Editing Alpha Trion/Generation 1

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{{disambig3|Alpha Trion}}
:''Alpha Trion is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:Alphatrionkhanna.jpg|228px|thumb|If Alpha Trion were a Decepticon, you KNOW he would stroke his beard while contemplating conquest. You know it.]]
'''Alpha Trion''' is one of the oldest living Transformers, and with that age comes a nuanced understanding of his race and their place within the universe. In his youth, he went by the name '''A3''', and in this time, he helped lead the enslaved Cybertronians in their rebellion against their cruel masters, the [[Quintesson]]s. As a result, he was instrumental in first establishing [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as an independent planet.

In his older years, he has found a comfortable role in serving as advisor to other Transformers. Though not taking part in the battles of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], he is firmly on the side of the Autobots, serving as a mentor and guide, especially to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Elita One]]. He is an enigmatic old robot, though he is known to be the guardian of [[Vector Sigma]] and the custodian of its [[Key to Vector Sigma|circuit key]]. His sage-like manner paints him in almost a mystic tone, and possible connections between Alpha Trion, [[Primus]], and the history of Cybertron itself have boosted him into legendary status.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[John Stephenson]] (English), [[Corey Burton]] (English, "War Dawn"), [[Tony Pope]] (English, "Forever Is a Long Time Coming"), [[Osamu Saka]] (Japanese), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese, "War Dawn"), [[Hiroshi Naka]] (Japanese, "The Rebirth")|[[Wolfgang Mascher]] (German, Season 3 & 4)}}

[[File:YoungA3.jpg|left|thumb|Silverbolt never misses a chance to check out A3's rugged mustache.]]
11 million years ago, a mechanoid named A3 was part of the [[Autobot Rebellion|rebellion]] against the [[Quintesson]]s on a [[Cybertron (planet)|factory world]], creating a device called the [[Coda Remote]] that would stop their [[Dark Guardian]]s. Due to a timerift created by Quintessons from the future, he was briefly pulled from his position in the [[Empty Lands]] into the year 2006. Fortunately, his partner [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] managed to start the rebellion as scheduled, and A3 was soon returned by future [[Autobot]]s to fulfill his role in Cybertronian history. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

[[File:Alphatrionagesbackwards.jpg|thumb|He grew a beard, picked up the Matrix, shaved his beard, and then built Optimus, apparently.]]
Years later, he would be given the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by the dying [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], but Alpha Trion himself did not become Autobot leader. It would sit in his possession, unused, until the coming of the next Autobot leader. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} In the meantime, Alpha Trion developed plans to rebuild Autobots to better combat the escalating [[Decepticon]] menace.

The next Autobot leader would actually come to ''him'' when a [[Aerialbot (G1)|group of time-travelers]] lugged a dying youth named Orion Pax to his repair center. Reluctant at first, Alpha Trion sensed a strong spirit in Orion Pax, and decided to rebuild him entirely... into [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. When Prime asked if Alpha Trion could rebuild his fallen girlfriend Ariel as well, Alpha Trion agreed, and mused that [[Elita One]] would be a good name for a female warrior. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}}

[[File:AlphaTrion.jpg|left|thumb|Alpha Trion has secret liquor stashes in the strangest of places.]]

Over the intervening millennia, Alpha Trion's two greatest creations, whether by design or coincidence, forgot their relationship to the ancient Autobot. Five million years after his creation, Optimus Prime was lost when his spacecraft crash-landed on prehistoric Earth, but Alpha Trion kept in contact with Elita One, acting as a sagely advisor to her team of [[Female Autobots]] as they spent the following four million years stealing [[energon]] from [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Eventually, in the Earth year 1985, Shockwave caught the Female Autobots in the act and tracked them back to their headquarters, prompting Elita One to consult with Alpha Trion on a course of action. Trion suggested they move their headquarters, telling Elita to scout for a new location alone, but in the event that she encountered the Decepticons, warned her not to use her life-draining time-freezing power. Alas, Elita was captured, and used by the Decepticons to lure Optimus Prime into a trap. To save her beloved's life, Elita used her fatal power, and the Autobot leader was forced to track Alpha Trion to [[Alpha Trion's base‎|his secret base]] in hopes that he could save her. Alpha Trion repaired her to the best of his ability, but revealed to Optimus Prime that only Prime could save Elita by interfacing to her with his power filter. An astonished Optimus Prime stated that only his creator could know that! {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}

