Editing Aligned timeline

{{ongoing}}


As is to be expected when multiple authors and writers are working on a continuity, the '''Aligned timeline''' bears more than a few discrepancies and continuity hiccups. Nevertheless, we here at TFWiki have tried to rectify this as best we can.

{{bigquote|Cybertron, our home. For generations, it has been a peaceful world. Until pride and a lust for power divided us. Now we fight - enemies who were once our brothers.|Optimus Prime|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==In the beginning==

[[Image:OneShallRise1-TheThirteen.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Problem, fans?]]

[[Primus]] and [[Unicron]] battle for eons. To try and turn the tide, Primus creates the [[Thirteen]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}  Over the course of the fight, [[Solus Prime]] creates many [[Artifacts of the Primes|weapons and icons of power]] for them to use. At the urging of [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]], she creates a [[Requiem Blaster (Prime)|great weapon]] to fight Unicron, although Solus herself worries that this power could corrupt them. The Thirteen vote seven to six to keep the Requiem Blaster and not destroy it. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} Ultimately, the Primes defeat Unicron, and the Chaos Bringer's inert form drifts off into space, where it later forms the core of [[Earth]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} His fossilized blood, spilled in this conflict, becomes known as [[Dark Energon]]. Following the defeat of Unicron, Primus becomes one with the [[Core]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and he gives life to future [[Transformer]]s through the [[AllSpark]], located within the [[Well of All Sparks]]. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

==Near the beginning of time==

Solus Prime is murdered by Megatronus, causing the first schism in the Primes. (Whether this is before or after the battle with Unicron is unknown.) After Megatronus Prime is defeated, the [[Liege Maximo]] makes his own play for power. He is defeated and flees to another galaxy. After this great battle, [[Nexus Prime]] fragments himself into five robots, each one carrying and guarding a fragment of the [[Cyber Caliber]]. His components are dubbed [[Clocker (Prime)|Clocker]], [[Mainspring]], [[Chaindrive]], [[Cannonspring]], and [[Pinion]]. The fight has lasting repercussions for the Thirteen—Megatronus and the Liege have left the Primes for good, the once idealistic [[Vector Prime]] despairs and leaves the dimension, and Solus Prime is dead. The other nine go their separate ways. [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Alchemist Prime]] remain on Cybertron and start Transformer civilization. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} When it has a good start, Alchemist leaves to hunt down the Liege Maximo. Gradually, the Thirteen Primes are forgotten and pass into the realm of legend. Early generations of [[Protoform|newborn Transformers]] must brave the terrors of the [[Underworld]] to reach the surface, which, over the years, becomes a deeply ingrained custom. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

Meanwhile, far out in space, the forgotten Requiem Blaster gradually accrues a collection of space junk around it. As its gravitational pull increases, more and more drifting shipwrecks and space junk gather around it, eventually forming an artificial planetoid. This artificial planet will later become known as [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

==Age of Wrath==
The [[Quintesson]]s invade Cybertron and interfere with the development of the planet's occupants. The aliens modify the bodies of their new servants to serve their own ends, such as installing cockpits on the bodies of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. This period becomes known as the [[Age of Wrath]]. The Age of Wrath comes to an end when the Quintessons are overthrown by [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]], part of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]. Under Sentinel's rule, Cybertron enters its [[Golden Age]].  {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} 

==Golden Age==
The [[Golden Age]] brings sweeping changes to Cybertronian social structure and hierarchy. As only two Primes now remain on Cybertron, Sentinel Prime takes control of government and ushers in a new era for Cybertronian civilization, by instating the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. Under his rule, the [[space bridge]] project allows trailblazing Cybertronians to colonize faraway worlds, including [[Gigantion]], [[Velocitron]], [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]], and the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]]. The construction of the spaceport on the [[Hydrax Plateau]] begins, and [[Moonbase]]s One and Two are constructed on the [[Mini-Con]] inhabited moons of Cybertron. 

[[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]] Station is put into orbit as well, and a crew of Seekers are tasked with defending the Dark Energon stored within, remnants of Unicron's attack on the planet. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The High Council encouraged the gathering and storage of Dark Energon aboard the vessel.

