Cornering Scorponok, the Scavengers learn that he has created an organic baby called the [[Firstborn]], the first of a race of "organic Decepticons" containing Cybertronian sparks; when Flame calls for reinforcements, the Scavengers take the Firstborn and the Magnificence and flee to the ship's transmat suite to escape. However, when the Magnificence informs them that the transmat process would be lethal to the Firstborn, Grimlock takes the baby to protect it and shoves the others through the portal, before destroying the device so that Scorponok's men cannot follow. {{storylink|Kill All 'Cons}} The portal takes the group to [[Mederi]], an ancient medical facility designed to allow terminally ill patients to die happy through an telepathic "happy ending"; the illusion leads the Scavengers to perceive the facility as Grimlock's cell in Garrus-9. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

[[File:LostLight17 Who the Hell are You.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Avengers|Infinity War]]'' is looking great!]]
Aboard Skip, tensions start to flare during a prank war between the bored Swerve and Anode; things come to a head when the crew recieve news from Fortress Maximus on Necroworld that Tailgate has apparently spontaneously combusted, leading a grief-stricken Cyclonus to inadvertently wound Rewind with his Great Sword. As fighting breaks out aboard the ship, Skip's [[Size changing|mass-shifting]] begins wearing off, causing the dead Decepticon to shrink, threatening to crush the crew. {{storylink|Sardines}} Ten, having suddenly and inexplicably gained the ability to speak, attempts to rally the other Autobots to save the de-materializing Ratchet by plotting a course for Mederi, but the mass-displacement fails and the Autobots are exposed to the [[compressed space]] outside, causing them to crash on the artificial moon; because of Cyclonus's desire to see Tailgate again, the facility presents itself to them as the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]], complete with illusory versions of their dead friends to welcome them. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

However, the Mederi illusion is imperfect; Nautica's loss of her connection to Skids allows her to walk into the Scavengers (causing the illusion to fail when they see conflicting environments), while Ratchet's scepticism leads him, Rodimus, Drift and Ultra Magnus to the device controlling the illusion, which they destroy. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Realising where they are, Rodimus's group figures out what happened, and Rodimus comes to the conclusion that Mederi ''is'' Cyberutopia, the dying Knights having been fooled by the illusion into believing that they had found a new, perfect Cybertron. Ultra Magnus manages to inform the crew of the truth in time to prevent all of them except for Nightbeat and Ten from being killed by "ascension", causing all of the "ghosts" to fade away — except Tailgate, revealed to still be alive — but as soon as the three groups reunite (with the intention of returning to Cybertron), they are set upon by the mutineers of the ''Lost Light'', transformed into monstrous Sparkeaters. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

On Cybertron, Starscream—increasingly "haunted" by the "ghost" of Bumblebee {{storylink|Ghost Stories}}—picks up the pieces from the leftover Titan crisis; as part of a deal between himself and the Mistress of Flame, he releases Chromia into the Mistress's custody so that she can hunt down and kill Liege Maximo. {{storylink|Heavy}} He subsequently has Airachnid alter the memories of the Combaticons and turn them into loyal bodyguards for his own purposes. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Meanwhile Bludgeon reawakens Trypticon, intending to lay waste to the galaxy in the name of Cybertron; the Dinobots, Sandstorm, and Trypticon defeat him, sparks Bludgeon had harvested from the Alyon hotspot subsequently developing into a wave of newborn protoforms within the belly of the beastial Titan. Starscream takes Bludgeon into custody, and manages to revive Slug—who was killed by Sandstorm while hunting Bludgeon—using a corrupted Sweep spark. {{storylink|The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation}} {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 1}}

[[File:StrangeVisitors-CenturionMeetsTheAutobots.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Remember me, from two-thirds up the page? I still exist!]]

