Infiltration protocol

The infiltration protocol is a Decepticon modus operandi from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Purple prose on a red background.

The Decepticons under Megatron's command follow a strict infiltration protocol—a carefully staged process of destabilizing and conquering inhabited planets. The staged conquest is highly secretive, with soldiers under strict orders not to break cover till late in process. Though brutal in its later phases, this tactic is still constrained by the Code of Interplanetary Conflict.

The Decepticon infiltration protocol has six phases:

Phase One presumably comprises the initial infiltration of a planet's society and gathering of intelligence. The Transformers have been on Earth for three years by the time Ratchet meets up with Verity, Hunter and Jimmy.

Phase Two involves the agitation of pre-existing conflicts and igniting "international hotspots". Frequently this is accomplished with facsimiles—artificial duplicates of key members of the planet's native population, equipped to duplicate the original's actions, memories and personalities, but programmed to serve the Decepticons' interests. The goal is to get the natives to obliterate themselves, without the Decepticons' direct involvement.

On occasion, the Decepticons will encounter unusual resistance, and see fit to use a special protocol known as mirror response mode, as they did when encountering the Avengers as Phase Two unfolded on Earth. Whether this modus operandi is tied specifically to Phase Two is not known.

Phase Three is not described. It presumably continues agitation of conflict, but may involve direct-albeit discreet-involvement of the Decepticons (such as dealing with people who suspect outside influences, etc.).

Phase Four is not described. The Decepticons have presumably dropped cover to some extent by this point, possibly attacking the most destabilized areas of the planet directly.

Phase Five is not described, but it appears that the Decepticon presence is now known at this point.

A special modus operandi known as Siege Mode is typically initiated during Phase Five. Military protection of assets appears to be the goal of Siege Mode, implying that the Autobots or the natives are now making efforts to stop the Decepticons through straightforward military force; a massive above-ground fortress (variously known as the siege armature or siege mode armature) is typically installed on the planet and used as a base of operations. Secrecy is no longer a concern, as evidenced by the enormous and highly visible cliff-side command bunker that Starscream's crew erected in Oregon, as well as Runabout and Runamuck's flagrant and unconcealed attacks on Ratchet. Ratchet states that he has only seen this phase once before, though whether this is due to his normal role as a non-frontline combatant or because of other circumstances is not clear.

Breaking protocol is extremely rare, to the point that Ratchet was in a virtual panic when Starscream's unit on Earth engaged Siege Mode too early in the infiltration. Megatron himself soon arrived on-world to investigate and apply some Decepticon-style discipline.

Phase Six, by all accounts, is pretty much the end of the world. Phase Six involved the invasion of destabilized planets on the brink of collapse and the elimination of any possible resistance. Three Decepticons were specifically chosen for this task: Sixshot, Black Shadow and Overlord. All, or at least the vast majority of Decepticons employed in this phase have fail-safes installed in their systems, to prevent their firepower and tactical acumen from being used against Megatron himself. An aside comment by Springer ("I don't care if it's Phase SIXTY!") implies that the Decepticons have achieved Phase Six in the invasion of Varas Centralus: a state of open, all-out war on a devastated planet.

Fiction

Generation 1 IDW comics continuity

Earth

The security of the Decepticons' Phase One protocol was breeched when the Machination agent Stoker infiltrated the Decepticons' bunker in Nebraska. The Decepticons—acting under Starscream's local command—risked further revealing themselves by entering siege mode for the purpose of erasing evidence Stoker collected. They killed Stoker, then tried to retrieve his SM-40 computer from Verity Carlo, who had stolen it. When they failed at that because of Autobot interference, they made due with destroying Stoker's mobile home, the business where Verity hid out, and the bus Stoker traveled on.

Starscream's entering siege mode so early in the infiltration process led to Megatron himself to come to Earth to put the Deceptions back in line. When he arrived, he discovered Starscream had further broken protocol by moving their base of operations from Nebraska. Megatron reasserted his authority by thrashing Skywarp, Blitzwing, and Starscream. He then moved the Decepticons up to Phase Two. Infiltration

The Decepticons initiate Phase Two operations by trying to spark a war between the Eastern European countries of Latveria and Symkaria. The operation is thwarted by an alliance of the Avengers and Autobots. New Avengers / Transformers

Megatron sent Skywarp in search of fragile governments in Africa that could be toppled. Spotlight: Ramjet Decepticons attempt to covertly start a war between Soviet Union and Brasnya, one of their breakaway republics. The Autobots successfully contained hostilities. Meanwhile, the Decepticons replaced a likely candidate for President of the United States, Senator Alexander Holt, with a facsimile. Excalation

This defeat caused Megatron to abandon the phase structure, and he called in Phase Six specialist Sixshot. The rest of the Earth-based Decepticons think he has lost it and plotted against him to restore regular protocols. They awakened Starscream. Sixshot caused mayhem by shooting down Ark-19 Devastation issue 1 Devastation issue 2 and tracking down Earth-based Autobots. Optimus Prime and a group of his Autobots confronted him and engaged him in battle. Devastation issue 3 Optimus Prime ordered a general retreat to Ark-32 via orbital jump—effectively abandoning Earth. Devastation issue 4

The Reapers attacked Decepticons' Earth headquarters. Megatron recalled Sixshot to help repel these new invaders. In an act of defiance, Starscream deactivated Sixshot using his secret deactivation code. The rest of the Decepticons engaged the Reapers. Devastation issue 5 In the desperate battle that followed, all the Decepticons rallied around Megatron. The Decepticons quickly lose ground until Galvatron secretly intervenes. The United States military appears to be fully aware of the Decepticon presence. Devastation issue 6

Meanwhile, Senator Holt's facsimile replacement and a four-star general facsimile lost contact with the Decepticons when infiltration protocols were abandoned. Unaware of the disorder amongst the Decepticons, they decided to proceed on their own and continued with Alpha-Scenario as planned. Devastation issue 3

A year or so later, the infiltration protocols remain abandoned on Earth as the Decepticons openly invade New York City. All Hail Megatron issue 1

Varas Centralus

Bluestreak was leading the Autobot counterforce on Varas Centralus when the Decepticons went to Phase Six. The Wreckers were brought in to cause as much damage to the Decepticons as possible, even though the planet itself was likely a lost cause. The Wreckers were abruptly redeployed to Cybertron to take care of a situation developing there. Stormbringer issue 2

Nebulos

Darkwing's unit on Nebulos appeared to be in either Phase One or Two when Thunderwing attacked the planet. Stormbringer issue 2 Darkwing considered letting Tunderwing do the work of devastating the world for them, but decided that Thunderwing might not leave much left over for the Decepticons to strip down. So his unit attacked. After failing miserably to stop Thunderwing, Darkwing and Dreadwind abandoned the planet. Stormbringer issue 3