Infiltration issue 3: Difference between revisions
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==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
Trapped in a containment cell, [[Verity Carlo]] offers an ultimatum to her [[Autobot]] captors: if they doesn't let her and her friends out, she wipes the [[SM-40]] that's prompted such interest from both sides. [[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] is unmoved, and flicks the security camera to "mute" as [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] gives [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] a thorough dressing-down for disobeying his orders and breaking cover. The Autobot medic tells ''his'' side of the story: having arrived too late to prevent the Decepticon assassination of their [[Stoker|target of interest]], Ratchet wound up clashing with [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] and eventually ran across Verity Carlo and [[Hunter O'Nion]]. Ratchet concludes his case by arguing that the Autobots are on [[Earth]] to ''save'' lives from wanton Deception action, and that's exactly what he tried to do. | |||
Ratchet | Prowl is unmoved: not only did the medic fail to rescue his primary target, he points out, but his attempt to play hero has drawn three more innocent lives into the crossfire. Prowl orders Ratchet to find out what's on Verity's computer and then get rid of the [[human]]s, and although Ratchet suggests alerting [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] to the unusual Decepticon activity Prowl just ignores him. In desperation, Ratchet points out to Ironhide that the local Decepticon cell might have potentially gone rogue... and even if they're acting under orders, their erratic behavior means only one thing: it's a matter of time before [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] arrives. | ||
In [[Tuscon]], [[Arizona]], a police officer is investigating the dead body of the businessman, and tracks his last known whereabouts to a nearby trailer park. No sooner has he arrived than a pair of warplanes - [[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|one black]], [[Blitzwing (G1)|one purple]]- appear out of thin air, annihilating the dead man's trailer before promptly disappearing again. | |||
As the detained humans argue in their cell, Ratchet's holomatter avatar appears in front of them and persuades Verity to hand the computer over. As he deactivates the holomatter walls of their cell, Rathcet explains the situation: the humans have been brought aboard the [[Autobot]] starship ''[[Ark-19]]'', located at the bottom of [[Lake Michigan]]. Ratchet plugs in the palmtop into the ''Ark-19'''s systems to analyze its contents; at the same time, Ironhide, unbeknownst to all, finishes sending a secret pulsewave to Autobot high command — for Optimus Prime's eyes only. | |||
Verity, Hunter and Jimmy insist that Ratchet take them to the [[Decepticon]] bunker in [[Nebraska]] so that they can locate the proof Ratchet needs to persuade Prowl of the severity of the situation. | Ratchet finally reveals the reason why the mysterious businessman had been targeted by the Decepticons: his photos show snapshots of a [[Decepticon Command Bunker|gigantic Decepticon bunker]] somewhere in the wilderness of [[Nebraska]]. As Ratchet explains the Decepticon [[infiltration protocol]] to the confused humans, he points out that something's gone wrong on Earth: the Decepticons have ''abandoned'' this base in favor of a secondary command bunker in [[Oregon]], and have initiated [[siege mode]] earlier than normal. More intriguingly, the previous holder of the palmtop computer broke into the Nebraska base, snapping photos of its derelict interior. Verity wonders aloud: why would the Decepticons relocate? | ||
In [[Riverside]], a news crew prepares to broadcast a report from the site of [[Jimmy Pink]]'s destroyed garage. As they set up, however, an ominous rumbling precludes the arrival of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in his tank configuration, who levels what remains of Jimmy's garage before trundling over the broadcast vans. The assembled newcasters can only look on in confusion as the tank [[transformation|transforms]] into a fighter jet and zooms away. | |||
Verity, Hunter and Jimmy insist that Ratchet take them to the [[Decepticon]] bunker in [[Nebraska]] so that they can locate the proof Ratchet needs to persuade Prowl of the severity of the situation. Ratchet isn't convinced: rescuing them from the crossfire is one thing, but willingly sending them into a dangerous situation is quite another. Their arguments wear him down, however, and Ratchet finally makes up his mind when [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] offers to help out. The three humans climb aboard as the two Autobots make their way to Nebraska. | |||
In the bus depot in [[Phoenix]], [[Arizona]], a skeptical janitor engineer investigates the salvaged coach bus targeted by the Deceptions, but his maintenance concerns are quickly alleviated when the two Decepticons appear and annihilate the bus in another surgical strike. When asked for their ''next'' target, however, Decepticon lieutenant [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] orders Skywarp and Blitzwing to destroy the Nebraskan bunker... | |||
==Featured characters== | ==Featured characters== | ||
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===Transformers references=== | ===Transformers references=== | ||
* We get our first good looks at the Autobot cast and their new designs. Redesigns of existing characters in official media had been vanishingly rare before IDW, but would become a staple conceit as the story rolled on. | * We get our first good looks at the Autobot cast and their new designs. Redesigns of existing characters in official media had been vanishingly rare before IDW, but would become a staple conceit as the story rolled on. | ||
===Errors=== | ===Errors=== | ||
Revision as of 00:46, 14 February 2018
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 Eat foot, dig? | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | March 8, 2006 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | March 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 | ||||||||||||
The Decepticons attempt to erase evidence of their location while Ratchet warns Prowl of the situation.
Synopsis
Trapped in a containment cell, Verity Carlo offers an ultimatum to her Autobot captors: if they doesn't let her and her friends out, she wipes the SM-40 that's prompted such interest from both sides. Sunstreaker is unmoved, and flicks the security camera to "mute" as Prowl gives Ratchet a thorough dressing-down for disobeying his orders and breaking cover. The Autobot medic tells his side of the story: having arrived too late to prevent the Decepticon assassination of their target of interest, Ratchet wound up clashing with Runamuck and eventually ran across Verity Carlo and Hunter O'Nion. Ratchet concludes his case by arguing that the Autobots are on Earth to save lives from wanton Deception action, and that's exactly what he tried to do.
