Prime Directive issue 6

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<tr style="font-size:14px;"> <td class="tti_buttonlink">« </td><td align="center">The Transformers:<br />Generation 1 #6 </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink">» </td></tr> <tr class="tt1_secondarynav"> <td class="tti_buttonlink"> </td><td align="center"> </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink"> </td></tr></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 12px; background-color:#ffffff;" align="center"> <img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/3/38/G1_Vol.1_Issue6_1.jpg/230px-G1_Vol.1_Issue6_1.jpg" width="230" height="353" border="0" /><br />Not now, Inferno. </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Publisher </td><td> Dreamwave Productions </td></tr> <tr> <td>Date published </td><td> October 23, 2002 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Cover date </td><td> October, 2002 </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Story </td><td> Chris Sarracini </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Pencils </td><td> Pat Lee </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Inks </td><td> Rob Armstrong </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Colors </td><td> Ramil Sunga, Gary Yeung, Alan Wang, Shawn Curtis, Rob Ruffolo, Stuart Ng, Angelo Tsang, Juan Malera, Matt Cossin, Pat Lee </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Letters </td><td> Dreamer Design </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Editor-in-chief </td><td> Roger Lee </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Continuity </td><td> Dreamwave continuity </td></tr> <tr> <td>Chronology </td><td> Modern era </td></tr>

</table> The Autobots save the day but pay the ultimate price.

Synopsis

Defense Minister Dawson and the President of the United States are getting a sitrep on the San Francisco battle when the CIA breaks in with news that the city has been targeted by a nuclear missile from the American arsenal. The President frantically orders to abort the launch, but he's too late.

In the Northwest Territories, a misguided tank commander of the Canadian military orders the Autobots to lower their weapons. When Wheeljack tries to explain their mission the tanks open fire, and a viral wave heads straight for the humans.

In San Francisco, Megatron explains to Optimus Prime that he ordered all the devastation on the city just to get Prime's attention. Still weary, Optimus tells Megatron to shut up, and that he'll defend humans even if they betray him and his own troops abandon his cause. Just as Megatron decides to end Prime's life once and for all, the sound of honking distracts him. Prime jumps out of the way as three fire engines, driven by humans, come racing down a broken freeway and slam into the Decepticons. Prime uses the distraction to quickly free his captured troops and then tells the Autobots to show no mercy.

In the Pentagon, General Hallo has already tipped over the edge of insanity and is gleefully watching the nuclear countdown. Spike bursts in and announces the general's complicity in the destruction of the Ark II and the deaths of the humans on board. Hallo swings the gun in Spike's direction and tells him to enjoy the show.

Back in Canada, the metallic virus is eating up the Canadian tanks and their human operators. Their interference has stymied Wheeljack's plan to stop the virus. Jazz and Wheeljack can't agree if they should retreat or stay and try to find some last-ditch solution. Wheeljack has an epiphany and races off toward a human settlement without explanation.

Meanwhile, Hallo is still holding Spike at gunpoint and ranting about safeguarding the security of the United States. Luckily for Spike, the president and several armed officers arrive. When Hallo turns his gun on them he's shot down.

Me not hear the magic word.

In San Fran, Optimus and the Autobots are making short work of the Decepticons. Optimus decides that taking Megatron captive isn't good enough this time, but Soundwave's alert of an incoming nuclear projective makes him pause. Despite his damaged state, Megatron laughs at the irony. The Aerialbots merge into Superion and take off, while in Canada Wheeljack hooks himself up to a satellite dish. He uses the last of his power to blast the virus, just as Superion flies into the nuclear missile, causing a huge explosion and tidal wave.

Spike wakes Optimus Prime and lets him know the Decepticons have fled and the missile was stopped. The Autobots uncover Grimlock from the rubble and Optimus offers the Dinobot leader a place back in their ranks. But Grimlock refuses and walks off. Prime assesses the personal toll the last battle has had on his troops and how things will never be the same.

Little does he know that up north Jazz is cradling Wheeljack's seemingly lifeless body.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

<table border="5" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" align="center" style="border:#800000"> <tr> <th style="background:#FFEEEE"> Autobots</th><th style="background:#EEEEFE"> Decepticons</th><th style="background:antiquewhite"> Humans </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top">

• Bumblebee (2)
• Red Alert (3)
• Cliffjumper (4)
• Wheeljack (5)
• Jazz (6)
• Mirage (7)
• Brawn (8)
• Optimus Prime (11)
• Grimlock (12)
• Sideswipe (13)
• Sunstreaker (14)
• Silverbolt (15)
• Slingshot (16)
• Air Raid (17)
• Skydive (18)
• Trailbreaker (20)
• Superion (22)

</td><td style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top">

• Soundwave (9)
• Megatron (10)
• Starscream (21)

</td><td style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top">

• General Hallo (1)
• Spike Witwicky (19)

</td></tr></table>

Errors

• Red Alert's presence was later explained as being an art error, for the second time in a row.
• Though Wheeljack apparently died in this issue, he is fine by the next series.
• In the panel of Cliffjumper and Canadian soldiers (who are escaping from their tank), Cliffjumper's legs appear to be buried in snow despite being snow-free a few pages earlier. Whatever the case, the snow disappears by the next panel.

Quotes

"So save your rambling Megatron and hope that your next blast kills me because if it doesn't I promise I'll tear you to pieces."

—Optimus Prime, hardcore

"I always dreamed of the day that I'd finally capture Megatron as my prisoner. Slight change of plans."

—Optimus Prime, even more hardcore

Items of note

• The middle of the comic contains a two-page spread by James Raiz and Alan Wang with Kenny Li featuring Generation 1 Transformers.
• Spike is shown being happy for the Autobots' victory and apparently oblivious to the damage to the city, while Prime observes the devastation with concern and grief. In issue 2, as Prime comments that the Autobots wouldn't cause this much destruction if they weren't being controlled, Spike replies that such damage is the usual result of Transformers' battles on Earth.
• Was it really necessary for Superion to fly into the missile, killing all five Aerialbots, when they could have just delegated the job to Slingshot. Or just shoot the bloody thing down over the sea.
• As a safety precaution, nuclear missiles can be deactivated while in-flight, yet it was allowed to continue on its merry way.

Covers (2)

Menasor's rarely used ability: boob blasters

—all covers by Pat Lee

• Cover A: Red Alert and Inferno
• Cover B: Menasor

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• Warlands, Vol.3 #1 (back interior cover)
• Prime Directive TPB (back cover)