Ransack (ROTF)

The name or term "Ransack" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Ransack (disambiguation).

Ransack is a Decepticon from the Revenge of the Fallen franchise portion of the live-action film continuity family.

That magnificent 'con being a flying machine.

Early in the development of flight technology on Cybertron, countless ages ago, Ransack was a pioneer. One of the first flying aces, his ruthlessness was feared by all. These days, though, he's old and outdated.

“	I'm a Seeker. Far, far older than either of you... a whole other, superior order of Cybertronian lifeform! Have some respect!	”
—An angry Ransack berates the twins, Transformers Comic issue 2.2

Fiction

Titan Magazines

Take that, dignity!

One of the Fallen's agents on Earth, Ransack hadn't heard from the Fallen in a long time. Having no new orders and recognising no other commander, he stayed on Earth for decades. He also shows some knowledge of someone who switched sides. Turnabout

He was sent to murder Skids and Mudflap before they could warn the other Autobots of the upcoming plans. First bombing the interstate they were driving on, he went on to pursue them into the countryside, soon strafing them in an open field. A proud Seeker and servant of his lord, he got a bit pissed at these young whippersnappers dissing his alternate mode and was likely more pissed off when they temporarily disabled him with dirt. Yeah.

Recovering quickly, and helped by their lack of energon, he soon had them ran to ground and was about to execute them. At that moment, Bumblebee arrived and sent him running. Ransack warned that in the long run, he'd be the winner... Dogfight!

Later, Soundwave would try to get information from the Seeker, who refused to pass it on: he'd only talk to the Fallen! The twins, at this point pretending to have defected, hunted him down for Soundwave and Ransack was glad for the chance to finish them off. Skids ended the fight quickly by lying they had been sent by the Fallen to bring him back in, with Mudflap adding the Fallen was incapacitated; having not heard from his master in a long time and wanting to come in from the cold, Ransack was easily conned.

Unfortunately for him, that's when Grindor attacked, blowing his wings out and taking him prisoner! Turnabout

Revenge of the Fallen novelization

When Jetfire transported Sam Witwicky's group through a transspacial portal to Egypt, the energy discharge caught the attention of Ransack, who followed them through his own portal. Ransack flew towards the group until his engine sputtered out and he crashed in front of Jetfire. Ransack then transformed and started to pick a fight with Jetfire, calling him a yellow-bellied traitor. Taking the "yellow" comment the wrong way, Bumblebee wanted to intervene, but Sam convinced him that the dispute was between the two of them and they shouldn't get involved.

Declaring that they were going to settle things right there and then, Ransack took a shot at Jetfire...which bounced off him, causing no damage. Jetfire abruptly ended the conflict by stomping Ransack to death.

Jetfire later identified himself and Ransack as Seekers. Revenge of the Fallen

Toys

Revenge of the Fallen

Scout Class Toys

So Hasbro said to themselves, "We can make just about anything for the movie line and people'll buy it? Well, let's go for friggin' broke."

• Ransack (Scout Class, 2009)
  • Japanese ID number: RD-09

Ransack is part of the second wave of Revenge of the Fallen Scout Class figures. He transforms into a German Albatros D.III biplane. This means he's really awesome. He has a non-firing weapon on each arm and totally metal details around the very large Decepticon insignias on his wings. His official battle mode may be designed to give him mechanically-aided robot-mode flight capabilities.

The ball joints on his shoulders are especially loose, and the pegs that hold his hands in place in vehicle mode (as well as the joints in his elbows) are much stronger. As such, his arms are going to pop off about 90% of the time while converting the figure.

His weapons are swapped on his card art.

• More information on Ransack at TFU.info

Notes

Battle mode.

• Ransack was apparently going to be in the movie at one point. Ben Procter designed his robot mode. Instead of a biplane, Ransack was supposed to transform into a Ford Model T. Later, on the Special Features of the Revenge of the Fallen's DVD release, a scale chart was visible that showed Ransack as one of the Decepticons for the film, this time in his biplane design. His height was listed as 12'.

• Ransack's Generation 2 counterpart also has a propeller-driven airplane alternate mode, though it's a single-wing fighter. The name Ransack has thus been used for both the only WWI era and WWII era Transformer planes.

• Ransack is not named in the novelization, but he is described as an elderly biplane with Decepticon insignias on his wings.

• While his bio doesn't say he's a Seeker, both the novelization and Titan Magazines have made him one. Also, in the movie, a picture Agent Simmons produces of a presumed Seeker contains a biplane.