Editing The Change In Your Nature Part Two

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #14
|prev=The Change In Your Nature Part One
|next=The Change In Your Nature Part Three
|caption=
|image=TF2019 14 cvrA.jpg
|title="The Change In Your Nature Part Two"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 6]], 2019
|coverdate=October 2019
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]] (pages 1-3, 6-17) [[Beth McGuire-Smith]] (pages 4-5, 18-20)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Dark secrets and darker deeds come to light as an armed standoff leads to conflict between Chromia's Security Operations, Ruckus's Risers, and Soundwave's Ascenticon Guard.'''

==Synopsis==
The situation is tense in the [[Cybertronian Mountains]] as the 'bots of [[Security Operations]] prepare for a protracted standoff between themselves and [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]'s group of [[The Rise|Risers]], who have currently barricaded themselves in the body of one of the region's many immersant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s. Despite [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s best attempts to deescalate the situation via remote-controlled drones, each and every one of their attempts has ended with the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] malcontent blasting their hardware out of the sky. As the two police-bots watch their latest attempt to parley end in another disheartening explosion, Chromia outlines the problem to Springer: they need to get their quarry ''out'' of the Titan for questioning, but the intensely pious [[Reversionist]]s worship the gigantic Transformers and refuse to allow anyone to damage their crumbling bodies. As Chromia checks with her subordinate [[Javelin]], however, the police sniper is abruptly cut off mid-sentence as a Riser bullet grazes her head!

Officers [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Strongarm (G1)|Strongarm]] have staked out the other side of the Titan as the crisis plays out. Sideswipe is eager as ever to charge in and bust some Ascenticon heads, claiming that they started it, but Kup—a veteran of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]—advises him to temper his enthusiasm; young post-war forgings like him have never killed... and that's the way that Kup wants to keep things. Before Sideswipe can retort, a transmission from Chromia alerts the three that Javelin is down but still alive, and that the chief of Security Operations has decided to go ahead with a full breach of the Titan. Sideswipe smirks as he cocks his gun... after all, ''he'' can't help it if the Ascenticons are starting things again, can he?

In [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] confers with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] outside of a [[Voin]] dwelling. Although Prowl's blunt, straightforward approach to dealing with the [[alien]]s has failed in the past, Nautica explains that her many years of experience with the aliens just might allow her the luxury of a more nuanced tack. Over Prowl's impudent protests that he ''doesn't'' shout, and as her bodyguard [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] watches, Nautica enters the building and confers with one of the many Voin who inhabit the aquarium. When she emerges, Prowl immediately pushes her for details, and Nautica confirms that she now has a second-hand account of [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s murder, as witnessed by the now-deceased Voin scavenger. But the Voin are a fiercely mercantile race, and don't trade information for free: in order to learn this, Nautica was also forced to tell the aliens that The Rise were in possession of high-grade military weapons, and that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] runs an ever-higher risk of experiencing massive civil unrest. And that's not all, Nautica continues to her incredulous comrade: the Voin whom [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] killed was a very important individual in their strange society, and its murder will have ''major'' consequences.

In the badlands, the operation has begun: Chromia directs [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] to begin firing on the Titan, a low-impact barrage designed to draw their attention while Sideswipe affixes breaching charges to the side of their impromptu bunker. As Ruckus and his men panic, [[Kaskade]] finds herself knocked off her feet when the wall collapses, allowing Kup to fire a fusillade of stun grenades. Unfortunately, Kup bargained without [[Lowload]]; the hulking drill-bot easily catches and crushes the explosives in one fist, before using his drill tank alternate mode to take out Strongarm! Although Sideswipe is able to outmaneuver the cumbersome warrior, badly damaging him with another grenade, Lowload is nevertheless able to retreat to the safety of the Titan and seals the damaged wall shut behind him. Sideswipe grimly reports the action to Chromia: they're going to need some bigger stunners.

Before Chromia can respond, however, she's interrupted by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Ascenticon Guard]], who've supposedly arrived to try and negotiate with Ruckus and his team. Brushing off Springer and Chromia's protestations that the situation isn't safe for a Senator, Soundwave informs them that the Ascenticons police their own; when ''that'' doesn't work, Soundwave simply amplifies his voice many times over, knocking both 'bots off their feet, in order to get the attention of the besieged Risers and declare a truce. Soundwave instructs [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] to follow him, while [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] stay behind. Soundwave tells Bumblebee and Elita-1 that he'll do the negotiations himself while they wait outside; once Soundwave has entered, however, a suspicious Bumblebee decides that he's going after him, regardless of the consequences, and sneaks after the Senator. As Elita-1 takes up her lonely guard, a shadow darkens the sky above her...