In the country of [[Schleteva]], G.B. Blackrock investigates the Talisman and provokes a crisis aboveground when his recklessness transforms civilians into Dire Wraiths. {{storylink|Crisis Intervention}} He, [[Action Man]], [[Ayana Jones]], and Kup team up to chase the Talisman across the globe and beyond in the hopes of returning Ayana's G.I. Joe comrades to normal, encountering a villainous alliance—the [[Iron Ring]]—of foes such as [[Joe Colton|Baron Ironblood]], the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s, {{storylink|The Iron Klaw}} and [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]], the last of the living Eukarian Autobots... even as the frozen corpse of Domitius Major is examined by the forces of Ironblood and [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]]. {{storylink|Strange Visitors}} The Revolutionaries break into Kreiger's [[Project Ice Man]] compound and capture Kreiger while also reuniting with the time lost [[Sgt. Savage]]. {{storylink|Power and Glory}} Before they can transfer the Talisman and Kreiger over to G.I. Joe however, Baron Ironblood attacks with Savage unmasking him as Joe Colton. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}} Blackrock proves able to use his connection to the Talisman and his Titan Master powers to heal the infected the mutates Verenyans via Metrotitan's Space Bridge, a wave that somehow releases the consciousness of the deceased [[Atomic Man|Mike Power]] into the body of Centurion. Nonetheless, Colton's alliance proves able to escape with the Talisman with it sending another mutagenic wave that the new Centurion shields Action Man from before returning to life and explaining his recovery. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Windblade's doctor]] informs Starscream of his discovery that Vigilem downloaded his mind into Windblade's before his death, and that it is slowly killing her. After some deliberation, Starscream has Airachnid connect his mind to Windblade's so that he can save her, despite the risk to his own life. {{storylink|If I Know You}} Entering Windblade's mind, he intervenes to stop Vigilem from killing her, but Vigilem begins to take control of Starscream's body. However, on looking into Starscream's memories, Windblade sees his creation through cold construction; in response, she "forges" Starscream's spark to create a projection of his"true form"—the form he would have taken had he been forged, rather constructed cold. With Starscream forcing Vigilem back into Windblade's mind, she destroys the Titan within her spark, allowing the two to awaken. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}}

With Sideswipe's health increasingly deteriorating, the Autobots humanely shut down his CR chamber. {{storylink|The Life of Sideswipe}} Soon afterwards, Alpha Trion recounts the origin of the Autobot symbol to Optimus Prime, Starscream and Pyra Magna before the President calls to announce that [[Marissa Faireborn]] has been chosen to represent Earth on the Council of Worlds. {{storylink|Origin Myths}}

[[File:FirstStrike6-Merklynn.jpg|thumb|right|270px|"I turned myself into an alien wizard, Colton! Boom! Big reveal!"]]
At the official induction ceremony, Colton's alliance attacks {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} before heading into the depths of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to deploy the Talisman, {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}} leaving behind their army of [[Iron Grenadier]]s, [[Dreadnok]]s and [[Red Shadows]], with [[Doctor Mindbender]] in the Baron Ironblood costume as a distraction. {{storylink|First Strike issue 3|First Strike #3}} During the attack, the mercenary [[Colditz]] and a trio of Red Shadows are sent to retrieve the Centurion/Mike Power hybrid, who apparently willingly rejoins his side, kidnapping Blackrock in the process. Arcee and the remaining "[[Revolutionaries (team)|Revolutionaries]]" head into the Cybertronian wilderness after them. {{storylink|Unification Day: Dawn}} Centurion actually intends to take revenge on Kreiger, but Colditz has actually been ordered to take him into the wilderness to ensure that he doesn't interfere with the villain's plans with his connection to the Talisman. The Revolutionaries manage to talk the overloading Centurion down, but he is left in [[stasis lock]] and unable to help them against the Iron Ring. {{storylink|Unification Day: Dusk}}

Meanwhile on Earth, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[M.A.S.K.]] contact [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] to reach Cybertron and stop Colton, {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}} only to be thrown in jail under charges of suspicion by Starscream. Sunstreaker and Ironhide head underground to try and kill Colton but the human general manages to outmaneuver them and escape Metroplex. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} Optimus Prime breaks the Joes out of prison, to Windblade's disappointment, and—along with Soundwave and a returning Arcee—head to the core of Cybertron, managing to beat the villains there. {{storylink|First Strike issue 5|First Strike #5}} Despite the intervention of Starscream, Elita One and Obsidian, who attempt to arrest or kill everyone present, Colton's alliance is prevented from reaching the core; however, Kreiger—actually the alien wizard Merklynn—activates the device where they are, using it to magically alter the whole planet's energon and transform a portion of Cybertron into [[New Prysmos|a replica]] of his lost homeworld [[Prysmos]], from which he intends to conquer the galaxy. A broken, defeated Colton and his allies are taken into custody on Cybertron. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

