Editing Project Predacon

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 57
|prev=Rebellion (Prime)
|next=Chain of Command (Prime)
|image=ProjectPredacon-skull.jpg
|caption=Okay, who cooked the turkey too long?
|title="Project Predacon"
|airdate=[[May 17]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Duane Capizzi]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''The Decepticons launch a new scheme to clone an army of beasts.'''

==Synopsis==

[[File:ProjectPredacon-MASKdivision.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Back repainting strikes again|Can you name the truck with four wheel drive, smells like a steak, and seats thirty five? Canyonero! Canyonero!]]

[[William Fowler|Fowler]] arrives at the  [[Autobot]]s' new base driving a massive military truck, described as an "experimental, all-terrain, expeditionary fighting vehicle". [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] gives his approval and begins to scan it.

The next day, [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] return from the rubble of the former Autobot base with what little they could find. Wheeljack is happy enough to find their lobbing ball with which he immediately initiates a game of [[Cybertronian_sport#Lobbing| Lobbing]]. Unprepared, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] is unable to catch the ball and it bounces off of him, very nearly crushing [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]], who is pulled to safety by [[Jack Darby|Jack]]. Ultra Magnus admonishes Wheeljack's reckless behavior, once again citing his distaste for [[Wrecker]] behavior. He tells Wheeljack that if he'd rather not follow orders, he's free to walk away, as he did back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Wheeljack remarks that if [[Jackhammer (Prime)|his ship]] wasn't destroyed, he'd do just that.

Meanwhile, Optimus puts his new jet pack to use investigating recent Decepticon activity. He comes upon a cave entrance in the side of a mountain and transforms into his new vehicle mode to enter.

Miko wishes all of the Autobots had jet packs, but [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] reminds everyone that the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] has been depleted of its power. [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] returns from scanning new "war paint", but this fails to impress Ultra Magnus, who immediately assigns him a menial duty. Smokescreen grumbles about how he nearly became a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]],yet is still treated like a rookie, but pretends to have said something else when Ratchet overhears.

In the cave, Optimus comes across a group of [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]s excavating some very large skeletal remains and makes short work of them. But he is unable to prevent [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] escaping with a piece of the fossil.

Optimus returns the rest of the fossil to the base, and reveals that it's the remains of a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]]. Smokescreen notes that Predacons are supposed to be extinct, since before most life began on Cybertron. The Autobots deduce that the recently-returned [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] is behind [[Predaking (Prime)|the one they already fought]], and most likely plans to clone more of them.

[[File:ProjectPredacon-Predacons.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Once upon a time, robot animals ruled the earth.]]

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] reacts to the presence of Predacon remains on Earth with cynicism. [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] explains that the remains actually belong to an army of clones that he had commissioned during the war. They were sent to Earth to kill Autobots and gather [[Energon]], and there they remained until succumbing to the ravages of time. Shockwave confirms that he can create new clones from the endomatter of the deceased batch.

Ratchet shows the children images of Predacons from Cybertronian historical texts. Jack recognizes them as robotic versions of creatures from Earth's own various mythologies. Optimus notes that the Predacons were very likely the inspiration for such tales.

Ratchet revisits his [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] formula, in hopes of replenishing the Energon stores lost when their base was destroyed. Fowler suddenly reports that satellites have picked up Decepticon activity in both [[Texas]] and [[Scotland]]. Optimus assigns Ultra Magnus, now wielding the depowered Forge, to lead the Wreckers to Scotland. Meanwhile he, [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], and Smokescreen [[GroundBridge]] to Texas and split up.