...a shadow that belongs to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who touches down in front of Chromia and Springer and announces that he's only present as an observer, here to make sure that security brings Ruckus's group in alive for questioning. As it turns out, however, Starscream's got ulterior motives all his own: once they're safely out of earshot, Starscream presses Refraktor, his ''own'' private mole in the organization, for information on everything that the Ascenticons have been up to while he was away from Cybertron.

From the shadows, Bumblebee watches as introductions are made all around, with Soundwave promising them safe passage out of the Titan if they cooperate with Chromia's security forces for information. Ruckus and his team are eager get out without a fight, claiming that they know nothing about Brainstorm's murder. As Soundwave prepares to depart, however, Ruckus stupidly lets slip that he really ''does'' know more than he claims: he and his teammates are members of [[The Rise]]'s inner circle, veterans who'd been there since [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] took command... and Soundwave grimly realizes what must be done. The senator scolds Ruckus for his foolishness, but plants his [[electromagnetic suppressor]] in the ground and snaps his fingers, claiming that the device will block surveillance while they wait for further contact.

As Bumblebee scrambles to the surface of the Titan ahead of Soundwave, Soundwave falsely informs the pair that negotiations have broken down: the terrorists possess a large stash of unstable explosive material. Bumblebee whispers to his compatriot that Soundwave's left his staff behind... and, not far away, Starscream chews out Refraktor for not telling him that ''Bumblebee'', of all 'bots, has joined the Ascenticon Guard, but both conversations are cut short when the Titan is suddenly consumed by a fiery explosion, a detonation that blows the sleeping giant to bits!

'Bots scramble for cover as Chromia stares up in horror at the sight... a sight visible from the [[Metal Geysers]] out in Cybertron's badlands, where both [[Geomotus]] and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] stare up in confusion at the pillar of flame...a pillar that can even be seen from the middle of Iacon, where [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] grimly watches the ghastly panorama. As he stalks from the balcony, Megatron warns [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] that it's only just begun: they're in a race against time now, and one wrong move will mean the end for them all...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] (16)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (17)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (18)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (19)
* [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (20)
* [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] (24)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (25)
* [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (26)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
'''[[The Rise]]'''
* [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (1)
* [[Wirespike]] (2)
* [[Lowload]] (3)
* [[Kaskade]] (15)

{{!}}}

|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (4)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (5)
* [[Javelin]] (6)
* [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (7)
* [[Strongarm (G1)|Strongarm]] (8)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (9)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (11)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (12)
* [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] (13)
* [[Voin]] diplomat (14)
* [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (15)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (22)
* [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (23)
* [[Geomotus]] (24)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"You're a post-war forging, ain't you?" <br> 
"Sure. What difference does '''that''' make?" <br>
"A lot if you've never killed anyone. I didn't volunteer for security service to revisit '''that'''. '''Nobody''' who went through it would. Unless there's somethin' wrong with 'em."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Sideswipe'''


"I did '''not''' shout at them. I'm not even sure they'd '''know''' whether a Cybertronian was shouting at them or not."
:—'''Prowl''' on negotiating with the Voin


"'Courage is the currency of the moment'? What does that even '''mean?'''" <br> 
"Yeah. Madness '''does''' seem more like the main currency right now." 
:—'''Elita-1''' and '''Bumblebee'''