[[File:Ktvs prime and trion.jpg|thumb]]

A short time later, while he was looking for a [[10.2 ultra-drill|misplaced tool]], Alpha Trion was attacked in his workshop by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and his Decepticons, who demanded that he hand over the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. Trion pled ignorance, but Megatron knew better, and the elderly Autobot was soon overpowered while the Decepticons made off with the key. Alpha Trion was rescued from the chunk of metal the Decepticons left him stuck in by Optimus Prime and the Autobots, and after his injuries were repaired by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], he journeyed with them into Cybertron's depths, leading the way to Vector Sigma's chamber. Their way, however, was barred by [[Centurion droid]]s that Megatron used the Key to command, and Alpha Trion helped reactivate some discarded worker robots to fight the droids off. The droids had done their job, however, and prevented the Autobots from reaching Megatron before he used Vector Sigma to bring his newest Decepticons, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to life. To combat these new land-based Decepticons, Optimus Prime hit on the idea of creating some new aerial Autobots, and Alpha Trion set to work reconstructing some Cybertronian aircraft. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} When the work was done, Alpha Trion professed that he had another key to Vector Sigma "on him," and he would use it to reactivate the computer so that it could bring the jets to life. His "key," however, was his own life force: as a first generation product of Vector Sigma, his computation matrix could interface with the computer and bring it back online, at the cost of his own continued existence. Optimus Prime tried to stop him, but Alpha Trion refused to listen, reminding Prime that he was his creator and insisting that the jets were more important that he was. Prime relented, and Alpha Trion merged with Vector Sigma, which activated and brought the new [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to life. Before Prime and the Autobots departed for Earth, Alpha Trion spoke to them through Vector Sigma, warning them of a fact merging with the computer had revealed to him: on Earth, the Key to Vector Sigma had even greater power. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}} 

Many years later, when the [[Hate Plague]] was raging throughout the universe in the year 2006, Optimus Prime entered the Matrix to consult the ancient Autobots within on a possible cure. Alpha Trion was the first Prime spoke to, but he had no information to give, save a warning that Prime should take care on his journey into the Matrix, lest he be unable to return. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

The following year, after the Decepticons stole the [[Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber]], Optimus Prime used the Matrix to reactivate Vector Sigma so that he could converse with Alpha Trion, hoping that the old sage knew something more about what was going on. Alpha Trion revealed to Prime that Vector Sigma had ''allowed'' [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] to become aware of the key's existence, as the chamber was key to the dawning of a new [[Golden Age]] for Cybertron... as was the merging of an [[Cerebros (G1)|Autobot]]'s life with that of a [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|human]]'s. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}}}

====Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Masaharu Satō]] (Japanese)}}
{{note|The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in the Japanese timeline as described above, except that the events of 2006 take place instead in 2010, and "The Rebirth" does not occur. Japanese continuity inserts many additional stories into the timeline, only one of which features Alpha Trion.}}

[[File:AlphaTrionGhost.jpg|thumb|Alpha Trion's Spooooooky Ghost]]
In the year 2011, one year after Optimus Prime released the energy of the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, Vector Sigma began to destabilize as a result. Optimus Prime voyaged into the planet's depths to try and bring the computer back under control, but the mission seemed doomed to failure, as he did not have the Matrix to help him. While the other Autobots searched Earth for the Matrix, which had been hidden away to recharge, the spectral form of Alpha Trion appeared to Optimus Prime to help lead him through the many dangers blocking the path to Vector Sigma's chamber. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} When they finally reached their goal, however, it turned out the Decepticons had beaten them there. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] was not far behind, with the recovered Matrix in his grasp, and when the young Autobot arrived, Alpha Trion instructed him to hold the talisman aloft. Trion's ethereal form flowed into the Matrix, completing its recharging process and transforming [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] back into Rodimus Prime, who joined Optimus in thrashing the Decepticons. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}
{{-}}

