Infiltration issue 5

« The Transformers: Infiltration #5 »
Who dares interrupt my coronation?
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	May 31, 2006
Cover date	May 2006
Written by	Simon Furman
Art by	E. J. Su
Colors by	John Rauch
Letters by	Tom B. Long
Edits by	Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor
Continuity	IDW continuity
Chronology	Infiltration

Megatron shows the Decepticons what happens to traitors, but Starscream may have an ace up his sleeve.

Synopsis

Bumblebee sees to the buried and damaged Ratchet, but the medic is able to recover. Skywarp and Blitzwing return to bombing the Nebraska Decepticon Command Bunker. Jimmy Pink and Hunter O'Nion run to the exit, but Hunter is concerned about Verity Carlo. Verity is still deep in the Bunker, paralyzed by fear at the sight of Megatron, who gives her a glance and then ignores the irrelevant Earth native. Verity takes video footage of the Decepticon leader, but is forced to retreat to upper levels as the Bunker collapses. Megatron is left behind. Hunter and Jimmy manage to leave the Bunker, but Hunter still worries about Verity.

At the Oregon Command Bunker, Astrotrain refines the Ore-13 yield at Starscream's orders. The Decepticon Air Command patiently waits to consume the powerful ore.

Verity makes it to the Bunker's exit and is pulled up to safety through the effort of Hunter and Bumblebee when the Bunker begins to completely collapse on itself. Ratchet collects the humans inside himself and the two Autobots speed away. Blitzwing and Skywarp survey the new crater, with Blitzwing believing the base and what they did inside made them stop being Decepticons and that it "deserves to be buried". Suddenly, an enraged Megatron smashes his way out of the rubble, to the panic of both Decepticons and Autobots. Skywarp tries to talk to Megatron, but is downed with a single fusion cannon shot. Blitzwing engages him, but is grabbed by his cannon and smashed against the ground. Bumblebee and Ratchet flee back to Ark-19, knowing that Megatron is out of their league. Fortunately for them, the Autobots aren't even on Megatron's radar. He has someone else to destroy...

The Autobots report the data they gained to Prowl, as Ratchet relays his theory on what is going on—Starscream's cell found a new variant of energon they could directly apply to their systems. Quickly exhausting the seam, they abandoned the bunker for a new one in Oregon (which had a richer seam) and engaged Siege Mode to protect what they had. Megatron is here to "put his house in order", and nobody can tell how powerful Starscream's cell may have become...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Ratchet (1) Bumblebee (2) Prowl (11) Ironhide (12)	Blitzwing (3) Skywarp (4) Megatron (8) Astrotrain (9) Starscream (10)	Hunter O'Nion (5) Jimmy Pink (6) Verity Carlo (7)

Notes

Continuity notes

• This issue contains the first specific mention of Ore-13, which will be a recurring plot device in the IDW mythos for years to come.
• First appearances: Astrotrain

Transformers references

• When Megatron bursts out of the bunker, a broken piece of a pipe has the label "Binaltech".

Real-life references

• The action's set in rural Nebraska; the Decepticon bunker is in Oregon.

Other trivia

• The "Decepticomments" section featured mail answered by Chris Ryall and short ads for next month's issues: Infiltration #6, Hearts of Steel #1, Generations #4.

Covers (7)

• 
  Infiltration #5 cover A - Megatron can dance!
• 
  Infiltration #5 cover B - Crotch shot
• 
  Infiltration #5 cover C - I am invincible!
• 
  Infiltration #5 cover D - Come on and hit me with your best shot!

• Infiltration #5 cover A: Megatron choked, by E. J. Su.
• Infiltration #5 cover B: Starscream on throne, by Guido Guidi.
• Infiltration #5 cover C: Ore-13 Starscream, by Andrew Wildman.
• Infiltration #5 cover D: Megatron vs Blitzwing, by Nick Roche.

• 
  Infiltration #5 cover RI-A - Starscream, get out of my cover!
• 
  Infiltration #5 cover RI-B - Toy accurate!
• 
  Infiltration #5 cover RI-C - Robotic John Wayne

• Infiltration #5 cover RI-A: wraparound of cover A.
• Infiltration #5 cover RI-B: Autobots, by Guido Guidi.
• Infiltration #5 cover RI-C: Ironhide, by Guido Guidi (includes 4 mini-prints).

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• Optimus Prime Alternators toy
• Infiltration #6, B&W sketch cover
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• Hearts of Steel #1
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Reprints

• The Transformers: Infiltration TPB (September 13, 2006) ISBN 1600100104 / ISBN 978-1600100109
• The Transformers: Infiltration Manga TPB (November 29, 2006) ISBN 1600100198 / ISBN 978-1600100192
• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1 HC (December 5, 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182
• The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One HC (May 26, 2010) ISBN 1600106676 / ISBN 978-1600106675
• The Transformers: Phase One Omnibus TPB (September 10, 2014) ISBN 1631401130 / ISBN 978-1631401138