Editing New Recruit

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 44
|prev=Out of the Past
|next=The Human Factor
|image=NewRecruit-honortobehere.jpg
|caption=[[Superman]] meets [[Nolan North|Superboy]] for the first time.
|title="New Recruit"
|airdate=[[September 7]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''A Decepticon escape pod lands on Earth and the Autobot Smokescreen emerges, while Starscream uses the Apex Armor to go on a quest for Red Energon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:NewRecruit-exercise.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Jane Fonda would be doing a facepalm at this.]]

[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] cruise the [[Internet]] for pictures of [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] to replace with tap-dancing monkey pictures, while [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] forces [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] to exercise so his legs don't atrophy. Jack notices a picture which Raf identifies as a Cybertronian escape pod. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] suggests bringing in [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] as Bulkhead still isn't combat-ready, which [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] promptly shoots down due to [[Hurt|recent events]]. [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]] orders Ratchet to come along with them instead, as there might be an injured Autobot in the pod. They [[GroundBridge]] into the crash site to find it's a Decepticon pod, and they're immediately under attack from their foe. The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], augmented by [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]], turn out to be a challenge, but then a new figure appears running through the trees. The newcomer's fire accidentally hits the [[energon]] leaking from the pod, and the Autobots take cover as it explodes, taking out the Decepticons. The over-enthusiastic newcomer happens to be [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], an Autobot rookie who becomes in awe when he meets ''the'' Optimus Prime. The Autobots are initially suspicious, remembering [[Con Job|the last time a new Autobot turned up]], but Smokescreen's tales of [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]] and guarding the Hall of Records convinces Prime that he is legitimate.

Back at base, Miko's excited to meet the new Autobot. Smokescreen relates the story of the last days of Iacon and how he was captured by Decepticons during the siege, before escaping from a Decepticon transport ship in an escape pod. Smokescreen thinks with him there they'll have the war ended in no time, and Bulkhead drags himself in to show the newcomer how the war is going. Miko volunteers Jack to show Smokescreen around.

[[Image:NewRecruit-Starscreammonkey.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So many gifs of animals, so little time.]]

In the ''[[Harbinger]]'', [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] searches the Internet for interesting stuff and happens on an image of [[Red Energon]] at a construction site.

Jack shows Smokescreen around where the Cybertronian relics and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] are stored. Bulkhead is upset that the others have brought in a replacement for him, but as they point out, Smokescreen is a newbie and needs a lot of training. Raf finds the same Red Energon photo that Starscream did. Smokescreen's keen to go out on the mission, but the others point out his need for training and an [[alternate mode]].

Starscream arrives at the construction site, only to find it deserted and the Red Energon gone.

Smokescreen and Jack scope out vehicles driving near [[Jasper]], and the Autobot is disappointed in the available vehicle forms. Meanwhile, Prime, Arcee and Bumblebee arrive at the dock where the Red Energon's been moved, and discover Starscream is already there. The Decepticon activates the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and Optimus sends Arcee and Bumblebee to get the energon while he takes on Starscream. He reports back to base what's happening, and Smokescreen wants to go help, but is overruled by Ratchet.

Having dealt with Optimus, Starscream climbs up the crane after Arcee and Bumblebee. At base, Bulkhead urges Ratchet to let him go help, but Ratchet ignores him until they realize Smokescreen is missing. Ratchet finds him in the storeroom looking at the [[phase shifter]]. Meanwhile, Starscream reaches Arcee, only for Optimus to punch him right off the crane. Starscream tries to grab some of the Red Energon on the way down, breaking off a chunk. As Optimus starts hauling up the basket with the energon in it, Starscream grabs the bottom of the crane and tips it. He's interrupted by the arrival of Smokescreen through the GroundBridge. Using the phase shifter, the new Autobot kicks Starscream right out of the Apex Armor. While Smokescreen stands triumphant, Starscream fires off a missile at the crane, the ensuing explosion destroying the Red Energon meteor. Though the Autobots atop it survive, Starscream gets away with a chunk of Red Energon he broke off.

