Golden Age

The name or term "Golden Age" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Golden Age (disambiguation).

"So called because everything was really shiny."

The Golden Age, also known as the First Golden Age of Cybertron in some universes, was a period in Transformer history on their homeworld of Cybertron, when their world was rich in energy, and the inhabitants were at peace with one another. Sooner or later, all good things must come to an end... which generally means the beginning of the Great War.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Nine million years ago, Cybertron was at peace until Megatron led his newly formed Decepticon army against the peaceful Autobots which began a long series of wars that resulted in a broken planet. War Dawn

Cybertron entered into a new Golden Age when the Plasma Energy Chamber was used to re-charge the planet by directing the energy into Vector Sigma which was in the hands of the peaceful Autobots. The Rebirth, Part 3

Wings Universe

Wings Universe is based on the Generation 1 cartoon, but deviates from it in cosmetic ways and continuity points.

The second Golden Age came to an end in 2013 when the clone armies of Jhiaxus conquered Cybertron during the Machine Wars. Termination However, the Machine Wars ended in a matter of weeks, bringing about the Pax Cybertronia. A Common Foe

Ask Vector Prime

In Primax 903.0-M Lambda, the ghost of Starscream possessed the corpse of Skyquake and sought his vengeance against Galvatron during Cybertron's New Golden Age, initiating the Machine Wars. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/27

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

The Golden Age was the earliest period of recorded Cybertronian history. On first seeing The Fallen, Jetfire wondered if he was from before the Golden Age. His speculation amused the ancient mechanoid. Confrontation

2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon

The O-Parts, or anything like them, had not been seen since the Golden Age. The Ultimate Robot Warrior

Shell Game

The Beta Maxx of Viron 704.31 Epsilon was a Micromaster, built during the Golden Age. Beta Maxx's profile Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/30

2005 IDW continuity

The Golden Age had come about largely because Nova Major and Galvatron successfully ended the First Cybertronian Civil War between the Thirteen Tribes. With the blessing of the last of the Thirteen on Cybertron, Alpha Trion, Nova Major took on the mantle of "Prime" and became leader of the newly unified planet. The Crucible With the assistance of his close friends and advisers, Nova Prime made accomplishments such as rediscovering Crystal City, home of the legendary Knights of Cybertron. The city's guardian, Omega Supreme, joined Nova's crew in bringing about peace and prosperity for Cybertron's people. Primus: All Good Things Modern Cybertronians thus remember the reign of Nova Prime as the Golden Age, a time of great scientific progress and exploration. What few of them know is that Nova Prime was a staunch Technoist, believing Cybertron should dominate the galaxy, and that his government carried out dodgy scientific experiments on their own kind. Spotlight: Optimus Prime

The legendary Knights of Cybertron were associated with the Golden Age. Chaos Theory Part 1

Shattered Glass

Optronix was a data archivist during the Golden Age of Cybertron. His access to greater knowledge helped set him on the path of desire of greater power, eventually resulting in the Second Cybertronian War. BotCon 2008 Optimus Prime profile card

Animated cartoon continuity

The Golden Age was a period between the First and Second Cybertronian Wars. After the defeat of alien invaders, the Transformers colonized the Hadeen System and enjoyed a lengthy period of peace. The eventual war between Guardians and Malignus would devastate all of this. The AllSpark Almanac II

Aligned continuity family

The Covenant of Primus

"May joy and good fellowship reign, and in this manner, may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages, increasing friendly understanding among nations"

The Golden Age of Cybertron began after the Quintessons were driven off-world, ending the Age of Wrath. Free to govern themselves, the Cybertronians experienced a period of expansion, harmony, and growth lasting at least 80,000 years. The Well of All Sparks produced countless Cybertronians during the first half of the Golden Age, which was interpreted as a goodwill gesture from Primus. Storytelling, particularly the retelling of myths, became common during the Golden Age, but perhaps the most important aspect of the Golden Age was the technological advances.