=====''G-2'' story pages=====
[[File:G2StoryPageReconfigurationMatrix1.jpg|200px|thumb|left|]]
When Optimus Prime was fatally injured in battle with Megatron, the spirits of Alpha Trion and former leaders residing within the Matrix activated its [[Reconfiguration Matrix]] mechanism, reviving Prime as Battle Convoy. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 5}}
{{-}}

=====''Transformers Legends'' comic=====
Alpha Trion and the Matrix—possibly the Reconfiguration Matrix again—had a hand in Rodimus Prime's transformation into a [[Micromaster]]. {{storylink|Transformers Legends (comic)#Transformers 2015 Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter|Transformers 2015 Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter}}

=====Train Wars=====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Train Wars}} {{storylink|Train Wars 2}}}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{Wingsnote| Alpha Trion's appearance in the flashbacks of "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" occurs amidst the following stories.}}

[[File:BattleLines6-stasishibernationpods.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]

After the ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down on [[Beta-Nine]], the proemial Alpha Unit of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] managed to retrieve its cargo. The [[Matrix of Leadership|mysterious item]] was then delivered by [[Magnum]] to its custodian, Alpha Trion. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}} 

Over the next ten years, the Decepticon insurrection became more fierce. Councilor Magnum continued to champion his Elite Guard, a series of strike teams dedicated to hunting down the [[Decepticon Warlord]]s to cut the many heads off the serpent. Councilor Alpha Trion, however, favored his own Prime Initiative, a general of sorts who would oversee the entire Autobot army as a unified force against the Decepticons. {{Storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} 

Despite their political differences, Alpha Trion and Magnum worked together as the situation called for it. When a group of civilian scientists and historians needed demolitions assistance at a dig site in [[Median]], Alpha Trion requested the help of Magnum's Elite Guard for the job. Of course, he neglected to mention some of the finer points of the mission, but such is politics. {{storylink|Flames of Yesterday}}

After [[Dion]] and [[Magnum]] were injured in a Decepticon attack, they were taken to Alpha Trion. He was only able to save one of them, rebuilding the survivor into [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. As the war drained Cybertron's energy to dangerously low levels, Optimus left the planet on a mission to find more energy. Alpha Trion prepared stasis pods within which most of the remaining Autobot population would hibernate. As they placed the other Autobots in the pods, he warned [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] that remaining online during periods of low energy as he intended to do would greatly accelerate the aging process. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}

In 2984 C.E. as the sage of Cybertron [[Cheetor (BW)|Alpha Trizer]] engaged in combat against the [[Star Seeker]]s, a vision of his predecessor Alpha Trion flashed through his mind. {{storylink|Hoist the Flag}}

===3H comics===
[[File:DepartureBetrayal-AlphaTrion.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Alpha Trion was various lions for all of two seconds, in one person's mind.]]
Alpha Trion was seemingly resurrected and/or reformatted as a lion by the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] to guide [[Primal Prime]] and his [[Wrecker]] in much the same way as he aided many previous Autobot leaders. {{storylink|Departure}} It is unclear whether this new form ever existed physically; its only appearance was as a vision in Primal Prime's head. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

[[File:Alphatrionuniverse.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He said he was reformatted into a [[beast mode]], but he was lyin'.]]
However, he did not make an appearance after this enigmatic reintroduction until [[Unicron]] posed a new threat to the balance of the multiverse. Alpha Trion, though technically still merged with [[Primus]]/[[Vector Sigma]]/Whatever, was again in his original body (but now with a cape!). He/they pulled Cybertron's greatest hero, [[Optimus Primal]], back from the dead in order to rescue recently abducted Cybertronians from the center of the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|Abduction}} 