The first [[Cybertronian data cylinder]]s are created, which store the accumulated knowledge of Cybertronian society. {{storylink|T.M.I.}}  However, the Golden Age draws to a close as the space bridges begin to fail and other cracks begin to show in Cybertronian civilization. Before long, the space bridge project is abandoned. The Transformers now stranded across the galaxy begin to develop along their own lines, gradually evolving into entirely new breeds of Cybertronian that are well-adapted for life on their new homeworlds. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Some time afterwards, Velocitron's civilization begins to slowly collapse. This is due to a variety of factors; partially because of a slowly dying sun and partially because of resource shortages. As a form of cultural diversion, Velocitron's citizens pay more and more attention to their races, using them as a way to escape from the harsh realities of their life. Velocitronians gradually forget their origins. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

==Era of the caste system==
[[Image:WFCcomicD16.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] strikes again.]]

In the waning years of the Golden Age, the [[caste system]] is implemented, where civilian guilds oversee and assign newly created Transformers to jobs, and it eventually becomes a major social institution under the urging of Sentinel. Alpha Trion, however, disagrees with many of these changes, and retreats further and further into the [[Hall of Records]], eventually becoming a recluse. Many ancient traditions, such as travelling through the Underworld, are abandoned. These controversial reorganizations do not go unnoticed, though, and many newly born Transformers become dissatisfied with their lot in life, some seeking change. Cybertron's culture and society stagnates greatly as a result; the dynamic architecture and artwork that characterize older eras of society are replaced by dull, drab buildings. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} 

The city-states of [[Kaon]] and [[Slaughter City]], populated mostly by low-caste miners and workers, soon turn to gladiatorial combat as a way to escape from the drudgery of their lives. The High Council, aware of why the games began, does nothing to stop them. One particularly powerful warrior, an energon miner formerly known as D-16, takes on the name Megatronus in honor of the Prime of the same name, but later shortens it to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Megatron seeks to topple the stifling caste system, and makes his points known, gathering a group of followers that includes fellow gladiator and spymaster [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] and sadistic scientist [[Shockwave (Prime)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

At the same time, a young data clerk named [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]], monitoring transmissions from across Cybertron, befriends Megatron, and the two of them begin a secret correspondence, encouraged by Alpha Trion. They have intense but friendly debates over the nature of free will and the dangerousness of their ideals, and soon Orion begins training with [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]], learning to fire an ion-cannon and to fashion his arms into an axe and a sword. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

[[Image:OneShallRise3-corresponding.jpg|thumb|right|250px|And so the fangirls leapt to their computers, and produced horrible things.]]

Before long, Orion visits Megatron in person in Kaon. Terrorists, calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s", begin bombings in Megatron's name, attacking such popular spots as [[Six Lasers Over Cybertron]]. Megatron himself makes his first public announcement on the Grid, stating he is not responsible for the attacks and will bring the perpetrators to justice. Orion follows him up with a speech of his own, and points out that the members of Cybertronian should be free; autonomous robots, or "[[Autobot]]s". In reality, however, Megatron had heard rumors about the bombings and terrorist attacks but did nothing to prevent them. The High Council makes Orion a Prime, and bestows upon him the new name of "Optimus", but Megatron is incensed by the fact that his speech went unnoticed, and kills [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], a High Council member in the Chamber Hall itself. At Optimus's urging, the two sides retreat for now as to avoid further bloodshed in the Council halls. However, the Council itself begins to fragment; [[Contrail]], [[Ratbat (WFC)|Ratbat]] and [[Drivetrain (WFC)|Drivetrain]] now support the Decepticons's cause. The only option is to wage war—the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]] has begun. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

==Great War==
[[Image:WarforCybertron-OptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Yeah, why don't ya come over and say that to my face, tough guy? Bonk!]]