"Damn us all to the void for what we have done. And for what we may '''yet''' have to do. We are in a race against catastrophe now. One missed step and we '''all''' fall."
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] first appeared all the way back in [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]], as one of many Ascenticon protesters on a march to [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]. It wasn't clear at the time how this tied into his appearance in [[The Change In Your Nature Part One|the previous issue]]; this issue confirms that he was a veteran member of [[The Rise]]. 
* Ruckus blabs that Soundwave had assisted fellow Riser [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] with "[getting] him out", referring to Soundwave's recent orchestration of a phony "attack" on [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Ascenticon headquarters]] to extricate the police-bot in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #12]]. Ruckus also notes that a recently-recruited group of ex-intelligence recruits speak highly of him; the previous issue suggested that the as-yet unseen [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is very likely to be one of these bots.
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], and her bodyguard [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] arrived on Cybertron in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|issue #10]]. The circumstances behind their arrival were elaborated on in [[Nautica: Home|issue #12]]. That issue ''also'' confirmed that Nautica had spent more time with the Voin in their native environment than any other Transformer, allowing her to effectively communicate with the aliens; additionally, Nautica worried that Cybertron's Voin community might take issue with the death of the scavenger, as their culture held some Voin individuals above others.
* Prowl was noted to have previously attempted to work with the Voin in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|issue #3]], though he was unable to get any straight answers from their community representatives.
* Starscream's suspicion towards Bumblebee is well-founded: [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|Issue #11]] revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] had put Bumblebee up to infiltrating the Ascenticon Guard in order to keep tabs on Megatron's organization from within; issue #10, meanwhile, revealed that Starscream was head of Cybertronian intelligence. This issue not only reveals that he had hired Refraktor for a similar task, but he had also somehow ousted Soundwave from the position as well, resulting in the latter's demotion to a mere Senator.
* Soundwave is shown wielding an [[electromagnetic suppressor]], a tool that first appeared in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]]. 
* Last we saw him in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]], [[Geomotus]] was preparing to go on a geological expedition to Cybertron's [[Metal Geysers]] with his friend [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]].

===Transformers references===
*  Chromia grimly notes that Cybertron's [[Reversionist]]s revere Titans, and refuse to let one come to harm: a similar phenomenon occurred in [[2005 IDW continuity|the original IDW continuity]], where the devout Transformers of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] also worshipped the giant Transformers.
* [[Javelin]] is another IDW-original character; along with a number of other Camien Transformers, she first appeared in 2015 as a crewmember of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s [[Vis Vitalis|spaceship]] in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', and made a brief cameo in 2018's ''[[Transformers: Unicron|Unicron]]'' miniseries.
* Javelin's sniper rifle is pretty clearly based on the alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]], who appeared in the original IDW continuity as a member of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]].
* Strongarm and Sideswipe as part of the same team may be a reference to their [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] counterparts, who both wound up as members of the "[[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]]" in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|2015-2017 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]].
* [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] and [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] appear as members of Security Operations; while the characters are traditionally [[Micromaster]]s, this continuity continues to depict them as ordinarily-sized Transformers, as was the case with [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] and [[Whisper (G1)|Visper]] in issue #10. This isn't the first time this has happened to the two, however: Flak was a full-sized dude in [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'' stories, as was Stakeout in IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' miniseries.
* Alluded to in issue #9, Geomotus's friend Landmine makes his first on-panel appearance. He's been redesigned to resemble the [[Landmine (Energon)|''Transformers: Energon'' holder of the name]], with a orange-and-blue color scheme, and his alt-mode's treads and plow; this had some precedent in the first IDW continuity, where G1 Landmine appeared using the ''Energon'' body (though that was due to an artist error). In addition to this, his characterization hews closer to his traditional Generation 1 counterpart; Geomotus reveres him as a seasoned adventurer, mentioning a prior expedition into the depths of Cybertron's [[Sonic Canyons]].

===Errors===
* On page 2, Stakeout is coloured incorrectly: his arms are silver, rather than black.

===Other notes===
* Originally solicited for October 30, this issue arrives one week late.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Security Operations, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover B''': Starscream, by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Starscream, Soundwave, and Megatron, by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 14 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 14 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 14 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers Volume 2: The Change In Their Nature''''' <small>([[September 16]], [[2020]]) ISBN 1684056756 / ISBN 978-1684056750</small>
**Hardcover.
**Collects ''Transformers'' issues #13–18 and ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'' issues #1–6.
**Bonus material includes alternate covers.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 99: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet''''' <small>([[October 21]], 2020)</small>
:*Contains ''Transformers'' issues #8–14.
:*Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
TF-IDW-2019v2.jpg|'''''Volume 2: The Change In Their Nature'''''; cover art by [[Cryssy Cheung]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v99.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 99: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] (Cyclonus) and [[Angel Hernandez]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2019/11/05/preview-transformers-14/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Change in Your Nature Part 2}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]