Editing Holomatter

'''Holomatter''' makes its appearance in the [[Infiltration|''Transformers: Infiltration'']] comic series. It is used by the [[Autobot|Autobots]] infiltrating Earth to create fake drivers for their alternate forms so as not to arouse suspicion among the human populace.

The Autobot [[Ratchet_(G1)#IDW_Comics_continuity|Ratchet]] mentions "holomatter generators".<ref>[[Infiltration, Part 2]]</ref> These are presumably a network of power and / or projection systems scattered across his chassis. These devices are small enough to fit within a standard Transformer and, aside from the image of the fake driver they project, give off no visual or auditory emissions. The generators operate like a highly-advanced holographic projector; they are capable of creating an image a considerable distance away from the Autobot they are installed within. The image is projected not only through the Autobot's skin (holomatter drivers have appeared both within and outside their Autobots, as far distant as several metres<ref>[[Infiltration, Part 3]]</ref>) but also through solid walls<ref>[[Infiltration, Part 2]]</ref> and even tens, possibly hundreds, of metres of intervening ground.<ref>[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]</ref>

Two features of holomatter images separate them from "run of the mill" holographic technology, though. The first is that holomatter projections are actually ''solid''. Although the actual strength of a holomatter avatar is yet to be established, Ratchet's handling of the [[SM-40]] in ''Infiltration'' Issue 3 indicates that they can carry and manipulate small objects with ease. The holomatter avatar isn't just a friendly image to fool human beings; it's also the Autobot equivalent of a remotely operated vehicle, allowing Autobots to go places and perform actions that would otherwise be prevented by their size (and need to camouflage their true identities).

The second feature is potentially more interesting, though: A holomatter avatar projection somehow houses the consciousness of its generating Autobot, effectively making what would otherwise be a "simple" projection a direct extension of the Autobot's will. In a way, the avatar ''becomes'' part of the Autobot.

== Overload jolt ==

In emergencies, a holomatter avatar can be used to deliver a massive electrical surge at very close range.  This surge is powerful enough to momentarily disrupt the systems of a single [[Transformers|Transformer]], enough to cause disorientation and possibly unconsciousness for at least ten seconds.  The cost of this surge is the holomatter generators themselves; whether an [[Autobot]]'s internal systems will repair the damage given time <ref>[[Infiltration, Part 1]]</ref> or whether repair facilities are required is unknown; both the general pacing of the ''Infiltration'' series and the absence of any "repair" scenes in the comics suggest the former.

== Limitations and weaknesses ==

One apparent problem with holomatter disguises is that they're limited by their programmer's understanding of the lifeform they mimic. For most of their early time on Earth the holomatter avatars of the Autobots wore a "creepy-fixed-smile"<ref>[[Infiltration, Part 1]]</ref>; although Ratchet's avatar's upper face expressed worry, fear and resignation (and its eyes closed) during the Autobot's initial interactions with Hunter, Jimmy and Verity, its smile never disappeared. This lack of understanding may account for why otherwise male-seeming Autobots (for example, Bumblebee and Sunstreaker) have selected female avatars for themselves. The question of if the Autobots can alter their voices to suit hasn't been answered yet.

After Optimus Prime arrived on Earth, Hunter was able to give the Autobots a "crash course in Earth culture" prior to his departure (Jazz noted that the Autobots never realised that humans found the smiles of their avatars disturbing). After this, the Autobots' holomatter avatars became much more expressive.

Finally, the unique transferral of consciousness to the avatar has risks; if not shut down in time, damage to the avatar can backlash along its link, causing pain to its Autobot.<ref>[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]</ref>

Holomatter can be detected by devices called "holomatter readers", which [[Machination|The Machination]] appears to possess.<ref>[[Escalation, Part 4]]</ref>

== Known Avatars ==

*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] - Brunette and smokin' white female in baby-doll tee.
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] - Older "military brass-type" white male with silver hair and mustache in a gray suit.
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] - Young black male in a black suit.
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] - Blond middle-aged, sightly hefty white male. Wears EMT uniform (without jacket).
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] - Bearded trucker, well built, with white or blue shirt and baseball cap.
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] - "Federal agent"-type: Red hair, receding hairline, middle-aged white male with dark sunglasses and a gray suit.
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] - Blonde female.
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] - [[Nebulan]] scientist/security guard.
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] - Balding "mad scientist"-type older white male with white hair, glasses, goatee.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
|-
! Ironhide
! Jazz
! Prowl
! Sunstreaker
! Wheeljack
|-
| [[Image:Ironhide avatar.PNG|100px]]
| [[Image:Jazz avatar.PNG|100px]]
| [[Image:Prowl avatar.PNG|100px]]
| [[Image:Sunstreaker avatar.PNG|100px]]
| [[Image:Wheeljack avatar.PNG|100px]]
|}

== Footnotes ==

<references />

[[Category:Technology]]<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>