Red Alert (Armada)

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

Red Alert is an Autobot from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Red Alert takes a cue from the Quad City DJs

Red Alert was once a fierce warrior. It was not until he was seriously wounded, losing his hand permanently in battle, that he was able to sit back and realize how terrible war is. He is now a reluctant fighter, and somewhat emotionally detached, preferring to repair his friends than tear his enemies to shreds. This does not mean he is now a coward. To the contrary, when a fellow Autobot on the battlefield needs his immediate medical attention, he will be there no matter what it takes. He's a brilliant medic and scientist, but he's also extremely cautious.

His nominal Mini-Con partner is Longarm, though during the search for the Cyber Planet Keys, he was accompanied to Velocitron by Dirt Boss.

Japanese Armada name: Ratchet

Japanese Galaxy Force name: First Aid, First Gunner ("Cybertron Defense")

Hungarian name: Riadó ("Alert")

Polish Armada name: Alarmus (Alertus)

Russian Armada name: Ред Алерт ("Красная Тревога")

Fiction

Dreamwave comics continuity

Armada

One million years ago, a new faction of Transformers, calling themselves "Decepticons" attacked various Mini-Con villages on Cybertron for unknown, but most likely nefarious purposes. Red Alert was under Optimus Prime's personal squad, sifting through the ruins of Mini-Con Village C-52 hoping to find survivors, though Red Alert was more interested in the fact that the Mini-Cons were using outdated Filtrek-A forceshields. What had happened to the Mini-Cons was that they had been forcibly re-engineered to "powerlink" with the Decepticons, granting the bulks increased power, which the Autobots learned first hand when Megatron attacked Cyber City. Realizing that they were no match for the Decepticons, Red Alert desperately asked Prime for orders. Knowing that they would be killed if they stayed, Optimus ordered a retreat. Dreamwave Armada issue 2

For a million years the civil war raged on, the once-proud Autobots struggled to defend themselves against the powerful, Mini-Con augmented Decepticons, who were in possession of Cybertron's only remaining Mini-Cons, the others having escaped at the beginning of the conflict. Hope came in the form of a Mini-Con Reactivation Signal detected by Cybertron's Decepticon-controlled communications satellites, which Red Alert was able to hack into. The Autobots resolved to travel to this distant world of Earth and resolved to fight for Truth, Justice and Freedom. Dreamwave Armada issue 3

Arriving on Earth at the Allspark Power Generator Station, Red Alert attempted to communicate with the indigenous human species, asking for their help in finding the Mini-Cons, but only managing to frighten them off. Scavenger jokingly suggested it was because of his face. Dreamwave Armada issue 4 Unfortunately for the Autobots, the Decepticons had already arrived and were chasing after Sparkplug's group of Mini-Cons and their human friends, Rad, Carlos and Alexis. Just as Starscream and Cyclonus were about to jump Scavenger, Red Alert and Hot Shot arrived to outflank them. Eventually Megatron powerlinked with all of his Mini-Cons and gained the upper hand, but help came in the form of Jolt's group of Mini-Cons, who powerlinked with the Autobots. Longarm linked with Red Alert, a chest-mounted disk launcher. At a tactical disadvantage, the Decepticons were forced to flee. Dreamwave Armada issue 5

After establishing a base on Earth on the outskirts of Lincoln, South Dakota, Megatron attacked the human city with the Star Saber, the forcibly combined form of the Air Defense Team, to goad the Autobots to emerge from their hidden Autobase. Red Alert tried to contact the Street Action Team to no avail, and the Autobots realised the Autobot-allied Mini-Cons must have left earlier to infiltrate the Decepticon base at Silver Ridge. Despite the considerable tactical disadvantage, the Autobots emerged and fought off the Decepticons as best they could, Red Alert somehow gaining the ability to use his claw rifle without powerlinking with not-present Longarm. Fortunately just as Megatron was about to deal a fatal blow to Optimus Prime, Longarm and the Mini-Cons arrived, powerlinked with their respective Autobot partners, allowing the good guys to free the Air Defense Team and send the Decepticons packing. Dreamwave Armada issue 7