When Primal succeeded at this monumental task, {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}} he confronted the [[Maximal Elder]]s with one of his overblown speeches and was thrown in jail. Alpha Trion sent [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]] to stage a small rescue of his own, and Primal was returned to the center of Cybertron. Here, Alpha Trion presented Primal with a window into the past, present, and future of the [[Allspark]], from which he could pluck any warrior, whether they be living or dead. Primal chose [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depthcharge]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], the former of whom rejected Primal's calling. Alpha Trion quieted Primal's disappointment, letting Depthcharge go, expecting him to return of his own accord. To take his place, Alpha Trion pulled [[Omega Prime]] from a [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Viron]] universe. {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Alphatriondw.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Most people kill their prizes before hanging them on their wall. Shockwave is not most people.]]
Eons ago, Alpha Trion kept watch over the Transformers when Primus entered his eternal sleep to hide Cybertron from Unicron. However, a nomadic alien race eventually conquered Cybertron, and Alpha Trion was forced into hiding. Thousands of Transformers were slaughtered, and Alpha Trion was unable to act. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} Alpha Trion performed actions that would make him known as the savior of his race. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}}

Alpha Trion was attached to the supercomputer Vector Sigma, and was its caretaker from the [[Golden Age]] to the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. He was considered the only Transformer capable of accessing all of the computer's functions. In his position, he disagreed with the [[Council of Ancients]]' esoteric mysticism, wishing to make the Transformers' place in the cosmos more known. {{Storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #8}} Despite this, he was a secret guiding force behind the Council and its selection of Primes. He was fond of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], both with whom he had a special bond. {{Storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #1}}

After the [[Great Shutdown]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was awakened. Soon after, he met [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], who somehow led the [[Decepticon]] to Alpha Trion. Alpha Trion was incapacitated and hung on a wall in Shockwave's laboratory for analysis, to assist Shockwave in his attempt to control Vector Sigma. The ancient Cybertronian constantly foiled his attempts to analyze him; nevertheless, Shockwave swore that the savior of their race would become its "greatest destroyer". {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} As Shockwave's plans reached fruition, the last remaining "ancient program" for him to decode was Alpha Trion. However, Shockwave's machinations were foiled by his apparent and untimely demise. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Alpha Trion's last days were recorded to be deep within Cybertron, preparing the Transformers and Cybertron for their darkest hour. {{Storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #1}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' continuity===
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Trukk... and munky?]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded some of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s memories, he saw Alpha Trion and his role in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars#G1 cartoon continuity|rebellion]] against the [[Quintesson]]s. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:OmegasConundrum-Metroplex.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Because he's the wise sage Cybertron deserves, but not the one it needs right now.]]
Countless ages ago, Alpha Trion explored the entire surface of Cybertron with the legendary Titan, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} 

Alpha Trion approached [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] during the 43rd Day of the Battle of Aegiax to propose that the Ancient Barbarian unite the Thirteen warring tribes of Cybertron. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} After approaching Galvatron, Alpha Trion led the Barbarian to the headquarters of [[Prima (G1)|Prima]], the [[Citadel of Light]]. There, Alpha Trion stood by and watched as Galvatron and the only remaining survivor of Prima's clan, a young 'bot named [[Nova Prime|Nova Major]], single-handedly slaughtered the bestial forces of [[Onyx Prime (G1)|Onyx Prime]]. After the battle was over, Alpha Trion approached Nova and Galvatron. When Nova demanded to know who Alpha Trion was, Trion calmly revealed himself to be the last remaining member of [[Thirteen|the original thirteen Cybertronians]].

