Editing Trial of Megatron, Part 2

{{apocrypha}}
{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|ep=44
|title="Trial of Megatron, Part 2"
|airdate=[[August 17]], [[2019]] ([[Unofficial conventions|TFNation 2019]])
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}
==Synopsis==
===Act I===
Upon learning of General Obsidian’s attack on the [[energon farm]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated|)]] diverts all power to [[Project Powermaster]]. Unfortunately, at the farm itself, this causes the planetary shields to deactivate. To combat the Decepticons now freely attacking the farm, the workers start using the [[Energon#Animated|energon]] crystals as makeshift grenades. [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] manages to save Trac-Tor from Obsidian, but is injured himself in the process. The Decepticons fly away with a silo of energon.

Later, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] - having checked over Bulkhead - declares that the Autobot will recover. At that moment, the team sees [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]’s endorsement of Sentinel Prime on the news, and turn on him. Defensively, Bumblebee states that it’s what the [[AllSpark#Animated continuity family|AllSpark]] wanted. At that moment, Sentinel himself enters with [[Elite Guard]] stripes for the yellow Autobot.

Afterwards, Sentinel returns to [[Trypticon Prison]], looking to prise the location of the Decepticon base from [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. He gets a Mini-Con to remove the captive leader’s mouthplate, allowing him to speak, and threatens to use the Mini-Con to rip the location from Megatron’s memories if he doesn’t disclose it freely. The Mini-Con extends a nasty-looking spike. Megatron is willing to offer some information, but wants to be given the opportunity to stretch his legs in return. Sentinel gets the Mini-Con to remove the Decepticon’s [[stasis cuffs]]. Megatron reveals that the base is located on the fifth moon of [[Chaar#Animated cartoon|Chaar]] - but all the while, he’s downloading information from the Mini-Con.

Sentinel immediately goes to the [[Project Omega]] lab and demands the Powermaster armour from Ratchet, ignoring the medic’s warnings that it’s not yet finished. At [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]], the Autobots board their flagship and prepare to level the Decepticon base. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] is convinced it’s a trap, but Sentinel is having none of it: “Bring it on,” he says. [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] joins the armada, reluctant as ever. Sentinel uses Optimus Prime’s misgivings as an excuse to saddle him with [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]], and says that his crew is to defend the energon farms. Hopefully, Sentinel thinks, they won’t see any action.

The armada travels to the fifth moon of Chaar and bombs the Decepticon base. A recalcitrant Omega Supreme transforms and unleashes his full arsenal. Elite Guard troops storm the base - with Sentinel in the Powermaster armour - only to find that it is deserted. In frustration, Sentinel pounds the rubble with his power lance - but his armour overloads, and he’s sent into an uncontrollable strafing run at his own soldiers. At the last second, Bumblebee speeds up a ramp and uses his [[stinger (weapon)|stinger]]s to sever Sentinel’s connection to the armour.

At the energon farm, Optimus, Ironhide and Ratchet see footage from the moon and realise that it wasn’t a trap - but rather, a diversion. A Decepticon warship bears down on them...

===Act II===
[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] warp in and join the fight, as [[Strika (Animated|General Strika]], [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]], [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] and [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] descend on the farm. Having never seen a flying Autobot before, Cyclonus is impressed by Optimus Prime’s jetpack. Sari is eaten by Spittor, but she manages to blast her way out from the inside. Blackout arrives, disabling everyone’s weapons - and Optimus Prime’s jetpack - and Oil Slick prepares to douse the Autobots in [[Cosmic Rust (disease)#Animated cartoon|Cosmic Rust]].

Suddenly, [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]], [[Dai Atlas (Animated)|Dai Atlas]] and the rest of the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]] arrive and kick the canister away. Optimus ignites the canister, causing a chain reaction with the energon which kills all the Decepticons in the refinery.

Later, the [[Autobot High Council]] commends Optimus Prime. Bumblebee is chagrined. Optimus is granted the “Eternal Flame”, an honour which comes with a fiery new paint job.

Sentinel is absent for this - he’s too busy yelling at Megatron. Mini-Cons swarm over the Decepticon leader, who feigns fear even as he now downloads data ''into'' the Mini-Cons. He asks that Sentinel kill him and get it over it, but Sentinel declares that the Decepticon still has to stand trial. Deliberately planting an idea in Sentinel’s mind, Megatron wonders aloud about the kind of grand, theatrical show trial he might be subjected to...