The war takes Cybertron by storm, and before long battle lines are drawn as various city-states declare their allegiances or declare neutrality. The Autobots maintain control of the most important locations on Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} Special operations forces assemble on both sides, such as the [[Wrecker]]s, whose members include [[Ultra Magnus (Prime)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. Optimus Prime survives an assassination attempt by [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] at the [[Battle of Technahar]]. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} At some point, [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and her combat partner [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]] are captured by the Decepticon [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Although Arcee is rescued by [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] but they are too late to save Tailgate. {{storylink|Predatory}} Many cities are destroyed utterly in the carnage—[[Crystal City]] is destroyed in the fourth offensive of the war, and [[Praxus]], locked in a stalemate is razed not long afterwards. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} Many dangerous weapons, such as the [[Cybonic plague]], are developed by the [[Decepticon Biological Warfare Program]]. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} The young Autobot [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] enters the boot camp of the Elite Guard with hopes of becoming a full-fledged soldier.{{storylink|New Recruit}}

As the war continues, the Autobots are gradually outnumbered and outgunned, and in an act of desperation they are forced to launch the AllSpark, denying the Decepticons of a method to generate more Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The data cylinders are also ejected from Cybertron to prevent Decepticons from using the vital knowledge within. {{storylink|T.M.I.}} 

Seeking a new edge in the war, Megatron storms Trypticon Station and wrests control of it from [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], empowering himself and other Decepticons with the Dark Energon stored there. As part of their next strike, the Decepticon-allied Seekers travel deep underneath Cybertron in search of the long-abandoned [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]] beneath the ruins of Crystal City, which will allow the manufacture of new Dark Energon for the Decepticons' use. 

Megatron leads a group of Decepticons into Iacon, to find a means of travelling to the very core of Cybertron to spread the Dark Energon. Though Sentinel Prime attempts to stand in his way, he is soon defeated by the vengeful Decepticon—but unbeknownst to Megatron, [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] is reactivated due to these events, and is intent on stopping the Decepticons. The Decepticon forces manage to cripple the Guardian's alternate mode, and Megatron and his troops soon defeat him on ground level. Because of this, the Decepticon leader manages to reach Cybertron's core and corrupt it with Dark Energon—a critical blow against the Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

The Autobots, however, are not yet defeated, and muster a counter-attack to rout the remaining Decepticons from Iacon. Sentinel, now imprisoned in Kaon, is able to send a transmission, and a small group of Autobots, lead by Optimus, soon launch an incursion into the prison to recover him. However, the former Prime perishes   just as he's been rescued. The Autobots return the body to Iacon, and Optimus officially comes to accept that he is a Prime and must take up his role as leader. From then on, he fully becomes known as Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes. Optimus' first task as true Prime is to cleanse the infected core. Heading down through Cybertron's inner layers, Optimus finds much of the planet to have been thoroughly infected. The core tells Prime that Cybertron is so greatly corrupted that it will take millions of years of shutdown in order to undo the grievous damage done by Megatron's Dark Energon. Optimus is given the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by the Core, a fragment of [[Prima]]'s powerful sword that contains a portion of Cybertron's spark. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

==Great Exodus==

[[Image:WFCgalactic transports.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

As soon as Prime reaches the surface, he orders that an exodus from Cybertron will take place immediately. Preparations are made to flee the planet, but many ships are shot down by the Trypticon Station before they can make good their escape. Trypticon itself comes to life, thanks to multiple sparks implanted by Shockwave, and Optimus Prime leads his forces in a battle to knock it out of orbit. The ensuing battle results in Trypticon hurtling towards Cybertron's surface. However, Trypticon is not killed, and it transforms into its robot form. After another battle with it, Optimus and his forces regroup at the site of the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', the Autobots' last hope. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War For Cybertron}}

===70 million years ago===
The civil war on Cybertron is won by the Decepticons, but remaining Autobots work to scavenge materials and Energon for the Ark to make their escape. During this time, [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and several other members of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] are taken captive by Shockwave. Inspired by [[Dinosaurs|alien lifeforms]] he has viewed with the ancient Space Bridge technology, he rebuilds them into powerful berserkers with saurian beast modes, creating the Dinobots. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

Witnessing potential on the [[Earth|planet]] Shockwave discovered, both the Autobots and Decepticons work to complete their ships and beat each other there, as the Decepticons see it as a source of energy ripe for the taking (so they can restore Cybertron to its former glory), while the Autobots see is as a chance to start a new life.{{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

The Autobots escape aboard the Ark, allowing them to escape Cybertron and follow the trail left by the AllSpark. They are pursued, however, by Megatron aboard Trypticon, which has transformed into a [[Trypticon (Prime)|spacecraft]]. The two vehicles skirmish as they race for Cybertron's final working space bridge, which explodes, scattering the two vessels across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