Nova was not quick to believe Trion, but soon accepted the truth after being pummelled into submission by Trion, seemingly confirming the rumor that only a Prime could defeat another Prime. Alpha Trion was quick to correct him, claiming that although a Prime ''could'' be defeated by a non-Prime, they could only be ''killed'' by another Prime, and that there were no other Primes left on Cybertron. Nova, finding this hard to believe, suggested that they go to Onyx Prime's castle in [[Kalis]] to see if Onyx had disappeared as Trion claimed. When they arrived, they found their way into the castle blocked by Onyx Prime's last surviving follower and gatekeeper of his castle, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox of the Mournsong]]. Although Rhinox tried to bar their way, he was quickly intimidated into submission by Galvatron, and let them pass, already knowing they would find Onyx gone. As Rhinox wondered aloud what would become of them, Nova announced his plan to take control, with a vision of a united Cybertron with no tribes dividing its people. Alpha Trion, feeling this was the best course of action for Cybertron's people, gladly stood aside and let Nova assume the title of Prime.

After taking control of Cybertron, Nova directed his attentions to decoding the secrets of the Thirteen; chiefly, [[Nexus Prime (Classics)|Nexus Prime]]'s [[Enigma of Combination]]. Galvatron was the only one of them who ''didn't'' want to uncover the Enigma, and continually insisted that the Enigma was gone, just like its creator. Trion became curious by Galvatron's claims, and questioned him, pointing out that everyone ''except'' Galvatron talked of the Enigma as if it were merely a concept, but Galvatron spoke of it as a physical object. One look in Galvatron's eyes provided Alpha with all the explanation he needed to arrive at the answer. {{storylink|The Crucible}}

He blessed Nova Prime's [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] before its departure from the planet six million years ago. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Following the disappearance of the vessel and its crew, memorial lectures were held in honor of Nova, during which Alpha Trion held a speech about [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:MO3 EOOPAT funeral.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]

Four million years ago, Alpha Trion attended the funerals of [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Because of Alpha Trion's intimate knowledge of Cybertron's surface, he accompanied Orion Pax and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] on a mission into the treacherous [[Rust Spot]] to swap Decepticon prisoners for the captured [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]].  This was merely a ruse to draw out Alpha Trion, who the Decepticons wanted in order to help locate Metroplex.  Due to Orion Pax's valiant actions, Alpha Trion and the other Autobots escaped with their lives. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

Once Orion Pax had become Optimus Prime, he broadcast a message to all Cybertronians, asking them to join him in the fight against the Decepticon oppression. Alpha Trion watched this broadcast with interest from the archives of [[Kutanzuule]]. {{storylink|Broadcast}} He soon came in contact with the young Prime to offer him advice and guidance in his early days as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Derelicts}} When Optimus blamed himself for being unable to stop the [[Exodus (G1)|Exodus]], Alpha Trion assured him that sometimes a leader's role is to let their followers go and make their own decisions. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} Alpha Trion was surprised when Optimus rediscovered the long lost [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], and advised him to accept that the ancient guardian would not easily reintegrate into society. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}}

500,000 years ago, Alpha Trion chose to leave Cybertron together with Metroplex, partly to keep the Titan out of Decepticon hands, but also to investigate and stop whatever scheme [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] had put into motion out in space. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} They didn't return until after Cybertron had been rendered virtually uninhabitable by normal Transformers because of the war, so Alpha Trion began working to restore it all by himself. The isolation evidently did not do the wise old Autobot any good, as he seemed to have more than a few screws loose and had become tremendously self-aggrandizing by the year 2010.

[[File:Ironing Out the Details Alpha Trion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Metal beards are ridiculous! But ''cloth'' beards are super okay.]]
Operating out of Metroplex, Trion spent "dozens of meta-cycles" processing the corrosive elements out of Cybertron's atmosphere, slowly making it habitable again, but was still faced with the problem of the monstrous [[Insecticon swarm]] that had overrun the planet. Requiring the toughest of the tough to obliterate the swarm, Alpha Trion selected [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] to do the job. That Ironhide was across the galaxy on Earth mattered little: Ironhide would eventually die some day, Trion rationalized, and so he built a duplicate body on Cybertron into which he could implant Ironhide's spark and memories once he passed on and returned to the "[[Allspark|core]]". With Vector Sigma having been essentially erased in the event that devastated Cybertron, this took Alpha Trion years and pushed his skills to their limit, but once Ironhide died on Earth in 2010, the ancient Autobot's grand work was complete, and Ironhide returned to life on Cybertron in the new body constructed for him. {{storylink|Any Old Iron}}