Uplink broadcasts events as they unfold. [[Rattletrap]] is to be Megatron’s lawyer. Megatron is rolled into the court. Bumblebee is shunned by his friends. Optimus Prime thinks his new flames look stupid.

[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] brings the trial to order. Sentinel serves as prosecutor, and attempts to begin his opening statement with a list of Megatron's war crimes - but Rattletrap cuts him off, reminding the court that, at the end of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], the Decepticons were granted amnesty for their crimes in return for accepting exile. This makes the list of offenses Sentinel is about to read inadmissible. Sentinel is furious at this, and loudly declares that he thinks it was stupid to grant the Decepticons amnesty in the first place. Alpha Trion admits that he was the one to make the decision at the time, and sides with Rattletrap.

Now only able to use evidence from after the Great War, Sentinel turns to Optimus Prime’s crew and pleads that they testify against Megatron. Bumblebee tries to back Optimus, but Bulkhead, Ratchet and Sari aren’t impressed. Sentinel asks Bumblebee to imply that Optimus could’ve stopped Megatron for good, and failed - offering to make him “Bumble Prime” in return.

===Act III===
Optimus Prime recounts [[Transform and Roll Out|his crew’s first encounter with Megatron]]. Meanwhile, inside Trypticon prison, the Mini-Cons’ eyes turn red. As Sari explains [[Megatron Rising - Part 1|how Megatron rebuilt his body]], they swarm the guards. Bulkhead relates [[A Bridge Too Close, Part I|how he was kidnapped by Megatron]] as the Mini-Cons descend via a secret elevator to an operations centre with location schematics. Ratchet describes [[TransWarped|the hijacking of Omega Supreme]]. Meanwhile, the Mini-Cons gather and repair the Decepticons’ weapons. Above, the cell doors open and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]’s cuffs all fall off. They look around confusedly.

Back at the trial, it’s Bumblebee’s turn to take the stand. As he gives his account of [[Endgame, Part I|Optimus Prime’s final battle against Megatron]], it initially seems as though he’s going to do as Sentinel asked - but as he reaches the climax of the tale, his tone shifts and he emphasises the heroism of Optimus Prime’s choice to spare the Decepticon leader. Even knowing that it might not salvage his friendships, he declares unwavering support for Optimus.

There are no further witnesses. Rattletrap takes the stand again and asks Bumblebee to point out the location of Earth - or “Oith”, as he calls it - on an official Cybertronian star chart. Except... Earth's isn't ''on'' the chart. Rattletrap triumphantly proclaims that, since the planet lies outside Cybertronian space, it is outside of Cybertronian jurisdiction, and Megatron cannot be tried for crimes committed there. Again, the law-bound Alpha Trion is forced to agree, and rules in Megatron’s favour - threatening to throw out the case entirely when Sentinel reacts in anger. Megatron is wheeled back to his cell - his assault on Optimus Prime’s space bridge repair ship is the only charge that stuck.

The cellblock goes dark, and the Mini-Cons free Megatron. They scurry like obedient puppies around his feet, and affix his weapons. The other Decepticons arrive, and Sentinel is the only bot standing between them and freedom...

==Quotes==
“How’d they get past the planetary shields?”
:—'''Bulkhead''' reacts to the Decepticon attackers.

“How could you?”<br>
“He’s a big bot now, he makes his own choices.”<br>
“You sold out Prime for some Elite Guard stripes?!”
:—'''Bulkhead''', '''Sentinel Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' see Bumblebee on television.

“If you’re worried about your own shell, don’t think about it - I got you a bodyguard.”
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' foists Ironhide upon Optimus Prime.

“We’re the only bots standing between Cybertron’s energon supply and a Decepticon invasion...”<br>
“Not the only bots!”
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Arcee''' take a stand.