Using the resources left behind by the Quintessons, Space bridge technology was re-engineered and combined with cyberforming tech to convert lifeless asteroids and planets into inhabitable colony worlds. While the prospect of exploring an infinite frontier was exciting for like-minded bots, the logistical necessities of meeting the demands for developing technology and production only further entrenched the caste system into the lives of the average Cybertronian. While some discussion on social equity took place, the general mood of Cybertron was hopeful, as they watched the creation of Archon via Conversion beam.

Sentinel Zeta Prime and the High Council conceived of a way to duplicate the Well of All Sparks on these colonies, with Archon being the first test of this concept. The ceremonial running of the torch, which held the "fire of life, the Spark which animates all of us", would become a celebratory event. A chain of various torchbearers stretched from the Well of All Sparks, across Iacon, through the newly created Six Lasers Over Cybertron, into the spaceport where the Space Bridge lay, and through the portal to Archon's well. There would be fireworks and sporting events in celebration of the monumental achievement.

Sentinel Prime was the first torchbearer, lighting the torch in the Well of All Sparks. Although some doomsday cultists and even those in Sentinel's circle feared that they were tempting fate by "mess[ing] with [their] God", the torch was successfully lit, carrying yellow-white fire. Sentinel would run to the Well's edge, giving the torch to Bluestreak. One by one, the torch was passed across Cybertron, with the crowds following each runner and growing by the minute. After entering through the portal, the torch would reach its final bearer: Metalhawk, who dropped the torch into the duplicate Well. It successfully ignited, ensuring that new Cybertronians could be born of the colony worlds as well.

The expansion of the Golden Age was a great time of joy and celebration among the Cybertronians. During this time, Cybertronians encountered other alien species who were much friendlier than the Quintessons. It was a very... very... very satisfying time.

Well... it was, until the Keepers of the Well would eventually report that new life emerging from the Well was diminishing, that the Well's power was finite, and that Energon resources were strained. The Council would begin discussing how Cybertron would have to be more frugal in establishing colonies until alternate sources of power could be conceived.

They needn't have worried.

The Age of Rust would soon begin, all thanks to the mysterious, universally infectious, and fatal Rust Plague, which led to a Cybertron with greatly diminished resources, and a shellshocked population who were unable to conceive of a new path for the future, leading to a state of apathy and despair, and eventually the Great War. Transformers: The Covenant of Primus

Aligned novels

Sentinel Prime fended off a Quintesson invasion and oversaw the construction of the Hydrax Plateau spaceport, the Moonbases, Trypticon, the space bridges, and the colonies. The Golden Age drew to a close as the space bridges grew less reliable, contact with the colonies was lost, and the caste system was established. Exodus

Prime cartoon

Cybertronian data cylinders were created during Cybertron's Golden Age to store the accumulated knowledge of the Transformers. T.M.I.

Beast Wars: Uprising

As Cybershark led Buzzclaw and Ser-Ket to the headquarters of the anti-Builder resistance, Buzzclaw noted that the bulletcar they were riding in was too large for them, having been built for Builder-size 'bots during the Golden Age. Head Games

Star Trek vs. Transformers

When James T. Kirk binary bonded with Fortress Maximus, he glimpsed the Titan's memories of the Golden Age. Prime's Directive, Part Three

Calm Sleep Stories

During the Golden Age, Optimus Prime worked as a data clerk at the Iacon Hall of Records. During his time serving there, he once assisted Jetfire in the reconstruction of the Benevolous Bridge leading to the Alpha Preserve. However, the Golden Age came to an end when Megatron began his revolution. Building Bridges with Optimus Prime

Games

Transformers: Devastation

Starscream noted to Megatron that no Cybertronian had been able to control plasma energy since the Golden Age. It was during this era that Teletraan Alpha was constructed and the Mission of Cybertronian Expansion was launched. Transformers: Devastation

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Ōgon Jidai (黄金時代, "Golden Age")

	Timeline of the Aligned continuity family
Theomachy (Expulsion of Unicron) Age of Primes (War of the Primes) Age of Evolution (Great Cataclysm) Age of Origins Age of Wrath Golden Age Age of Rust Great War (Great Exodus)