Ironhide awoke in confusion, his memories incomplete due to damage he had suffered millions of years beforehand that had disrupted his link to the core, and wandered Cybertron's wastes until Alpha Trion dispatched his [[Scamper (G1)|page]] to bring the befuddled warrior to the city mode Metroplex. Alpha Trion took umbrage at the fact Ironhide had never heard of his ancient greatness, and revealed his incredible powers over his own electromagnetic aura by using it to control Ironhide's actions when the ornery Autobot started to get a little rough. Ironhide further tested Trion's patience when he ignored his cautions and ventured out to track down the near-dead [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (even if Sunstreaker ''had'' heard of him). Finally, Trion relented to Ironhide's constant questioning and explained the reason he had brought him back online: to exterminate the swarm. {{storylink|Ironing Out the Details}} While Ironhide took out of most of the swarm in a brutal battle, Trion busied himself repairing Sunstreaker. After Ironhide returned, Trion announced that he and Metroplex were leaving Cybertron for parts unknown while Ironhide mopped up the remaining Insecticons. Infuriated by the old 'bots condescending attitude, Ironhide slugged him one, but Alpha Trion let it slide, putting Ironhide in his place by telling him he was just a small playing piece in a very large game. Before departing, however, Alpha Trion softened, congratulating Ironhide on saving the entire planet. After all, the only other Autobot would could make that claim... was he. {{storylink|Any Old Iron}}

At some point, Alpha Trion left Metroplex's side to search for a "Holy Grail", a quest of such importance that he was unable to turn back and help when his Titan companion was infected with an [[alchemical virus]]. Coming across the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'', he convinced the [[Caminus|Camiens]], [[Cityspeaker]] [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and her compatriots [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] and [[Nautica]], to aid the injured Metroplex in his place. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}}{{storylink|A 'Bot and Her City}} Alongside this task Alpha Trion tasked the three with delivering a single word message to Optimus Prime- [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} Shockwave saw Alpha Trion in a vision of things that would come to pass during the Dark Cybertron prophecy. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:Full Fathom Five Alpha Trion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Not one of his better days...]]
Concluding from Shockwave's plans that the Enigma of Combination had landed on [[Earth]], Alpha Trion went to search for it only to be shot down and captured by the [[Earth Defense Command]]. {{storylink|The Crucible}} He was brought to their base on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] for study and discovered months later by [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] during an investigation into the EDC's use of Cybertronian tech. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} Knowing he was hooked up to an alarm and that the EDC's "[[mind bomb]]" couldn't have been created from just ''his'' brain, [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] stopped Jazz from rescuing Alpha Trion immediately in order to investigate further. After deactivating the alarms they took Alpha Trion and fled on [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], where a merry Trion's reunion with Optimus Prime was cut short by a coughing fit, prompting [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to take him away and have a look at his injuries. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}}

Alpha Trion had Optimus Prime take him to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], away from prying ears, to share with him why Earth was so important. He told the story about how he brought Galvatron and Nova Prime together, shocking and angering Optimus with the fact that he was one of the Thirteen Primes and let Nova Prime's reign happen, before revealing the presence of the Enigma of Combination on Earth. {{storylink|The Crucible}} They subsequently returned to the ''[[Ark-7]]'', where Jetfire found their trip had worsened Alpha Trion's condition and admonished Prime. When Prime then returned to Cybertron for what he claimed were political reasons, Trion poked fun at him until he admitted he also had a personal reason, namely the anniversary of him becoming Prime. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}}

In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] during the reformatting of Cybertron, Alpha Trion lived on a prosperous [[Gorlam Prime]] fifteen million years from now, telling young Transformers the history of their race and their struggles. His closest friend at this time was an aged Ironhide, who Alpha frequently comforted as Ironhide struggled to find his place in the new civilization. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{ongoing}}
As he lay dying, Alpha Trion passed the Matrix of Leadership down to Optimus Prime, an event that would later be plucked from Prime's memories and scrutinized during his [[Quintesson]] trial. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Alpha Trion was one of the oldest Transformers alive. {{storylink|Orion's Gambit}}