==After the Great Exodus==
As Cybertron begins to shut down, the Wreckers continue to fight against forces commanded by Shockwave for control of the dying planet. Far out in space, Prime and his crew are guided by the Matrix to Velocitron, which is now teetering on the brink of civil war. However, [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], having infiltrated the crew, manages to provoke enough civil unrest among the Velocitronians that [[Ransack (Prime)|Ransack]] and his group of political malcontents attack Override, sparking civil war. The Autobots manage to escape through a space bridge, Optimus having recovered two pieces of the Blades of Time on Velocitron's surface, though he mistakenly believes they are pieces of the Star Saber. The Autobots next travel to Junkion, where they befriend the native Junkions and begin repairs on the Ark. However, Makeshift once again sabotages the repair effort, but is caught. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Meanwhile, Alpha Trion is put under house arrest by Shockwave, but manages to send the Autobot Chaindrive to Optimus with another piece of the Blades of Time.{{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} Smokescreen, having ended up on security detail for Alpha Trion, is taken by Decepticon forces during their attacking the Hall of Records. {{New Recruit}}

The ''Nemesis'', following the trail of the Ark, lands on Velocitron and later Junkion. Axer, an ex-Decepticon, recovers the Requiem Blaster from the core of Junkion, causing the demi-planet to tear apart. Prime, meanwhile, manages to contact Vector Prime in his pocket dimension, who also helps to reunite five bots the Autobots have met (Chaindrive among them) into Nexus Prime. A climatic battle takes place on Junkion, with the Autobots triumphant and the Blaster destroyed. However, the Junkions themselves are enslaved by space-pirate expatriate Transformers called the [[Star Seeker]]s and taken to places unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}} 

As Cybertron's conditions steadily deteriorate, it is abandoned by the remaining Autobots, Decepticons and neutral Cybertronians. The war spreads to other worlds, including [[Earth]], which is seeded with energon and becomes the site of multiple large battles. During this period, Skyquake is dispatched to Earth to guard its energon resources. However, most of the Cybertronians there eventually leave or enter stasis lock, leaving Earth abandoned... for the time being.

==Modern Era==
===1649===
[[Image:ReignOfMorocco Horace Burns statue.jpg|thumb|right|150px]]
A North American island off the coast of Maine is founded by a group of settlers, led by [[Horace Burns]], from the mainland. The island becomes the town of [[Griffin Rock]], and a lighthouse with a [[Settlers' Bell|bell]] is erected in the town's port.{{storylink|The Reign of Morocco}}{{storylink|The Lost Bell}}

===1800s===
In 1812, Griffin Rock is raided and looted by the pirates of the ''[[Oaken Crow]]''. The pirates set the town ablaze and make off with their booty, including the Settlers' Bell. Their ship gets caught in a storm and becomes trapped within a cave on an unknown island.{{storylink|The Lost Bell}}

At some point, [[Thaddeus Morocco]] is born, who would go on to make a career in science by stealing the works of others, including a [[Chamber of Youth|rejuvenation chamber]] that would extend his life artificially with each use. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

===1939===
The [[World's Fair]] takes place, which features the artificial volcano [[Mount Magma]]. Afterward, the volcano is relocated to Griffin Rock.{{storylink|Under Pressure}}

The [[Griffin Rock Technology Expo]] also occurs, during which Griffin Rock scientists attempt to create a [[temporal station|time machine]], but are incapable of powering it up.{{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

On [[August 17]], the day after the Temporal Station's decommissioning, a group of time-displaced individuals consisting of four Rescue Bot Autobots, the human children [[Cody Burns]] and [[Frankie Greene]], and the Helper Bot [[Dither]], accidentally travels through the time machine from the future. They are discovered by Dr. Thaddeus Morocco, who takes interest in the robots and begins to study them. The two kids are sent away, but escape and, along with Dither, recover the Autobots in Morocco's captivity. A surprise intervention by Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, who subsequently followed the Rescue Bots through the time machine to help them, along with some assistance from [[Elma Hendrickson]], gives all of the time-travelers the chance to escape back to the future. However, a damaged Dither is accidentally left behind, and comes into Morocco's possession. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

{{Note|It is from here that the timeline is split in two, as the time travel incident creates an alternate timeline (see below), but then erases it and has history put back on its corrected course.}}

