Editing Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

[[Image:doubleprime.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Music by [[Stan Bush]]-san.]]

{{episodenav|headmasters|3|prev=The Mystery of Planet Master|next=Operation Cassette}}

With the missing [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] recovered, the race it on to return to [[Cybertron]] and secure the [[Autobot]]s' control of the planet.

*'''English/Malay dub name:''' ''The Birth of a New Leader''
*'''Often mistranslated as:''' ''The Birth of Double Convoy''


==Detailed synopsis==

While [[Hot Rod]] and the Autobot [[Headmaster]]s search for the Matrix in the final possible location, the [[Decepticon]]s mobilize to stop them. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] co-ordinates the Autobot response, with the [[Protectobot]]s intercepting the [[Combaticon]]s and the [[Technobots]] holding off the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. Hot Rod successfully locates the Matrix - which has still not regained its full power - but as he attempts to depart the battlefield with it, his way is barred by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticon Headmasters. The Autobot Headmasters come to his rescue, and the quintet head for Cybertron aboard the [[Trainbot]]s.

On Cybertron, Vector Sigma's destabilization continues, with the planet on the verge of self-destruction.  [[Fortress Maximus|Fortress]] enters Cybertron's catacombs, following [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime's]] trail and using his telepathic powers to communicate with [[Alpha Trion]]'s ghost, in order to guide Prime through the tunnels. Threats as varied as [[energy leech]]es and monstrous rodents stand in Prime's way, but eventually, he makes it to Vector Sigma's chamber - only to discover [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] have made it there ahead of him! Fortress, Galvatron, Hot Rod and the Headmasters all soon arrive in quick succession, and to turn the tide of battle, Alpha Trion merges with the Matrix in Hot Rod's hands, re-energizing it and once again transforming Hot Rod into [[Rodimus Prime]]. The two Primes team up to defeat the Decepticons, but just as Rodimus is about to recharge Optimus Prime with the Matrix, Vector Sigma flares dangerously, and Prime leaps into action the only way he can - by fusing his own essence with the computer, bringing it back under control at the cost of his own life. With Cybertron back under Autobot control, the Decepticons flee, and Rodimus is left as Autobot commander once again.

==Stats==

'''Original airdate:''' 17th July 1987

===Featured characters===

(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobots]]
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticons]]
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Human|Humans]]
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" | 
*[[Hot Rod|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Highbrow]] (2)
*[[Chromedome]] (3)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (4)
*[[Brainstorm]] (5)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (13)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (14)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (15)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (16)
*[[Jazz]] (17)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (18)
*[[Blades]] (19)
*[[First Aid]] (20)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (21)
*[[Streetwise]] (22)
*[[Nosecone]] (23)
*[[Afterburner]] (24)
*[[Lightspeed]] (25)
*[[Scattershot]] (26)
*[[Strafe]] (27)
*[[Tracks]] (28)
*[[Defensor]] (35)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (36)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (37)
*[[Kup]] (38)
*[[Wheelie]] (39)
*[[Fortress Maximus|Fortress]] (40)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (41)
*[[Alpha Trion]] (42)
*[[Computron]] (48)
*[[Yukikaze]] (49)
*[[Shouki]] (50)
*[[Getsuei]] (51)
*[[Suiken]] (52)
*[[Seizan]] (53)
*[[Kaen]] (54)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" | 
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (6)
*[[Weirdwolf]] (7)
*[[Skullcruncher]] (8)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (9)
*[[Mindwipe]] (10)
*[[Sixshot]] (11)
*[[Ratbat]] (12)
*[[Onslaught]] (29)
*[[Vortex]] (30)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (31)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (32)
*[[Blast Off]] (33)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (34)
*[[Sinnertwin]] (43)
*[[Cutthroat]] (44)
*[[Rippersnapper]] (45)
*[[Blot]] (46)
*[[Abominus]] (47)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (55)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
*[[Daniel Witwicky]] (56)
|}

==Other notes==

===Animation and/or technical glitches===

*Prowl appears again in this episode. He's still supposed to be dead, but see [[Four Warriors Come Out Of The Sky#Continuity errors|here]] for the details.
*As Galvatron and the Decepticon Headmasters arrive to stop Hot Rod, Skullcruncher is colored like Weirdwolf, and Weirdwolf is colored like Sinnertwin.

===Continuity errors===

*Okay, so, it takes Optimus Prime (who has ''made the trip before'') basically one-and-a-half episodes to traverse the tunnels and get to Vector Sigma's chamber, and yet Cyclonus and Scourge, who were on Earth earlier in ''this episode'', were able to ''beat him there''? And Galvatron and Rodimus, who only ''just'' left Earth a little while ago, make it to the chamber in what seems like only ''minutes''? What?

===Transformers references===

*The [[Energy leech|energy leeches]] in this episode are pretty much identical to the (slightly larger) creatures that appeared and did the same thing in ''[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]''.
*One of the most bizarre threats that Prime comes up against on his journey through Cybertron is a pack of giant, purple rats with large rows of spines. Perhaps leftover [[Trans-Organic]]s?
*This episode foreshadows the telepathic powers possessed by the Headmasters, which will be expanded upon in ''[[Cybertron is in Grave Danger, Part 2]]''.

===Miscellaneous trivia===

*"Convoy," of course, is the Japanese equivalent of [[Prime]]. The English term was used for the R2 DVD release of the episode.
*This episode is a study in how ''weird'' the Matrix is in Japan. With the wisdom of the ages having been drained to counteract the [[Hate Plague]] in ''The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2,'' the Autobots have decided to recharge the Matrix by... hooking it up to a power station. The final chapter of the ''Headmasters'' manga tries to justify this a bit, or at least gussy it up, by pointing out that the energy is the "lifeforce of Earth," so presumably the power plant was gathering up natural energy. But, y'know. Still. And the fact that's it's actually recharged by Alpha Trion's ghost spinning around and going inside it isn't much better.
*While relaying information in cassette mode, Ratbat plays not a recording, but a summary of events in a unique voice, in the same manner that [[Ravage]] did in ''[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]''. Later in the series, however, he and the other Decepticon cassette animals suddenly start talking in their robot modes.


[[Category:Headmasters episodes|Dream is Born, Double Convoy]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>