Sentinel Prime sent Alpha Trion out to investigate an uprising of working-class robots. Alpha Trion uncovered that Senator Ratbat has shut down a mine, which catapulted into motion the Decepticon movement. He reported his findings to Sentinel Prime, and Ratbat was forced to flee for his life. {{storylink|Megatron Origins}}

Alpha Trion, alongside Nightbeat and Orion Pax, was to escort the Decepticons Rack'n'Ruin in a prisoner exchange with the Decepticons. Though they encountered [[Slicer (group)|Slicers]] en route, the group eventually met up with Bludgeon. But instead of the agreed upon exchange, Bludgeon and the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots, leading to Alpha Trion's capture. He was rescued and returned to Zeta Prime's protective custody thanks to Nightbeat and Orion Pax's efforts. {{storylink|Orion's Gambit}}

When Orion Pax and Ariel were seriously injured by the Decepticons, the Aerialbots took the pair to Trion, who rebuilt them into [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Elita One]]. He also aided the Aerialbots in returning to their own time through the [[Chronogon]] Portal. {{storylink|Golden Age (Legends)|Golden Age}}

==Toys==
===Timelines===
[[File:Timelinestoy-AlphaTrion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
* '''Alpha Trion'''/'''Weirdwolf''' (souvenir add-on, BotCon 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Sword, missile, Cyber Key

{{note|''Shattered Glass'' [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] was repurposed as Alpha Trion by ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]''.}}
: A bagged set of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]], [[Beta Maxx]] and [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] was released at [[BotCon 2007]] as a souvenir set add-on, limited to 1400 pieces. Alpha Trion was a [[retool]] of [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'']] [[Vector Prime (Cybertron)|Vector Prime]], [[redeco]]ed in purple, white, and red, plus a new head.

: Alpha Trion transforms into a large Cybertronian space cruiser with "solar panel" wings. His nosecone has a spring-loaded missile launcher at the tip. Inserting his [[Cyber Key]] (painted gold to resemble the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]) does not activate any sounds, unlike Vector Prime's toy. Alpha Trion has the more flexible translucent plastic parts ([[for safety reasons]]) of the [[Hasbro]] version of the mold.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/BCAlphaTrion/alphatrion.htm More information on Alpha Trion at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===Legends===
[[File:Takaratomy-lg-14-ultra-magnus-and-alpha-trion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Ultra Magnus''' ([[June 27|6-27]]-2015)
**''Japanese ID Number'': '''LG-14'''
**''Accessories'': two guns, Alpha Trion figure 

:The ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' release of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations Combiner Wars]]'' Leader Class [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generations|Ultra Magnus]] includes a small Alpha Trion figure, which is a redeco of the [[Minimus Ambus]] figure. He transforms into a Cybertronian hovercar. In robot mode, Alpha Trion can "pilot" the Ultra Magnus cab in both its vehicle and robot modes; he even "wears" the Magnus head like a helmet in Magnus's robot mode. 

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

===Unreleased===
[[File:Alphalion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|You'll never own me.]]
A redeco of [[Snarl (BM)|''Beast Machines'' Snarl]] was planned as Alpha Trion for the [[BotCon|OTFCC]] ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Wreckers]]'' storyline, but this concept never made it past the paint mock-up stage. 

A redecoed [[Lio Convoy (BWII)|Lio Convoy]] was also considered by [[3H Productions|3H]] for Alpha Trion around the same time, and it was sort of this version that briefly appeared in the comic book (see above). Though the toy [[Prototype|mock-up]] used Snarl, 3H hoped they could finagle the use of the Lio Convoy mold. "Alpha Lion"'s wireframe appearance in [[Departure|''Wreckers'' #1]] used Lio Convoy's body, but Snarl's head, hopefully allowing 3H to fudge either way, should they come to a decision. They didn't!