Morocco starts to open up Dither to begin studying him, but the previous group of time travelers returns once again to retrieve their forgotten robot before returning back to their own time, leaving Morocco unable to study the future technology. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===1940s===
Around the late 1940s, the [[Cold War (history)|Cold War]] likely begins, in which a [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|missile silo]] is constructed inside a mountain in [[Jasper]], [[Nevada]], and a bunker is built under Griffin Rock. Both locations would eventually become occupied by the Autobots in the present day.{{storylink|Darkness Rising}} {{storylink|Family of Heroes}}

In 1949, Griffin Rock celebrates its tricentennial, which features holograms of some of its most prominent citizens, including its first female scientist Elma Hendrickson, on display in historical exhibits. {{storylink|The Haunting of Griffin Rock}}

===1950s===
Griffin Rock scientists experiment with [[subspace]] technology as part of the [[Sanctuary Plan]], in which the insect-like [[Tracer (RB)|tracers]] would transport the island's entire populace to a safe haven during the condition of a crisis. The plan is abandoned due to instability of the shelter, with the tracers being locked away in storage.{{storylink|Countdown (RB)|Countdown}}

===1960s===
The scientists of Griffin Rock install a magnetic pulse generator to disable all circuitry at [[Griffin Crest]], setting it as a safe zone in case an experimental machine ever went haywire on the island.{{storylink|Rules and Regulations}}

===28 years ago===
Professor [[Anna Baranova]] begins an investigation of the [[Griffin Rock Triangle]] with [[Midgard|Project Midgard]]. Her mobile undersea laboratory, the ''Midgard'', fails in its mission and is rendered permanently submerged.{{storylink|The Griffin Rock Triangle}}

===Present Day===
At some earlier point, Dr. Morocco, who had become Griffin Rock's lead scientist, is dismissed from his position due to his technology proving dangerous and inferior. He is replaced by [[Doc Greene]].{{storylink|The Other Doctor}}{{storylink|The Reign of Morocco}}

[[Image:CliffArcee ognpreview.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
A small group of Autobots and Decepticons return to Earth, unaware of its true nature. The Decepticons begin mining the energon deposits left there with the intention of using it to restore Cybertron. Starscream is tasked by Megatron with recreating space bridge technology, so that the energon can be quickly transferred between planets. After scouring the galaxy on this mission, the Air Commander returns to their home planet with a number of troops to construct a space bridge. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)|Prime}} Optimus Prime's small team of Autobots—Bulkhead, Ratchet, and Bumblebee—secretly ally themselves with the United States government. They are assigned [[William Fowler]] as their liaison, and provided with an abandoned missile silo as a [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] in exchange for keeping the Decepticon threat contained. A great deal of Cybertronian technology is installed there, including a [[GroundBridge]] of Ratchet's design. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}}

Optimus Prime sends a message into space, calling all Autobots to the new battleground. Arcee and Cliffjumper are both investigating the Decepticon activity on the desolate Cybertron when they receive the message. They hijack Starscream's space bridge to travel to Earth, before destroying it. The Air Commander follows them through, but, after a brief confrontation, the two Autobots are able to join up with [[Team Prime]] and [[scanning|scan]] new terrestrial alternate modes. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)|''Prime'' comic}} Subsequently, Megatron leaves Earth with the intention of gathering a new army. The Decepticons under Starscream avoid conflict with the Autobots, and continue to secretly mine the planet's energon, along with constructing a new space bridge in orbit. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} During his three year journey, meanwhile, Megatron finds a far greater prize than new troops: solidified crystals of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} 

At some unspecified time, Optimus Prime sets up a [[Rescue Force Sigma-17|team]] of [[Rescue Bot]]s on Griffin Rock, in which they live with a local family to better understand humanity and serve as their protectors. {{storylink|Family of Heroes}}

On Earth, hostilities between the Autobots and Decepticons resurface when Cliffjumper is executed by Starscream; later, he is reanimated by Megatron with the power of Dark Energon. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}} A series of accidents draws three [[human]]s—[[Jack Darby]], [[Raf Esquivel]], and [[Miko Nakadai]]—into the mayhem. Megatron's plan is to reanimate the thousands of dead Transformers on Cybertron and transport them to Earth via the orbital space bridge, but this is ultimately foiled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}} Megatron himself is caught in the explosion of the bridge as it is destroyed, but survives thanks to the Dark Energon in his body. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Megatron's wounded form is discovered by Starscream after a failed attempt to bring Skyquake under his control. Starscream attempts to kill him, but Soundwave's presence compels him to put the Decepticon leader in stasis in the ''Nemesis''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sick bay instead. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Wheeljack, now an interstellar nomad, briefly arrives on Earth, but after a run-in with [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]], he leaves. {{storylink|Con Job}}