Prowl is unmoved: not only did the medic fail to rescue his primary target, he points out, but his attempt to play hero has drawn three more innocent lives into the crossfire. Prowl orders Ratchet to find out what's on Verity's computer and then get rid of the humans, and although Ratchet suggests alerting Optimus Prime to the unusual Decepticon activity Prowl just ignores him. In desperation, Ratchet points out to Ironhide that the local Decepticon cell might have potentially gone rogue... and even if they're acting under orders, their erratic behavior means only one thing: it's a matter of time before Megatron arrives. In Tuscon, Arizona, a police officer is investigating the dead body of the businessman, and tracks his last known whereabouts to a nearby trailer park. No sooner has he arrived than a pair of warplanes - one black, one purple- appear out of thin air, annihilating the dead man's trailer before promptly disappearing again.
As the detained humans argue in their cell, Ratchet's holomatter avatar appears in front of them and persuades Verity to hand the computer over. As he deactivates the holomatter walls of their cell, Rathcet explains the situation: the humans have been brought aboard the Autobot starship Ark-19, located at the bottom of Lake Michigan. Ratchet plugs in the palmtop into the Ark-19's systems to analyze its contents; at the same time, Ironhide, unbeknownst to all, finishes sending a secret pulsewave to Autobot high command — for Optimus Prime's eyes only.
Ratchet finally reveals the reason why the mysterious businessman had been targeted by the Decepticons: his photos show snapshots of a gigantic Decepticon bunker somewhere in the wilderness of Nebraska. As Ratchet explains the Decepticon infiltration protocol to the confused humans, he points out that something's gone wrong on Earth: the Decepticons have abandoned this base in favor of a secondary command bunker in Oregon, and have initiated siege mode earlier than normal. More intriguingly, the previous holder of the palmtop computer broke into the Nebraska base, snapping photos of its derelict interior. Verity wonders aloud: why would the Decepticons relocate?
In Riverside, a news crew prepares to broadcast a report from the site of Jimmy Pink's destroyed garage. As they set up, however, an ominous rumbling precludes the arrival of Blitzwing in his tank configuration, who levels what remains of Jimmy's garage before trundling over the broadcast vans. The assembled newcasters can only look on in confusion as the tank transforms into a fighter jet and zooms away.
Verity, Hunter and Jimmy insist that Ratchet take them to the Decepticon bunker in Nebraska so that they can locate the proof Ratchet needs to persuade Prowl of the severity of the situation. Ratchet isn't convinced: rescuing them from the crossfire is one thing, but willingly sending them into a dangerous situation is quite another. Their arguments wear him down, however, and Ratchet finally makes up his mind when Bumblebee offers to help out. The three humans climb aboard as the two Autobots make their way to Nebraska.
In the bus depot in Phoenix, Arizona, a skeptical janitor engineer investigates the salvaged coach bus targeted by the Deceptions, but his maintenance concerns are quickly alleviated when the two Decepticons appear and annihilate the bus in another surgical strike. When asked for their next target, however, Decepticon lieutenant Starscream orders Skywarp and Blitzwing to destroy the Nebraskan bunker...
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Notes
Continuity notes
- Prowl dismisses Ratchet's actions as being to "give yourself another shot at being a hero", implying that he has carried out similar actions in the past which may have gone wrong.
- First appearances: Bumblebee, Wheeljack and Jazz; Skywarp; we get our first mentions of Optimus Prime and Megatron.
Transformers references
- We get our first good looks at the Autobot cast and their new designs. Redesigns of existing characters in official media had been vanishingly rare before IDW, but would become a staple conceit as the story rolled on.
Errors
Other trivia
- The "Decepticomments" section featured mail answered by Chris Ryall and short ads for next month's issues: Infiltration #4, The Gathering #3, Generations #2.
- The first few pages of this story were reprinted as part of a Free Comic Book Day issue by IDW Publishing on May 6th, 2006.
Covers (9)
-
Infiltration #3 cover A - See what happens when you're a prick! -
Infiltration #3 cover B - This time Jazz eats floor, dig? -
Infiltration #3 cover C - Triple takeover. -
Infiltration #3 cover D - Raiz draws better humans, hands down!
- Infiltration #3 cover A: Prowl amongst explosions, part 2 of a larger image by E. J. Su.
- Infiltration #3 cover B: Blitzwing vs Jazz, by Guido Guidi.
- Infiltration #3 cover C: Blitzwing in tank mode, by Andrew Wildman.
- Infiltration #3 cover D: Humans at Ratchet's feet, by James Raiz.
-
Infiltration #3 cover RI-A - Oooh, foily! -
Infiltration #3 cover RI-B - Toy accurate prick! -
Infiltration #3 cover RI-C - Mister deadlier-than-thou -
Free Comic Book Day 2006 cover A
- Infiltration #3 cover RI-A: foil stamp of cover D.
- Infiltration #3 cover RI-B: Prowl, by Guido Guidi.
- Infiltration #3 cover RI-C: Blitzwing, by Guido Guidi (includes 4 mini-prints).
- Free Comic Book Day 2006 cover A: reuse of page 1 of Beast Wars: The Gathering issue #2 showing assorted Predacons, art by Don Figueroa, colors by Josh Burcham.
-
Free Comic Book Day 2006 cover B
- Free Comic Book Day 2006 cover B: reuse of issue #1's cover D.
Advertisements
- 10th Anniversary Beast Wars toys
- Infiltration #4, 2-page B&W sketch preview
- The Gathering #2
- 3-page preview of The Gathering #2
- Generations
- Stormbringer (back cover)
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