::*[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/resources/review/universe/alpha+trion/3368 Image gallery of the Alpha Trion Snarl repaint purchased from the Hartmans]

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
* '''Alpha Trin''' (2002)

: A three-inch-tall [[plastic|PVC]] figurine of Alpha Trion was available in "Act 8" of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' line. Like all the figures in the wave, it was available as both a standard full-color figure and a metallic-silver "pewter" version, one of each of which was available in a standard case of twelve [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] figures. Additionally, the pewter version of Alpha Trion came packaged with the left leg of the [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] collectible "build-a-figure".

: Alpha Trion was not among the ''Super Collection Figures'' brought over to the West for [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[Heroes of Cybertron]]'' line.

===EX Gōkin===
[[File:EX Gokin Alpha Trion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Alpha Trin''' {{sic}} (2014)
**''Accessories:'' Two fists, two open hands, two gripping hands, right pointing hand, A3 head, two A3 shoulders, display stand

:Produced by [[Art Storm]] as part of their ''[[EX Gōkin]]'' line, this Alpha Trion is a 6-inch tall posable figure based on his cartoon [[character model]]. He comes with a plethora of extra hands and has an articulated cape that splits in two pieces for easier posing. Alpha Trion can (sort of) be turned into his younger self, A3, by use of an alternate head based on his appearance in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" and two smaller, spike-less shoulderpads.

::*''[http://artstorm.co.jp/exgokin_transformersseries_alphatrion.html More information on ''EX Gōkin'' Alpha Trin at Art Storm's official site]''

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Alpha Trion through the epochs.jpg|thumb|Once you go white, you'll never, er... be right?]]
* Alpha Trion is one of the very few Cybertronians to show signs of aging and [[Facial hair|hair growth]].
* According to a note in Japan's ''[[Comic Bom Bom]]'' magazine, A3 was the first successful Cybertronian, [[A1]] and [[A2]] being failures. However, the presence of Cybertronians within the Matrix of Leadership older than Alpha Trion (as seen in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2|The Return of Optimus Prime]]") makes the actual [[canon]]icity of this questionable.
* Alpha Trion may be named after the [[Wikipedia:Triple-alpha process|Triple-Alpha Process]], the method through which carbon is created, which in turn is the reason (human) life came to be. Given that Alpha Trion essentially "created" Optimus Prime, who in turn formed the Autobots, this is actually quite fitting.
[[File:ImAlphaTrionsHovercraftMode.jpg|thumb|"I'm Alpha Trion's hover-craft mode!"]]
* Alpha Trion had a hover-craft [[alternate mode]] designed for his appearance in ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide]]'', but ultimately didn't end up transforming in that mini-series. The vehicle mode was first revealed in the trade paperback's extras, and would eventually be used in-continuity as part of a flashback sequence in "[[Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb]]" and in the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' episode "[[Megatron Origins]]".
* A mock-up of an Alpha Trion toy in the form of a ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Scourge (G1)#Generations|Scourge]] redeco was shown in ''[[Transformers Generations 2014]]'' Vol. 1 as one of ten potential exclusives for Vol. 2. During the fan poll held to determine which of the ten would be produced, Alpha Trion claimed 28.9% of the votes but ultimately came second place under [[Goshooter#Generations|Goshooter]].<ref>[http://millionhero.sblo.jp/article/101898683.html Poll results at Hero-X]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Alpha Trin''' (アルファートリン ''Arufā Torin'')
*''Hebrew:'' '''Alpha Trion''' (אלפא טריון, "Alpha Trion")
*''Indonesian:'' '''Alfa Trion'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Alpha Tellion''' (Taiwan, 阿法特利昂 ''Ā Fǎ Tè Lì Áng''), '''Tài Shīfù''' (China, 钛师傅, "Master Titanium")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Thirteen}}


[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Machines Autobots]]
[[Category:Elderly Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Thirteen]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]