An encounter with the mysterious human terrorist organization [[MECH]] introduces a second antagonistic party for the Autobots. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}} [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and his partner [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] arrive on Earth to aid with Megatron's repairs. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} Airachnid, too, lands on Earth to rekindle her standing grudge against Arcee and collect some "specimens", but she is stranded on Earth when her ship is destroyed by Jack and Arcee. {{storylink|Predatory}}

Events come to a head when Optimus Prime and Ratchet detect an ancient Autobot distress signal, and come across an abandoned Autobot ship infected with cybonic plague. Optimus is contaminated, and so to find a cure for the sickness Bumblebee and Arcee are forced to infiltrate the ''Nemesis'' and enter Megatron's mind. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} However, Megatron manages to download himself into Bumblebee's consciousness, and by taking control of the Autobot's body he restores his original body with Dark Energon and uploads his mind into it, restoring himself to life. {{storylink|Out of His Head}} Megatron grievously wounds Starscream sometime after this as punishment, but Starscream makes another play for power by reanimating Skyquake's corpse, which ends in failure. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

MECH enters the picture again, first capturing and mutilating Breakdown {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} and later teaming up with Airachnid to lure Arcee into a trap. {{storylink|Crisscross}} Both of these end in failure for MECH.

After Megatron and Starscream are trapped in the energon mine due to the actions of the Autobots {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}, Starscream renounces Megatron's command and tries to join the Autobots, but this ends in failure when Starscream lets slip that he killed Cliffjumper. {{storylink|Partners}}. Starscream becomes an independent faction in the war. Ratchet manages to devise a formula for synthetic energon from a retrieved data cylinder, but it ends in failure {{storylink|T.M.I.}} {{storylink|Stronger, Faster}}. 

[[Image:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Megatron seeks more power from the Dark Energon, and refers to an ancient prophecy in the [[Covenant of Primus]] that a "rising darkness" will come when the planets in the Solar System align. In reality, the "rising darkness" is Unicron's slumbering form, and the alignment of the planets will create the correct gravitational pull sufficient to awaken him. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}. As Unicron gradually awakens, the Dark Energon rising from his body causes several natural disasters to occur across the world. Optimus Prime confronts an avatar of Unicron head on, but diplomacy ends in failure when the chaos bringer decides to wipe out the many [[Human|"parasites"]] on his surface. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} After another battle with Unicron, Megatron and the Autobots make a truce, as the Dark Energon in Megatron's system allows him to locate Unicron's spark core and provide the Autobots with a way to destroy him. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} After the five Transformers bridge their way into Unicron, Megatron and Prime attempt to destroy Unicron's spark core with the Matrix of Leadership. The plan works- but Optimus loses many of his memories, believing that he is Orion Pax once again and that Megatron is his friend. Megatron takes him on board the ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

Megatron decides to use the fact that Orion Pax lost his memory to the Decepticon's advantage, and lies to Orion Pax about certain facts. He tells Orion that he was taken captive by the Autobots and kept in stasis long enough for the war to have moved to [[Earth|another planet]]. He then shows Orion a picture of a lifeless Cybertron, and informs him that [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is responsible for the damage. Orion Pax vows to do his part to help the Decepticons, by completing [[Project Iacon]]. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Soon however, Orion Pax starts to see through Megatron's lies. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}}

Eventually, with the help of [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], Orion Pax rebels against Megatron before completing Project Iacon. Using [[Vector Sigma]], [[Jack Darby]] is able to restore Prime's memory. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}
[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's operation.jpg|thumb|right|250px|]]

Soon, [[Team Prime]] is back to business. When [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] is investigating an ancient Autobot signal, [[MECH]] stuns him into temporary stasis, and removes his [[Transformation cog|T-cog]]. They use it to try to craft their own transformer, and seem to be making progress with [[Starscream (Prime)|help]]. Bumblebee starts to question his usefulness, as he has lost his speed, which is his primary attribute. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