Soon afterwards, when Red Alert was looking in on the Mini-Cons, he discovered that they had vanished. Again. He thought that as they were free to come and go as they pleased, perhaps they needed some time to cool off after Optimus Prime admonished them for disobeying his orders during the Air Defense Team incident. The Autobots received an answer to the mystery when local news networks reported strange lights in Tranquility, Kansas. Racing there in a shuttle, they discovered that the Mini-Cons were being subconsciously drawn to a strange obelisk. Unfortunately, the Decepticons were there as well and a fight quickly broke out, but as they fought, the Mini-Cons (and Rad) were taken into the obelisk and it blasted off to the Moon. Dreamwave Armada issue 8 With the shuttle destroyed, Optimus Prime prepared to use the space bridge to go back to Cybertron and retrieve specialised equipment needed to fly to the Moon, but the Decepticon sensors had to be neutralised before he could do so without compromising security. Hot Shot and Red Alert infiltrated the Decepticon base at Silver Ridge, knocked out Demolishor and erased the space bridge trace data of Prime travelling to Cybertron. Unfortunately, just before Prime returned, Starscream and Thrust returned to Silver Ridge, forcing Red and Hot Shot to hide inside a wall panel. Determined not to let the Decepticons learn of their secret Autobase locations on both Earth and Cybertron, Red Alert and Hot Shot blasted the hapless Decepticons and destroyed their computer. Dreamwave Armada issue 10

After the crisis on the moon was diverted, Red Alert picked up an emergency transmission from Smokescreen and Scavenger, who had detected a Decepticon rocket launch pad in Death Valley, California. At the same time, a Mini-Con escape pod from the moon was detected in Alaska, and Optimus Prime, needing to play politics to keep the Mini-Con refugees on side, decided to deploy the Autobots to the icy north. Fire & Ice Arriving in Alaska, Red Alert and Longarm were tasked with cutting the ice that entombed the escape pod with their sonic cannon while the other Autobots and Mini-Cons defended the area from the Decepticons. Unfortunately, at this moment Megatron attacked the Autobot shuttle with his Solar Scalpel, a orbital superweapon launched from the rocket base in Death Valley. As if they weren't having enough problems, an-over-powerlinked Cyclonus attacked, forcing Hot Shot and Red Alert to intercept. The two Autobots were flattened by the overpowered Cyclonus, until Optimus Prime stepped in and crushed the Decepticon's chest. With the Solar Scalpel destroyed by the Space Mini-Con Team, rescue operations recommenced. Suddenly, Optimus Prime vanished. Dreamwave Armada issue 13

Returning to Autobase: Earth via space bridge, Red Alert and the others discovered that while Optimus Prime didn't return to their base, they did have AN Optimus Prime. While the Mini-Cons postulated that he may be from another dimension, Red Alert did his best to stablize the mysterious Autobot's condition. Sadly, the Prime briefly reactivated to warn them of the "walls" of reality crumbling and that "chaos" was coming, before expiring. Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4 With the arrival of the dimension-crossing Mini-Con Over-Run, the Autobots got some clues into what happened to *their* Optimus Prime and the means to search for him throughout the multiverse. Red Alert and Longarm returned to the scene of Over-Run's appearance on Earth, but could not find his Null-Reality pod, as it had been seized by the Decepticons. Unfortunately, this search for Optimus Prime prompted Megatron to lead an assault on Autobase: Earth, blowing up the computer in the unwitting Red Alert's face as he was using it. With Optimus missing, Red Alert assumed command and ordered the Autobots to roll out, but the Autobots were swiftly defeated. Red Alert was knocked unconcious by Starscream, but Megatron demanded the right to strike the final blow. Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4

The Autobots were inadvertently saved from a fate exactly the same as death when a mysterious, powerful cybertronian appeared and took the Decepticons apart, though the Air Defense Team were forced to intervene to prevent the being from defeating Megatron. After the Decepticons limped away, a seriously-trashed Red Alert reported to Optimus Prime (who had been rescued and was now on Autobase: Cybertron) on the bad condition of the Earthside Autobots, in particular Smokescreen. Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4

With this in mind, those who survived Megatron's attack were less-than-pleased when they learned of Optimus Prime's alliance with the Decepticons to defeat Unicron, the Chaos Bringer and eater of worlds. To prevent a fight from breaking out on Earth, Optimus sent them ahead to Autobase: Cybertron, where its less-damaged facilities could be used to save Smokescreen's life. However, Red Alert and the others still thirsted for revenge against Megatron, and assigned Laserbeak to keep an eye on him. When Megatron isolated himself from the other Transformers by landing on Unicron in the hopes of striking a deal with the Choas Bringer, they attacked, sending the Decepticon leader into Unicron's depths as it disappeared from this reality. The End

Energon

While Optimus Prime waited for a meeting with the High Council, Red Alert, Scavenger and Rodimus were seen travelling on a highway in the center of Cyber City. This Evil Reborn

Cartoon continuity

Armada cartoon

Voice actor: Brian Dobson (English), Ikuya Sawaki (Japanese), Claus Brockmeyer (German), Stefan Berglund (Swedish), Ettore Zuim (Brazil), Guillaume Orsat (French)

Cybertron cartoon

Voice actor: Brian Dobson (English), Yasuyuki Kase (Japanese), Robert Kotulla (German)

At some point, Red Alert had gained a Liverpudlian accent. He was first seen communicating with Optimus Prime via video screen, showing him the destruction of the planet Moriturus. Red Alert did not immediately join his comrades on Earth, instead remaining on a remote observation station to monitor the black hole.