After they return to base, Smokescreen returns the phase shifter and the Apex Armor, after which Optimus officially welcomes him to [[Team Prime]]. Bulkhead looks on sadly, and though Miko tries to give him some encouraging words, he turns and limps back down the corridor.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (10)
*[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] (13)
|c3= 
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)
*[[Jack Darby]] (3)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
|c4=
*[[Starscream (Prime) |Starscream]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"The tap-dancing monkey strikes again!"
:—'''Jack''' on Raf's latest anti-Bumblebee-sighting hack.


"All these Cons came out of one pod?"<br />
"Humans refer to the phenomenon as a 'clown car'!"
:—'''Arcee''' asks a question, and '''Ratchet''' offers an explanation.


'''Miko''': What's your story, Smoke? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How many blasters are you packing?<br />
'''Smokescreen''': So these are the lifeforms we're supposed to protect? Are they all like this?<br />
'''Ratchet''': Fortunately not.
:—'''Smokescreen''' meets '''Miko'''. 


"The Red Energon is mine, humans, for you are powerless in the face of the mighty Star- What? Where is it?!"
:—'''Starscream'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> melodramatic entrance is deflated. 


"Any last words, Smokescreen?"<br />
"Just four—''kiss your armor goodbye!"
:—'''Starscream''' gets a last warning from '''Smokescreen''' before literally getting his tailpipe kicked.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*Arm weapons silently transform twice in this episode; Optimus' when he's running from the exploding pod, and Bumblebee's when he's about to climb the crane.

===Continuity errors===
* The Insecticons seem to die ''very'' easily in this episode. Arcee and Bumblebee take out one in a few seconds when last time it took them an [[Tunnel Vision|entire episode]].
* As Optimus' report didn't mention the Apex Armor, how did Smokescreen know to take the phase shifter to defeat it?

===Continuity notes===
* Bumblebee has gained more pictures of himself on conspiracy websites since "[[One Shall Fall]]".
* The Autobots remember when [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] first arrived [[Con Job|and how that turned out]].
* Ratchet is still upset at Wheeljack for pulling that "revenge stunt" with Miko in "[[Hurt]]".
* Bulkhead is still recovering from the injuries he suffered in "[[Toxicity]]". By now, he can walk unaided (albeit at a slow limp), and a conversation with Ratchet implies that he can transform and drive around to some extent.
* The [[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1|spark extractor]], [[Partners|immobilizer]], [[Tunnel Vision|phase shifter]], and [[Armada (episode)|Airachnid]] are part of Jack's tour.
* Starscream still has the Apex Armor he obtained in "[[Triangulation]]". Well, ''had''.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen references [[Constructicon (Prime)|Constructicons]], [[Halogen (Prime)|Halogen]], [[Alpha Trion (Prime)|Alpha Trion]], the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]], and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].
* As in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Alpha Trion is the master archivist of Iacon's Hall of Records.
* Smokescreen bears the Autobot Elite Guard symbol from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', and upon scanning an Earth mode, [[Smokescreen (G1)|continues the tradition]] [[Smokescreen (Cybertron)|of Smokescreens wearing]] [[Smokescreen (Movie)|the number "38"]].
* In a likely coincidence (but with a chance of being intentional given the "[[Binder of Revelation]]"), the "Fast" [[Arms_Micron#Energon_Crystals|Energon Crystals]] of the [[TakaraTomy]] [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|''Prime'' toyline]] are reddish-orange.
* The Decepticon warship Smokescreen was held captive aboard is similar in shape to [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]' ship, ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]''.
* Smokescreen states that the Elite Guard was like a [[Autoboot Camp|boot camp]] for him.

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet mentions the human phenomenon of the clown car.
* Starscream searches for information on the internet, or as many refer to it, "The Information Superhighway."

===Trivia===
* Starscream finds Earth humor funny. Guess Ratchet [[One Shall Fall|isn't the only one]].
* As usual, the vehicle mode Smokescreen chooses completely [[Masters & Students|matches]] [[Crisscross|his]] [[Loose Cannons|body]]. However, this ''is'' the first time a Transformer changes his paint job after getting a new vehicle mode; Smokescreen's Elite Guard logos are exchanged for his number "38" and checker racer decal.
* A new kind of Energon has been introduced alongside the regular, [[Dark Energon|Dark]], [[Synthetic Energon|Synthetic]], and [[Tox-En|Toxic]] forms. Time will tell if using Red Energon has any negative effects...
[[Category:Prime episodes]]