Editing Persuasion

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 63
|prev=Minus One
|next=Synthesis
|image=
|caption=
|title="Persuasion"
|airdate=[[July 12]], [[2013]]
|written by=[[Michael G. Stern]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Megatron appeals to Ratchet; Optimus takes on Predaking.'''

==Synopsis==

[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] struggles to his feet after having been knocked out of the sky by [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]], who transforms to robot mode and lands nearby. The [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] charges up his blaster, but Optimus rebounds with a flurry of punches.

Inside the Solaris building, a firefight between [[Autobot]]s and [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s is brought to a swift end by one of [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]'s grenades. The Autobots make their way into the next room, where [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] is overseeing the theft of the particle collider, and begin fighting the [[Decepticon]] forces there.

Outside, Optimus continues to hammer away at Predaking, temporarily keeping him on the defensive. But the Predacon lashes out with a savage kick that sends Optimus sprawling. Predaking transforms back to beast mode and is about to unleash a blast of flame at the prone Autobot when [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] contacts him over the comm, ordering him to help secure the collider. Frustrated, Predaking fires his flame into the night sky.

Inside, the Autobots finish mopping up the Vehicons as [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] beats Shockwave to his knees. He offers the Decepticon a chance to surrender before Predaking bursts through the ceiling. The beast makes short work of the Autobots, grasps Shockwave in his front claw and the collider in his rear claws, and flies back out through the hole in the ceiling. Optimus Prime rises shakily to his feet, just in time to see Predaking escape through a [[GroundBridge]].

[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] radios [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] to return them to base. [[William Fowler|Fowler]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], and [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] are just coming to after being knocked out by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], and Bulkhead reports that Ratchet is gone.

Aboard the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', Megatron informs the captive Ratchet that he requires his assistance. Ratchet defiantly refuses to cooperate. Megatron says that cooperation isn't required, as Shockwave approaches the Autobot with a [[cortical psychic patch]].

At the Autobot base, Arcee examines the piece of [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]]'s wing that Smokescreen shot off while the young Autobot laments his poor aim. Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead confirm that Ratchet is nowhere on the premises, and that he didn't leave via the Autobot GroundBridge. Because there have been no ransom demands, Optimus reasons that Ratchet has something the Decepticons want.

Predaking learns that an Autobot is aboard the ship, and states that he's going to do to him what he failed to do to [[Prime (rank)|the Prime]]. Megatron explains that the captive is necessary for the restoration of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], but once that's no longer the case, he will be turned over to the Predacon.

While Fowler barks orders for increased surveillance and satellite monitoring into the phone, Wheeljack theorizes that the Decepticons took Ratchet for his [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] formula. Smokescreen asks why that would be necessary when the Decepticons already control most of the planet's [[Energon]]. Optimus remembers Ratchet's belief that Megatron is attempting to rebuild the [[Omega Lock]], and deduces that Synth En could be a necessary component. Fowler, now off the phone, relays his concern to the Autobots; if the Decepticons found Ratchet, it means they know the location of their base.

Shockwave reports that the psychic patch only confirms Ratchet has not yet stabilized the synthetic energon formula. Megatron tries a different tactic, waiting for Ratchet to revive and telling the Autobot directly that he wants to help him complete the formula. Ratchet rejects the idea outright, until Megatron reveals his intentions; that the Synth En, when combined with [[CNA]], forms the basis for an alternative [[Cyber Matter]] that can be used to restore Cybertron. Ratchet refuses to collaborate with Megatron, calling him a barbarian responsible for destroying Cybertron in the first place and crushing [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]'s [[voice box]]. Megatron offers him a choice: the first option is to complete the formula. The second option is represented by an image of [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] displayed on [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]'s visor. Ratchet tries to feign disinterest in the humans, but the image on Soundwave's visor changes to that of the Autobot base. Megatron tells Ratchet that if he agrees to cooperate, the humans and the Autobots will not be harmed. The Decepticons leave him to ponder the offer, and [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] asks if Megatron was being serious. Megatron says of course he wasn't, and tells Starscream to assemble his armada and destroy the Autobot's base once again.

At the base, Fowler and the Autobots are uneasy about the lack of Decepticon activity. Optimus notes that since the Cons aren't stealing Predacon bones or [[Earth]] technology anymore, there's no way to track them. Ultra Magnus suggests splitting into teams for some "old school" searching, but is interrupted by alarms signaling an incoming attack. As Starscream and a fleet of Vehicons emerge from the skies, soldiers rush to their jets to prepare a defense. Starscream commands his troops to concentrate their attack on Hangar E as the military jets open fire. Starscream evades the humans' artillery and lets loose a volley of missiles that hit Hangar E and reduce it to a fiery ruin. He reports to Megatron that the mission has been accomplished, and the Decepticons depart.

