Sentinel Zeta Prime

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

This article is about the Optimus precursor from War for Cybertron. For the Optimus precursor from the Generation 1 IDW continuity, see Zeta Prime.

Sentinel Zeta Prime is an Autobot from the Transformers: Prime continuity family.

Believe in the Sign of Zeta.

Sentinel Zeta Prime was in charge of Cybertron during the rise of Megatron. Oops.

Fiction

Exodus: The History of the War for Cybertron

Spoiler warning: Plot details for Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron follow. Spoilers expire in 55 days

A Prime and thus leader of the Autobots, Sentinel Prime was in charge when the gladiator Megatron began rallying disenchanted Cybertronians to his cause of a caste-free Cybertron. He did not show himself particularly courageous, a fact that disgusted his bodyguard Starscream. After the appointment of the data clerk Orion Pax to Optimus Prime, Sentinel was hunted down and killed by Megatron, who sought the Key of Justice Sentinel carried within his chest. Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)

Voice actor: Troy Baker (English)

Spoiler warning: Plot details for Transformers: War for Cybertron follow. Spoilers expire in 56 days

Zeta Prime, the leader of the Autobots, was targeted by Megatron, for he was the reputed holder of the Omega Key, a tool that would allow access to Cybertron's core. Megatron's plan was to pump the powerful Dark Energon into the core in the hopes of reviving the planet and restoring it to what he claimed would be, its "former glory". During the Decepticon attack on the crumbling Autobot capitol of Iacon, Zeta Prime appeared via holographs, warning the Decepticons to turn back before it was too late, before Zeta would be forced to execute them.

Megatron's team eventually fought their way to Zeta Prime's chamber in the Iacon Vaults, where he was control of a contraption that not only protected him against all attack, it allowed him to create holographic energon clones of himself and manipulate the ceiling to crush the Decepticons. However, the device had a fatal flaw - after significant operation, the core opened up to cool down, allowing Megatron and his Decepticons to damage it. As Zeta Prime's machine crumbled around him, he was pinned to the floor by the wreckage. He told Megatron to finish it, but instead, the Decepticon leader merely squeezed his spark casing, forcing the Prime to release his grip on the Omega Key. As Megatron gloated in his victory, the key started to flash and beep. Zeta Prime laughed, mocking Megatron for heeding the words for his misinformed spies. The device Megatron now held in his hands was not the Omega Key itself, but merely the device that activated the Key. Zeta said that Megatron would have only have to wait for the Omega Key to come to him.

Zeta Prime was taken to Megatron's Kaon Prison Complex, but elsewhere on Cybertron, Omega Supreme, guardian of Iacon and as it turned out, the true Omega Key, activated with a mission: Destroy Megatron.

After the defeat of Omega Supreme and the corruption of Cybertron's core with Dark Energon, rumours spread through the Autobot camp that Zeta Prime was dead. A young soldier named Optimus was forced to take tempoary command of the Autobots and lead the defensive efforts of Iacon. After Starscream was defeated in the Decagon's communications tower, a message, seemingly from Zeta Prime, was played to all Autobot frequencies. Zeta reported his location, and claimed that he had acquired information vital to the Autobot war effort. Ratchet warned that it was an obvious trap, despite the confirmation of his unique ID signature, but Optimus determined that if there was a chance Zeta was still alive, the Autobots must try to rescue him.

Allowing themselves to be captured, Optimus, Bumblebee and Sideswipe were imprisoned (and then broke free), only to learn from Megatron himself that he had orchestrated Zeta Prime's message, their capture and their subsequent escape. After being captured and escaping again, Optimus' team freed the remaining Autobot prisoners and Air Raid, then set off to find their leader. Eventually, Zeta Prime was found, being tortured by Soundwave in his laboratory. After Soundwave was bested by the Autobots, in desperation, the Decepticon drew energy from the injured Zeta's spark itself, mortally wounding him. Optimus promised to bring Zeta home, but the Prime with his last breath, said that while he appreciated the noble sentiments, it was already too late. Zeta Prime, leader of the Autobots, was dead.

Optimus took Zeta's body back to Iacon, presented it before the Autobot High Council, and begged them for guidance in these desperate times. The leader of the Council stated that they existed only to choose Primes, and that it was the Primes who led the Autobots. When Optimus responded that there were no Primes left, the Council leader asked if Optimus would still reject his true calling. The Council said that for too long they have watched the Primes fall to greed and pride, but Optimus was one leader whose wisdom and courage inspired and transformed the lives of those around him. Charging him with the mission to remove the infection of Dark Energon from Cybertron's core, the council bestowed leadership of the Autobots onto Optimus, a burden and responsibility he accepted. He was now Optimus Prime, the last Prime. Transformers: War for Cybertron

Notes

• As revealed in the unlocked concept art in the Extras menu of the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game, some early colour schemes for WFC Zeta Prime resembled that of Generation 1 Sentinel Prime. Also revealed in the concept art is that Zeta Prime's vehicle mode is a cybertronic car, though he doesn't actually transform in the course of the game.
• Since Exodus featured a Sentinel Prime and War for Cybertron featured a Zeta Prime, both occupying the same role, Hasbro suggested at BotCon 2010 that they were the same guy: "Sentinel Zeta Prime". This continuity was off to a great start!
• A video of the Escalation mode on Justin TV strangely showed another playing playing as Zeta Prime. Rumors have it that a developer was playing as him.