Decisive Battle

With the power of the Skyboom Shield at his disposal, Megatron invites the Autobots to what could be the last battle.

Characters (In order of appearance):
Megatron, Starscream, Sideways, Cyclonus, Demolishor,

Hot Shot, Street Action Mini-Con Team, Jolt, Blurr

Rad, Carlos, Billy, Fred, Alexis,

Smokescreen, Scavenger, Optimus Prime, Red Alert,

Air Defense Mini-Con Team, Race Mini-Con Team, Swindle, Liftor, Sparkplug

Episode number:: 21
North American air date: Friday January 24, 2003
Preceded by: 20. Reinforcement
Succeeded by: 22. Vow

Summary

Testing the power of the Skyboom Sheild, Megatron distintegrates an entire comet. Satisfied with his new toy's power, Megatron anticipates the next conflict will allow the Decepticons to end the routine of battling for new Mini-Cons and finish the Autobots.

In the Autobot's base, Hot Shot is running through an obstacle course of suspended metal pieces, while the Mini-Cons try to slow him down by tossing stuff at Hot Shot. But before Hot Shot can win, Blurr catches up and captures the flag. Smokescreen arrives and asks to join in the training, and Blurr goads Smokescreen to attempt a run by challenging his performance hardware. While taking several hits in the process, Smokescreen eventually manages to grab the flag.

Autobots have the best screensavers.

In the Autobot control room, Optimus receives a direct challenge from Megatron. Optimus knows that despite being hopelessly overpowered, it is his job to accept the challenge. The Autobots all rush out to teleport to the location Megatron specified.

When the Autobots arrive to battle the Decepticons, Megatron summons his Star Sabre and Skyboom Sheild, and tells Demolishor to hold back, as Megatron anticipates that with his new weapons, he can defeat the Autobots on his own. The sheild blocks attacks from at Hot Shot and Blurr, and then all of the Autobot's firepower. Megatron moves forward and slices apart Optimus's rifle. Cyclonus and Demolishor contribute by raining down gunfire on the scattering Autobots, allowing Megatron and Optimus to be seperated from the rest of the group.

Hot Shot and Blurr notice Optimus fighting Megatron by himself and the two transform and rush to aid Optimus. Starscream and Cyclonus chase the duo from the air. Hot Shot provides cover-fire while Blurr attempts to lose his pursuers. Blurr and Hot Shot trade positions, and eventually Cyclonus and Starscream fly out of range. Powerlinking with Swindle, Starscream 'lays a pounding' on the two cars.

In a move even Demolishor finds unwise, Sideways drves direc Red Alert, but it soundly blasted away. Smokescreen, tired of the Decepticon's holding an advantage, powerlinks with Liftor and disrupts Starscream. Demolishor rolls a large boulder at Smokescreen who is pinned to the ground. When Cyclonus observes that the Decepticons are maintaining their advantage, he's blasted out of the sky by Sideways, whom neither side sees.

Near a crevice, Optimus is still surviving against Megatron. Hot Shot and Blurr arrive to distract Megatron, allowing Optimus to literally grab onto the Skyboom Sheild while Megatron is still holding it. Trying to slice Optimus away, Megatron accidentally tosses the Skyboom Sheild into the crevise. Angry, Megatron attempts to impale Optimus but is halted by Sparkplug.

Ruffolo?

With Megatron intending to get at Optimus by slicing through Sparkplug, the Skyboom sheild activates and levitates from the crevice to protect the Autobot. The two weapons used against each other sends out a bright light that Rad notes is similar to the light that reactivated all the Mini-Cons in the First Encounter.

The Decepticons, having lost the shield, retreat to their base again. The Autobots congratulate Smokescreen for changing the tide of battle (that is, before he was caught under a rock) and Fred hugs Carlos.

Quotes

• Carlos: Ooh, Wicked cool!

• • Fred: He kinda reminds me of myself when I was working out more.
  • Blurr: Somehow I find that a little hard to believe, Fred.

• • Smokescreen: Hahaha! In your face.
  • Blurr: Sorry Hot Shot, but it looks like Smokescreen smoked you, but good.

• Hot Shot: Didn't think we'd show, did ya, ya overgrown motherboard.

• Sparkplug: Lock onto shield.

Notes

• Sideway's poorly thought out attack on Red Alert could have been to intentionally get himself disabled, helping the sides stay level so the conflict endures. This is consistent with his secret long-term agenda.

• During the chase, Starscream's jet blast is solid black. Several other places during the episode where glowing energy would be expected are solid black.
• Although overall the animation in this episode was pretty bad, it's really noticable when for a moment, Starscream himself is a solid black dot with wings.

• This is the first time a Mini-Con speaks english.

• This is one of the three Armada episodes with more than one word in the title.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.