The Autobots watch as soldiers put out the flames amidst the rubble that used to be the mess hall, and Ultra Magnus muses that the Decepticons were fooled by a simple paint job. The actual Hangar E, now repainted to say F, is still in one piece.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron has Ratchet released to give him a tour of the ship. Ratchet's first instinct is to attack, but he finds himself reluctantly impressed by the Decepticon technology. Megatron uses the opportunity to convince him that Autobots and Decepticons share a common goal in the restoration of Cybertron. Ratchet says that bringing back Cybertron would not stop Megatron's ambitions, which the Decepticon leader doesn't deny, but at least they would have a world worth fighting over. Ratchet asks what assurance he would have that Megatron would leave Earth alone. Megatron simply replies that no assurance is being offered, confident that Ratchet's desire to restore Cybertron will overpower his reservations.

At their base, the Autobots have realized that the piece of Laserbeak which Smokescreen shot off is his transponder. Raf hooks it up to his laptop and says that it's trying to communicate with the Decepticon warship. Jack asks how Raf can understand [[Cybertronian language|Cybertronian code]], and Raf says that Ratchet used to teach him in his free time. Fowler asks if they can triangulate the signal, but Ultra Magnus reminds him it's going to a shielded ship. Arcee notes that if the transponder was still attached to Laserbeak, they could follow it. Wheeljack proposes giving it wings, and he and Raf start putting the idea into action.

Jack sees Fowler staring thoughtfully at the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]] and asks if anything's wrong. Fowler admits he's been thinking of humanity's close calls at the hands of the Decepticons, and that technology like the armor could give their military agents a fighting chance even when the Autobots aren't around to protect them. He also suggests that Jack could be one of those agents himself someday, an idea he's apparently discussed with [[June Darby|Jack's mother]]. Jack isn't thrilled to hear they've been talking about him, but his protest is interrupted by the result of Raf's work: [[Chip (Prime)|Chip]], a small flying device built to house Laserbeak's transponder, which will lead them straight to the Decepticon warship.

Ratchet posits that even if the Omega Lock could be reconstructed, there's no way to scientifically replicate the device's mystical properties. Megatron says they won't know until they try, and shows Ratchet their progress: an almost-completed Omega Lock, attached to the underbelly of the ''Nemesis''. Realizing just how close they really are to being able to restore Cybertron, Ratchet agrees to complete the Synth En formula.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] (2)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (3)
*[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] (8)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (15)

|c3=
*[[William Fowler]] (9)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (16)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (17)
*[[Jack Darby]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is no place for a one-handed Autobot."<br/>
"I'll take one bum hand over one good eye any day."
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' trade politically incorrect barbs.


"Humans. Always the weak link."
:—'''Starscream''' showing that he still doesn't quite get it.


"Ratchet didn't think this new hand he built for me was good enough. But I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough: giving up."
:—Keep practicing those speeches, '''Ultra Magnus''', profundity will come someday.


'''Ratchet''': Megatron, you would just try to conquer Cybertron all over again, and enslave anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to you.<br/>
'''Megatron''': Of course I would!
:—Decepticon or not, '''Megatron''' has little use for guile.


'''Ratchet''': What assurance do I have that you would leave humankind be, and that you wouldn't instantly terminate me once you get what you need?<br/>
'''Megatron''': None whatsoever. After all, we both know that as a Decepticon, any assurances I might offer would be worthless.
:—Seriously, '''Megatron''' is crazy honest about lying.


"Miko, I needed that!"
:—'''Raf''' hangs around Ratchet entirely too much.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===

===Continuity notes===
* Megatron tearing out Bumblebee's vocoder is again referenced, this time explicitly. It was first detailed in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 1]]" and the novel ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
* Soundwave's picture of the children was taken way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".
* Starscream has previously described humans as "the weak link" in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* The Decepticons already destroyed [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|one Autobot base]] in "[[Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour]]".
* Miko obtained the Apex Armor in "[[Chain of Command (Prime)|Chain of Command]]".
* Fowler mentions being stuck in [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out's]] trunk with June Darby, which occurred in "[[Plus One]]".

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===
* Fowler's dazed ramblings about there being "a man on the wing of this plane" refers to the famous ''[[Twilight Zone|The Twilight Zone]]'' episode [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_at_20,000_Feet "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"].

===Trivia===
* Though Predaking named himself in "Evolution", this episode marks the first instance of him giving it to the Autobots.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]