Alone together, Smokescreen asks Bumblebee if he'd ever wanted to be a Prime. Bumblebee says his only aspiration is to be a warrior. When Smokescreen asks why Optimus hasn't promoted him from scout yet, Bumblebee reveals that it's his choice. When Smokescreen asks him why he wants to wait, Bumblebee responds that he would rather be promoted on Cybertron, and Smokescreen notes that this would be more meaningful, musing that he ought to take a cue from Bumblebee. They then interrupt a squad of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s and are then interrupted by Shockwave, toting the remains of a Predacon. Shockwave flees from the Autobots but runs into Optimus, who blasts him out of vehicle mode. Just then, a GroundBridge opens and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] emerges in alt-form for some altitude-combat with Optimus in the air. Shockwave makes a run for the GroundBridge, but is attacked by Bumblebee and Smokescreen.

[[File:ProjectPredacon-wishbone.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Ultimate Tug of War: Who Will Take Home the Wishbone???]]

While Optimus fends off Soundwave, [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] deploys and is able to get in close, delivering an electrical shock that sends Optimus crashing to the ground. On the highway overpass above him, Bumblebee and Smokescreen are able to wrest the Predacon fossil away from Shockwave, but not without breaking it, sending a small piece falling over the edge. Optimus rushes back into the air to catch it, but Soundwave activates a second GroundBridge that catches the falling fossil in min-air and deposits it into Megatron's waiting hand aboard the ''Nemesis''. Their mission complete, the Decepticons retreat through the GroundBridge from which Soundwave emerged.

On the ''Nemesis'', Megatron decides that Shockwave is much too valuable to Project Predacon to risk using in the field. Shockwave agrees to confine himself to his lab and leave the task of collecting bones to Starscream. Megatron notes how anxious he is to set his army of beasts on humankind.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] (10)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (11)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]] (13)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (14)
*[[Decepticon Miner]] (15)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] (17)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (18)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (19)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (20)
*[[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] (21)

|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (2)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
*[[Jack Darby]] (7)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"What were you thinking, soldier?"<br />
"I was thinking Bulkhead could catch that lob."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Wheeljack''' air their grievances like mature adults who hate each other.


"I was nearly a Prime, but somehow I'm still a rookie."
:—'''Smokescreen''' bemoans the show's return to status quo.


'''Raf''': They're like Earth's dinosaurs.<br>
'''Jack''': Which means for you guys, running into one would be like us meeting a T-Rex.<br>
'''Miko''': So, then what were Dinobots?<br>
'''Bulkhead''': [[Dinobot (Prime)|Totally different]].
:—Predacon discussion leads to a wink and a nod.


"Autobots, we must become Beast Hunters."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' sees the writing on the package--Er, wall.


"Pfft. Another scavenger hunt?"
:—'''Starscream''' says the audience's line for us.


"How logical would it really be to locate all the dusty remains of your former pets?"<br>
"You are not suggesting that I would send my creations to a distant planet without first having them microchipped?"<br>
"Well, I-- Well, I was. But...seriously? You did?"
:—'''Starscream''' is shut down by '''Shockwave'''.


"Um... what's a kilt?"<br>
"Agent Fowler can at times be oblique. I find it best to simply nod and mobilize."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Optimus Prime''' on Earth culture, proving again that the best comedy comes from having [[Shake Up|no sense]] [[Chase (RB)|of humor.]]

==Notes==
===Continuity errors===
* While not an outright error, it's worth noting that in this episode Bumblebee states to Smokescreen that it was his own choice to not yet graduate from scout to warrior, which contradicts with Prime's belief in "[[Masters & Students]]" that Bumblebee wasn't experienced enough in the field. However, it's possible that Prime has since changed his mind on the subject.
* When Soundwave transforms to robot mode and lands on the clifftop, he's wearing Laserbeak, even though at that point his deployer's separated from him.
* There's no good reason for Smokescreen and Bumblebee to play tug of war with the Predacon jawbone while Smokescreen is wearing the phase shifter. Both "[[New Recruit]]" and "[[Inside Job]]" demonstrate that the wearer can selectively remove one item from within another, and Shockwave's closed hand should be no exception. Furthermore Shockwave doesn't even try to shoot at or punch the two Autobots, even considering that he is physically superior and so very 'logical'.