Megatron, still working with the information from Project Iacon, manages to find the [[Forge of Solus Prime]]. He sends Knockout to recover it, and with a fight, manages to accomplish his mission. However, Ratchet is able to restore Bumblebee's T-cog. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] returns to Earth, in pursuit of [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake's]] twin, [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]. After an intense fight between [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], Wheeljack, and Dreadwing, Wheeljack finally gets an [[Earth]] mode, and Dreadwing pledges his allegiance to [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}

Airachnid's [[One Shall Rise, Part 3|earlier]] remarks about leaving Megatron finally catch up to her, and she goes rogue. Megatron sends Dreadwing to exterminate her, something that Megatron would normally do himself. Dreadwing meets up with Airachnid and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] to investigate a suspected energon deposit. Airachnid succeeds in making Breakdown very angry, and the two go at it. Airachnid cuts up Breakdown, and leaves his remains for [[MECH]]. 

Airachnid finally goes for Megatron, and issues him a challenge. He accepts, and forbids Dreadwing to follow him. However, Dreadwing disobeys, and gets caught in the middle of the fight, and suddenly the Autobots appear. Prime, as always, does the honorable thing and lets Dreadwing go in return for his word that he would not kill any of the Autobots. Megatron, however, disagreed, and fires at the Autobots. Later, Megatron remarks that Dreadwing will make a fine first lieutenant. {{storylink|Crossfire}}
[[Image:NemesisPrime-NemesisPrime.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Punk ass Decepticon! Oh, wait...]]

After [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] seemingly tries to run [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] off the road and attacks a military base, the US military gives orders to fire at any bot on sight. However, [[Team Prime]] finds out that [[MECH]] has succeeded with [[Project Chimera]], and that the bot that attacked the base was actually designed and built by MECH. [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] names this bot Nemesis Prime. Optimus Prime and Nemesis Prime have a climatic battle on top of MECH's base of operations, and Nemesis falls on top of Silas, seemingly killing him. However, in an undisclosed location, Silas lays on an operating table, with Breakdown's corpse seemingly ready to transplant. {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}}

Agent Fowler is called into [[Bryce|General Bryce's]] office to explain [[Nemesis Prime (episode)|recent events]]. Bryce tells Fowler that people higher up on the chain of command are questioning [[Team Prime|Team Prime's]] loyalty. Some are suggesting Team Prime's termination and a military tribunal for Fowler, who assures General Bryce that Prime, and the rest of the Autobots, are completely and totally loyal to the [[United States of America|United States]], and to humanity. {{storylink|Grill}}

Dual plots against Megatron's life, one orchestrated by Airachnid and her Insecticons and the other by Starscream and an army of clones, are hatched while Bulkhead found himself aboard the ''Nemesis''.  The clones are destroyed, Arachnid is apprehended by the Autobots, the surviving Insecticons are integrated into Megatron's forces, and Bulkhead busts the ship's power core on his way out.  {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}  After [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] infused the [[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]] with dark energon in an attempt to repair it, the ship became sentient and put all the Decepticons on board into stasis. The ship started to head toward the first set of new Iacon coordinates that it had decoded. Jack, Miko, Raf, and Fowler bridge aboard the ship and download the coordinates. In the process, Jack undoes the dark energon infusion, returning the ship to it's normal state. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

[[Team Prime]] splits up, and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] travel to [[New York City]] to search for the first of the new Iacon relics. The new relic turns out to be a [[Phase shifter|phase shifter]]. The Autobots are successful in recovering the device. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}} Meanwhile, in the Antarctic, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] goes hunting for the second relic. It turns out to be the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] built by [[Solus Prime]]. After [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] takes the relic for his own, Optimus and [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] form a brief alliance, and force Starscream below the ice. {{storylink|Triangulation}}
[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] travel to search for the third relic, which turns out to be a [[Resonance Blaster|resonance blaster]]. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] manages to  recover the relic, Ratchet returns to base, and Wheeljack sets about repairing the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''. {{storylink|Triage}}
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] sets out to locate and retrieve the final relic. It turns out to be [[Tox-En]], a toxic form of energon. Bulkhead fights with the Insecticon named [[Hardshell]]. Though Bulkhead is initially victorious, Hardshell shoots him in the back just as he heads through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