“Your datatrax won’t lie when the Mini-Cons rip them one by one from your processor!”<br>
“Not the Mini-Cons... anything but the Mini-Cons... just take me offline. Do not prolong this humiliation one more nanoklik.”<br>
“Much as I’d love to do just that, I can’t without first putting you on trial.”<br>
“You mean a public airing of all my crimes against the Autobots - with you standing above me like some grand authority, pointing your accusing finger, calling for my head, basking in the glory as I am taken away to meet my final doom? I’d rather take my chances with the Mini-Cons...”
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' plays into '''Megatron'''’s hands.

“That’s right! I’m a bot of all trades and I can prove I didn’t do it - I mean, that my client didn’t do it.”
:—'''Rattletrap''' settles into his new job.

“Only testimony related to after the Great War will be admitted.”
:—'''Alpha Trion'''’s old choices come back to bite him.

“You and your losers - I mean, team - are all I’ve got right now.”
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' asks Optimus for help.

“Spark yeah!”
:—'''Bumblebee''' is a little too enthusiastic at the prospect of testifying against Megatron.

“No further questions.”<br>
“If it pleases the court, I’d like to save all my cross-examinations ‘til the end.”
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' and '''Rattletrap''' are both confident.

“I’m with Optimus Prime all the way - even if he and my other friends never speak to me again.”
:—'''Bumblebee''' proves that his heart is in the right place.

“You bet your axle-grease I would.”
:—'''Rattletrap''' would like to cross-examine.

“Did you say... ‘Oith’?”
:—'''Alpha Trion'''.

“Proceeding... Could youse point out said planet on dis here official-like Cybertronian Galactic Star Chart?”<br>
“...It’s not on that chart.”<br>
“But how can that be? The Galactic Star Chart lists every planet in Cybertronian space!”<br>
“Then it must be outside of Cybertronian space...”<br>
''“Ah-ha!”''
:—'''Rattletrap''' plays his trump card, with a little help from '''Bumblebee'''.

“Assault on a space bridge repair ship, that’s all we have on him! Assault on a space bridge repair ship! That’s like a ''parking ticket!”''
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' is not happy with the result of Megatron’s trial.

“Oh, they won’t be much help...”
:—'''Megatron''' reveals that he controls the Mini-Cons.

“Oh, slag...”
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' is less happy with Megatron’s breakout.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (1)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (2)
*Trac-Tor (3)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (11)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (18)
*[[Dai Atlas (Animated)|Dai Atlas]] (19)
*Uplink (20)
*[[Rattletrap]] (21)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (22)
|c2=
*Obsidian (4)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Strika (Animated)|General Strika]] (13)
*[[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] (14)
*[[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] (15)
*[[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] (16)
*[[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] (17)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] (23)
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (24)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (12)
}}

==Notes==
[[File:AllSparkAlmanacII-SeasonFourAutobotLine-Up.jpg|upright=1.5|thumb|]]
*While many plot details from the planned fourth season made their way out into ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II| The AllSpark Almanac II]]'', Marty Isenberg specifically requested that a few be kept back in case the story was ever produced in some capacity. Notably, [[Jim Sorenson]] knew that Rattletrap was to be Megatron’s lawyer - a fact which he used while working on the unofficial ''[https://tfnation.com/blog/2017/Presenting%20TRANSFORMERS%20ANIMATED:%20TRIAL%20AND%20ERROR%20-%20an%20original,%20full-length%20graphic%20novel%20exclusively%20available%20at%20TFN2017 Transformers Animated: Trial and Error]'' graphic novel, wherein he deliberately had Optimus Prime take Rattletrap’s place.
*The "Eternal Flame" granted to Optimus Prime was based on artwork provided to the ''Animated'' production team by Hasbro. The artwork drew inspiration predominantly from the [[live-action film series]], as Hasbro wanted to bring ''Animated'' more in line with what audiences were familiar with from the big screens - but according to Isenberg, the ''Animated'' team ''hated'' the idea of their Optimus Prime having flames.
*The weapons repaired by the Mini-Cons include Shockwave's pulse cannon, Lugnut's [[Punch of Kill Everything|explosive fist]], Blitzwing's shoulder cannons, Megatron’s swords, Starscream’s clones’ laser cannons, and Megatron’s [[Fusion cannon#Animated cartoon|fusion cannon]].
*A guard at Trypticon prison (described as sharing a design with the [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]]s) has a single line of dialogue. For the TFNation reading of the outline, the guard’s voice was provided by convention staff member Leanne Gilks.