===Continuity notes===
* Wheeljack finds his and Bulkhead's Lobbing ball from "[[Con Job]]" in the rubble of the former Autobot base and brings it back to the new base to continue the fun.
* Ultra Magnus confirms he led the Wreckers back on Cybertron, as in [[Alex Irvine]]'s ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Exiles|Exiles]]'' novels. However, he also notes that the assignment was given to him by Optimus Prime, and refers to them as "your Wreckers" to Wheeljack, indicating that he had no part in founding the team.
* The [[Dinobot (Prime)|Dinobots]], a subgroup of Autobots mutated by Shockwave into dinosaur forms and who serve as the main characters in the tie-in ''[[Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots|Rage of the Dinobots]]'' and [[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (IDW)|''Beast Hunters'' comics]], have at least been mentioned in passing to Miko in the past.
* Megatron reveals that he had an army of Predacon clones commissioned during the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|war for Cybertron]]. Included in the artistic flashback appear to be [[Hun-Gurrr (Prime)|Hun-Gurr]], [[Lazerback]], [[Grimwing (Prime)|Grimwing]], [[Rippersnapper (Prime)|Rippersnapper]] and what appears to be either a [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] look-alike or a previous Predaking clone. Also, the Predacon picture Ratchet shows the kids looks somewhat similiar to Ripclaw, minus the Siphon Claw on her tail.  
* Ratchet returns to work on the synthetic energon formula he last tried replicating in "[[Stronger, Faster]]".
* Laserbeak is apparently up and running now. Soundwave must have repaired him since "[[Darkmount, NV]]".
* Megatron mentions Shockwave's apparent demise in the space bridge accident in "[[Out of the Past]]".

===Real-World references===
* Micro-chipping pets is a human method of identifying lost dogs, cats and other pets through use of a sub-dermal chip implant. Mind you, in the real world, it works by scanning the animal directly to see if it even has a chip that stores the owner's information, rather than the show's GPS-like take.

===Transformers references===
* Smokescreen uses the "robots in disguise" tagline as justification for his new paint job.
* Bulkhead refers to the potential threat of a cloned Predacon army as a "[[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]". Megatron continues the trend by saying he sent his army of Predacon clones to Earth to "unleash the beast" on Autobots stationed there.
* Ultra Magnus arms himself with [[Magnus Hammer|a very large hammer]].

===Trivia===
[[File:ProjectPredacon-UnitE.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
* This episode premieres a new opening sequence with significantly more [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] and Shockwave in it, and also features Prime's new body and Bumblebee's new paint job.  There's no Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, or Smokescreen, though.  
* This is one reference-heavy episode, isn't it?
* In possibly the most self-indulgent meta-reference in ''Transformers'' ever, the Autobots' new base is set up inside "[[Unit:E]]". This was the title of Hasbro's more-or-less stillborn crossover franchise, mixing numerous properties Hasbro owned yet didn't have much going on with at the moment, including ''Micronauts'', ''[[Jem]]'', ''[[M.A.S.K.]]'', ''Stretch Armstrong'', ''Candyland'' (no, really), and more. ''Transformers'' and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' also had cameos as part of a colossal multiverse. Fowler's office door even uses the ''Unit:E'' logo. While "[[Grill]]" made a background reference to it, this episode is pretty blatant in its reference to it.
* As part of the gleeful shamelessness, Fowler says that the truck Optimus scans comes from the "[[M.A.S.K.]]" division. ''M.A.S.K.'' was all about humans piloting (mostly) ordinary-looking vehicles that transformed into battle-modes.
* Megatron says that the cloned Predacons fell victim to "the ravages of time" between their being stationed on Earth and the rest of the Decepticons arriving. Unless it's a side effect of the cloning process, this could suggest the Predacons have a much shorter life span than other Cybertronians, including the similarly-animalistic Insecticons.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]