As [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] tries to stabilize [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] arrives to base, having been alerted by [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] to what had transpired. In the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'', he goes looking for whoever injured Bulkhead. As normal, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] secretly tags along. After reaching an understanding, Miko and Wheeljack go looking for [[Hardshell]], destroying an energon mine in the process. After an intense fight with Hardshell, Wheeljack emerges victorious. However, the rest of the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive pursues him and Miko as they take off in the ''Jackhammer''. Wheeljack uses a portion of his stash of grenades to dispatch them. However, the happiness doesn't last, as Ratchet reports that Bulkhead will survive, but will not likely be fully functional again. Wheeljack leaves again, stating that he is unable to see Bulkhead like this. {{storylink|Hurt}} Arcee comforts Miko by telling her the story of how she and [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] became partners and joined [[Team Prime]]. {{storylink|Out of the Past}}

{{spoiler|New Recruit|September 14, 2012}}
A [[Decepticon]] escape pod is discovered on [[Earth]] at the same time as [[Red Energon]], a rare and volatile type of energon that gives the user hyperspeed. The escape pod turns out to belong to [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], a former member of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]]. Although he appears to be [[Wheeljack (Prime)|another hotshot]], he proves himself by retrieving the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] from [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]], who manages to make off with the Red Energon. {{storylink|New Recruit}}

==Alternate Timeline==
{{Note|The events of this timeline diverge from the main timeline at 1939 of the Modern Era, in which a great time travel incident both created and subsequently erased this new timeline. As the exact extent of all that was changed beyond the borders of Griffin Rock is not known, this section will only cover the known divergences.}}

===1939===
The [[Griffin Rock Technology Expo]] occurs, during which Griffin Rock scientists attempt to create a [[temporal station|time machine]], but are incapable of powering it up.{{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

On [[August 17]], the day after the Temporal Station's decommissioning, a group of time-displaced individuals consisting of four Rescue Bot Autobots, the human children [[Cody Burns]] and [[Frankie Greene]], and the Helper Bot [[Dither]], accidentally travels through the time machine from the future. They are discovered by Dr. Morocco, who takes interest in the robots and begins to study them. The two kids are sent away, but escape and, along with Dither, recover the Autobots in Morocco's captivity. A surprise intervention by Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, who subsequently followed the Rescue Bots through the time machine to help them, along with some assistance from [[Elma Hendrickson]], gives all of the time-travelers the chance to escape back to the future. However, a damaged Dither is accidentally left behind, and comes into Morocco's possession. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

Studying Dither's future technology, Morocco falsely takes credit as the robot's inventor, redubbing it the MorBot 1.1. From this robot, Morocco gains great fame and power with the promise of technological prosperity for Griffin Rock. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===Present Day===
Morocco, having come to gain power over Griffin Rock, rules the now-dystopian island of "Moropolis" with an army of transformable MorBot mechanoids.{{storylink|It's a Bot Time}} {{storylink|Bot to the Future}} The Burns family are a family of mechanics, with Charlie Burns being a janitor at the [[Hall of Inspiration]], while all secretly heading a resistance movement against Morocco. Huxley Prescott is a taxi driver, Mr. Luskey owns a restaurant, no Cody Burns exists in this timeline, and no "Doc Greene" lives on the island. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

When the group of time-traveling Autobots and humans return from 1939 to the present, they find themselves in this timeline. The team splits up as Optimus and Bumblebee fend off the MorBots while the others seek answers. Learning of the altered history from the Hall of Inspiration, the group meets this timeline's Charlie Burns, who is suspicious of them at first, but eventually comes to aid them. The team accompanies Charlie back to his home, but Morocco has caught wind of their arrival. The Burns siblings are also initially skeptical of the newcomers, but agree to help once their home is attacked. As Morocco is about to destroy the fire house, the Burns family unveil its new secret weapon: The [[Mobile Headquarters]]. After a great battle, all six Autobots and the Burns family arrive at the Temporal Station. The departing time travelers are given the MHQ as a parting gift and vanish through the portal back to 1939, just as Morocco arrives and crashes his MorBot.{{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

{{Note|From here, the team retrieves Dither from 1939 and returns to the present in their corrected timeline, thus erasing this timeline from existence.}}
[[Category:Aligned history]]
[[Category:Chronologies]]