In response to Merklynn's actions, Cybertron uses almost half its energy to beam a signal—"Welcome. Death."—into space, where it finds its target in the orbit of a black hole: [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|The Signal}}

[[File:OP13 prowl and the gang.jpg|thumb|left|150px|There's a war going on! And it's time that you knew<br>Every lad in this land has his duty to do.]]
While G.I. Joe and the Cybertronians deal with Colton's attack, [[Aileron]] leads a team of colonists to search for the missing Jazz on Earth, eventually finding him under attack by humans in [[Oaxaca]]. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 1}} Though Jazz and the colonists succeed in tracking the Cybertronian weapons the humans were using to their source ([[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], posing as humans via [[holomatter]] avatars), Jazz is angry and upset that Optimus Prime didn't attempt to find him or deal with the weapons, and heads off on his own once more. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 2}} Meanwhile, other villains take advantage of the absence of G.I. Joe and Autobot City's leadership, such as [[V.E.N.O.M.]] (now under the employ of Cobra) {{storylink|G.I. Joe: First Strike}} and the Dire Wraiths. {{istorylink|Micronauts: First Strike}}

Discovering from Centurion that protoforms once again exist on Cybertron, Optimus and his allies confront Starscream over his knowledge of the active hot spot. Starscream takes Prime to see the resurrected Slug, who agrees to help track down the Dinobots and the protoforms; however, when Optimus's team finds Centurion, the Dinobots and Sandstorm in the wilderness, Bludgeon uses his [[Void Scepter]] from afar to drive Slug into a murderous rage over his teammates working with his killer. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}} After Slug is calmed down, Trypticon, wishing to protect the protoforms, emerges from the ground to demand an end to the fighting; this prompts Optimus to declare Trypticon to be the Earth embassy on Cybertron, preventing him from having to turn the protoforms over to Starscream's government. Meanwhile, Prowl and his allies rescue the surviving Throttlebots on Regalis V from Onyx Prime's beast army in the ''[[Peaceful Revolution]]'', acting on intelligence provided by Pyra Magna. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home, Part 2}}

Thundercracker's attempts to write a biopic of G.I. Joe agent [[Chuckles]] are interrupted by Starscream, who asks Thundercracker to make a film about his life. Thundercracker eagerly sets to the task, though he is stymied by the seemingly impossible task of portraying Starscream both positively and honestly. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

[[File:TheChosenOne-imsorry.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Oops. My bad.]]"]]
On returning to her seat on the Council of Worlds, Windblade is outraged to learn that the council have not yet told the public about Liege Maximo's escape, and informs the planet of the truth herself. Though she is expelled from the council, when Starscream calls free elections as demanded by Elita One, she agrees to run for office. Starscream, meanwhile, is haunted by his experience within Windblade's mind and the vision of what he could have been, and when the electoral debate comes, he confesses to his crimes in full for all to hear. Starscream, along with his co-conspirators Airachnid, Rattrap and the Combaticons, are all arrested, and Windblade goes on to win the election and be declared the "first delegate", the new ruler of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Chosen One}}

Thundercracker, on learning of Starscream's arrest, is not dissuaded from his filmmaking, seeing it as the perfect ending to the movie. Not wanting the fairly-accurate-but-kind-of-terrible film released, the imprisoned Starscream has a message sent to two Badgeless, who attempt to kill Thundercracker to prevent the film's release. Thundercracker manages to kill his two attackers, and returns to Earth... where he finds out that all interest in the film is dead in the water. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

