Operation: Volcano

These guys look like they just learned that.

Operation: Volcano entails luring key Decepticons to a particular location where they can be eliminated by an elite Autobot force known as the Wreckers.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Operation: Volcano appeared exclusively in the UK portion of the Marvel Comics continuity.

"Another fine mess you've gotten us into, Laurel..."

By the year 1986, Cybertron had been completely conquered by the Decepticons, the remnants of the Autobot army reduced to fighting a guerilla war for thousands of years after the destruction of Iacon, the last of their refuges. Operation: Volcano was the result of many years' planning and coordination between the various Autobot resistance cells and underground leaders across Cybertron. The Decepticons' Ten Deadliest Killers would be lured by the possibility of capturing or killing Emirate Xaaron and would be ambushed by the Autobots' elite warrior squad, the Wreckers led by Impactor and, possibly the Autobots' best warrior on Cybertron at that time, Ultra Magnus. The elimination of these Decepticons would to coincide with a general Autobot uprising across Cybertron, hopefully leading to the Autobots regaining the initiative in the war against the Decepticons.

After Xaaron assured Impactor that Ultra Magnus would be ready in time, information about a meeting that Xaaron would attend was leaked to the Decepticons during a meeting between Shrapnel and an Autobot traitor. Unfortunately the Matrix Flame, which indicated the continuing survival of the current bearer of the Matrix of Leadership, went out suddenly and inexplicably. (The actual explanation was because Optimus Prime had been displaced into limbo thanks to the arrival from 2006 by the Decepticon Galvatron). Against Impactor's wishes, Xaaron dispatched Ultra Magnus to Earth to investigate, a mere ten cycles before the plan was due to be enacted.

The Wreckers carried out a dry run of Operation: Volcano, using facsimile constructs of the targeted Decepticons, but concluded that without Magnus, the plan would fail because there would be no one to hold off the Decepticon reinforcements. Impactor told Xaaron to count the Wreckers out of the operation, but Xaaron pointed out that history would judge them harshly if Magnus returned in time and the Wreckers weren't ready. The Wreckers returned to preparing to put the plan into practice. He also introduced Impactor to the Triple Changers, who would substitute for Ultra Magnus in the event he didn't return in time.

In the event, Ultra Magnus was not back in time but the plan was put into action regardless. Emirate Xaaron drew out the Decepticons by addressing a "meeting" of Autobot leaders (which were in fact nothing but facsimile constructs). Kickback reported back to Decepticon High Command as to Xaaron's presence, and Decepticons including Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust, the Insecticons, and a new member of the team by the name of Macabre were dispatched to the location. The Wreckers were aware of Kickback's presence and were preparing to lay the ambush for the Decepticons.

However, just before the Decepticons fell into the trap, Megatron established communications with Cybertron and demanded the presence of the Coneheads and the Insecticons with all possible speed over the space bridge. As such, the Decepticons—all but one—broke off their march and returned to headquarters. Fearing the security of the operation had been breached, Xaaron ordered Operation: Volcano be cancelled, and the uprising was postponed indefinitely.

Unfortunately, the one Decepticon who had not followed orders, Macabre, had penetrated the meeting and attempted to assassinate Xaaron. Impactor threw Xaaron out of the way of the killing shot and was killed instead. Macabre lined up for a second shot but was brought down by fire from the rest of the Wreckers. Impactor passed leadership of the Wreckers to Springer before dying. Target: 2006

2005 IDW continuity

Operation: Volcano was a Wreckers operation. During it, they got through Magma's orbital shield by using two ships to strike two weak points at the same time, angle, and speed, fatally compromising the shield's integrity. Later, Wreckers fan Ironfist considered the maneuver a classic. Last Stand of the Wreckers #2

Of Masters and Mayhem

Operation: Volcano was one of the famed missions of the legendary Wreckers during the Great War. Impactor's profile in Club magazine #68