New Prysmos is settled by refugee Prysmosians, prompting Ironhide and Kup to attempt diplomatic negotiations with them. While Wheeljack discovers that the Talisman is tunnelling towards Cybertron's core and threatening to finish what Merklynn started, a faction of Visionaries called the [[Darkling Lord]]s—covertly urged on by Merklynn—attempt to conquer Cybertron for themselves, their leader [[Virulina]] murdering Kup with magic. [[Leoric]] and his [[Spectral Knight]]s oppose Virulina's plan, and ally with Ironhide's team to stop them; though they succeed in preventing the Darkling Lords' conquest, a reaction between [[Galadria]]'s magics and Wheeljack's bomb rockets New Prysmos to the surface of Cybertron and surrounds it with a swathe of organic grass. Merklynn is imprisoned for his misdeeds, and is left dejected and fatalistic by his realisation that all he did was for naught, as his actions have summoned Unicron. {{storylink|Transformers vs. Visionaries}}

Learning of Kup's death, Springer and Verity Carlo attempt to meet up with Impactor, but are embroiled in Mayhem's anti-faction scheme in the process — which, in turn, causes Verity's kidnapping by Overlord, who has been working on Earth with Tarantulas on the [[Timemaze]], a gateway allowing access to other times and alternate timelines. Though Impactor sacrifices himself to save Springer and Verity, Overlord is dealt with by sending the two halves of his body into different time periods, and Tarantulas dies in the arms of his "son". Leaving a message to the surviving Wreckers and their allies asking that they make sure nobody has to do what the Wreckers did again, Springer departs into the Timemaze in the hope of changing history for the better by preventing the war. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}

[[File:OP17 Everything is Shockwave's fault.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.6|"IT'S ME, OPTIMUS! IT'S ME, OPTIMUS! IT WAS ME ALL ALONG, OPTIMUS! YOU ALL BOUGHT IT! YOU ALL BOUGHT IT—HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER! EVEN [[Liege Maximo|MY FAMILY]]—EVEN [[The Fallen|MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY]] BOUGHT IT!"]]
Optimus Prime, Marissa Faireborn and the President of the United States inaugurate an Ore-13 mine in Kentucky, staffed by human, Cybertronian, and Junkion alike; the ore is refined into energon and shipped to Cybertron, compensating for Merklynn's magical tainting of their fuel supply. However, the arrival of the first shipment is overshadowed—quite literally—by the arrival of Onyx Prime's enormous eyeball-shaped ship [[Nemesis (BWII)|''Nemesis'']] in the skies above Iacon. Onyx Prime, with a chained Liege Maximo at his feet, demands to speak to Optimus Prime, who he calls "the Arisen". {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} While Soundwave attempts and fails to read the mind of Liege Maximo, arguing breaks out between Onyx, the Council of Worlds, and Optimus; things reach a head when Soundwave enters the council chambers, and is enraged to see Optimus defending Onyx. Just as Alpha Trion realises the truth of Onyx's identity, an explosion rips through the [[Spire]] and kills Trion, which Onyx blames on Soundwave. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}} Liege Maximo vanishes from captivity in the chaos, while Onyx stokes dissent and confusion by impugning Optimus's allies, revealing the truth that Soundwave killed Horri-Bull to the furious Decepticons.

With fighting breaking out in the city streets, Onyx boards his skiff to return to the ''Nemesis''; meanwhile, Devastator forms to forcibly "rescue" Starscream from prison, while Metrotitan travels from Earth to Cybertron and submits to the command of the "chosen one", firing on Onyx's vessel. As the situation gets further out of control, Metrotitan refuses to obey Optimus's orders to stand down and fires on him and Windblade, sending Optimus falling to the ground; Onyx catches him aboard the skiff and has the ''Nemesis'' return fire, knocking Metrotitan to the ground. After subduing the furious Optimus, Onyx tears his "face" off, revealing his true identity as Shockwave. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}}

Explaining what happened to him and how he became "Onyx" to Optimus, Shockwave has the ''Nemesis'' take them to the Crystal City singularity and throws Optimus in so that he may share Shockwave's enlightenment. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}} With the discovery of his "true self" and the prophecies surrounding him seemingly adding up into a chance to become the savior Cybertron needs, Starscream has Devastator carry him to the fallen Metrotitan, where for one moment he believes he really ''does'' have some grand destiny... only for Shockwave to show up and mock him with the revelation that the entire prophecy was the result of his manipulations to place a fool like Starscream on the throne of Cybertron, before murdering Metrotitan. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}}
<!--Within the singularity, Optimus — now finding himself in infraspace once more — reunites with Bumblebee, whose ghostly form is dragged away from Starscream to meet with his old leader.-->{{-}}

==Alternate timelines==
===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage prime stabbed.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Megatron's greatest mistake was in ever allowing you to ''live'', Prime!"]]
The [[Decepticon]] [[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] tracks the ailing Autobots to the [[Pegasus Star Cluster]], where he briefly succeeds in taking Optimus Prime hostage before perishing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

{{note|The issue is vague on whether this sequence of events is merely a dream by the "real" Mirage or a supernatural glimpse into a true alternate timeline. [[Mistakes and Mayhem|A later issue]] would go on to explain Mirage’s hallucination as a side-effect from a long-running medical condition. However, in that same issue, he experiences several accurate premonitions of future events, which leaves the original question up in the air.}}
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===Hail and Farwell===
====2008====
Two years after becoming a Headmaster, [[Hunter O'Nion]] continues to have adventures with his partner Sunstreaker, their minds permanently fusing into a new, singular entity. {{storylink|Hail and Farewell}}

{{note|"Hail and Farewell" was declared canonical when it was first published online. However, the subsequent truncation of author [[Simon Furman]]'s intended story arcs and the subsequent ''All Hail Megatron'' storyline, which among other things, saw Hunter horribly tortured and killed, means that this sequence of events is incompatible with the mainstream timeline.}}
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===Pax Cybertronia===
====15 million CE====
[[File:PaxCybertronia-IronhideAndKids.jpg|thumb|right|200px|And stay off his lawn.]]
In a far-distant future, the Great War is over and the Decepticons have perished. An ancient [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]], the last surviving veteran of the Great War, tells war stories to a [[Autobot youth|new generation]] of Cybertronians on [[Gorlam Prime]] alongside [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}}

{{note|This sequence of events was later established to be a vision that both Ironhide and Jhiaxus experienced during the reformation of Cybertron following the events of the ''Chaos'' miniseries, calling into question if it was a definite glimpse of the future or merely a vision of what might be. The apparent destruction of Gorlam Prime in the main timeline suggests that this particular future may not ever come to pass.}}
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===Functionist timeline===
{{main|Functionist Universe}}
====5 million BCE====
[[File:AWorldMisplaced-TheTakeover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"So this is how liberty dies; with thunderous applause."]]
Megatron perishes on the date of his cold construction. Without Megatron's writings to upheave Cybertronian society, the Senate grows increasingly controlling, and eventually clashes with the Functionist Council regarding the use of Nova Prime's spark stockpiles. When the Senate seals [[Vector Sigma]] behind a wall of impenetrable [[ununtrium]], the Council overthrows the Senate, kills Nominus Prime, and institutes hardline Functionism across Cybertron, {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}} periodically altering the [[Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy]] to declare "[[mass recall]]s" of "obsolete" Transformers. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} 

====2014====
Following the dissolution of the [[Primal Vanguard]], Minimus Ambus returns to Cybertron to find [[Dominus Ambus|his brother]] an [[empurata]] victim. Rewind dies in a mass recall. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

====2016====
[[File:ThisMachineKillsFascists-GiantRung.jpg|thumb|left|Rung digs giant robots.]]
A [[geobomb]] accident sends the crew of the ''Lost Light'' to Functionist Cybertron. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}} They battle the forces of the Council with the [[Anti-Vocationist League]] in their quest to return home, as the Council deploys [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]] to "harvest" Cybertronians for reforging into [[M.T.O.|crusaders]] to cleanse the universe of everything not having a role in the eyes of Primus. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} The crew manages to return to the main timeline victorious, but Megatron and Terminus are accidentally left behind. Megatron takes command of the League and prepares to start his revolution anew, as it always ''should'' have been. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}
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==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Chronologies]]
[[Category:Generation 1 history]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1| ]]