He did not come to Earth until after the failure of his gravitron grid to negate the black hole. To the surprise of the others, the scientifically-minded Red Alert considered Vector Prime's plan to use the Cyber Planet Keys and the Omega Lock viable. Hidden

Red Alert was first seen on Earth when coming along with Overhaul to reinforce the Autobots during their conflict outside a museum. Shortly after, he was sent along with Hot Shot on a covert mission to Velocitron to search for the Cyber Planet Key there. Red Alert was very dismayed at the prospect of a secret mission with the impetuous younger Autobot. Landmine

Panini Armada comics

When the war on Cybertron broke out, Red Alert defended the main Autobot headquarters from a Decepticon attack alongside Hot Shot and Smokescreen. When it was revealed that angry Mini-Cons planned to bomb the base, he and the others retreated. Counter-Strike! A few million years later, Red Alert participated in another battle with the Decepticons, but ended up retreating again as the enemy's Mini-Con augmentations rendered them too powerful. He wondered where the Mini-Cons who escaped from Cybertron had disappeared to, but Optimus Prime told him it was best if nobody ever found out. First Encounter!

But it was not to be. Just a short while later, a Mini-Con reactivation beacon reached Cybertron, and the Autobots tracked it to Earth to protect the Mini-Cons from Megatron. While Red Alert and the others were outgunned by the Decepticons at first, the Mini-Cons pitched in and Longarm joined with Red Alert, allowing him to shoot down Starscream. Friends and Foes! After the Decepticons were chased off, the Autobots stood watch as the Mini-Cons and their new human friends made their way into some small caves. Deep Trouble! They later decided that the best way to keep the Mini-Cons safe was to send them back to Cybertron, so Red Alert prepared a space bridge for them. In the end, the Mini-Cons refused to leave their friends, and a Decepticon attack wrecked the space bridge anyway. No Way Back!

Alongside Hot Shot and Optimus Prime, Red Alert later helped save the Air Defense Mini-Con Team from Starscream. Devices and Desires! When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to nuke their base from the moon, Red Alert despaired that their space bridge was still offline, so they couldn't prepare a counteroffensive. Thankfully, Hot Shot managed to repair the bridge and used it to send the missiles straight back at the Decepticons. Not Red Alert the scientist, but Hot Shot. Earthshaker!

Transformers Legends anthology

Red Alert was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in Yellowstone National Park. Following the Decepticon withdrawal, he was able to successfully retrieve a Mini-Con from a mud pit. Lonesome Diesel

3H Universe comics

Red Alert (or an alternate-universe incarnation of him) was one of the countless Cybertrons captured by agents of Unicron and held prisoner in the Cauldron arena. The quick thinking of Trailbreaker and Silverbolt released them, and Red Alert participated in the great escape. Presumably he was transported back to his proper dimension thanks to the power of Primus. Escape

If this wasn't an alternate-universe incarnation of the character, his appearance in the Universe fiction may explain why he was absent during the Energon series. Alternately, it could be the Red Alert from the Energon comics.

Cyber Key Code content

Red Alert fought beside Optimus Prime, Landmine and Jetfire until one day Starscream used his Energon Saber to cut off his hand. Red Alert has never forgiven him.

Games

Transformers

Voice actor: Daran Norris (English)

When Optimus Prime took to the field, Red Alert served as his dispatcher, alerting him via radio to mission objectives and giving him warnings.

As like the other playable Autobots, Red Alert fights the Decepticons and their army of Decepticlones through various location including Amazon, Antarctic, Mid Atlantic, Deep Amazon, Alaska, Decepticons' Starship, Pacific Island, and eventually merged with all the Mini-Cons which form the Matrix Cannon, and ultimately defeats Unicron and saves his home planet.

He is accompanied by Longarm, his Mini-Con partner, who also enables Red Alert to Powerlinx.

Based on his specs, Red Alert has the highest skills of all (Despite this, it's safe to assume that he's less popular). He has less Mini-Con slots too.

Transformers (Melbourne House)

Toys

Armada

RedAlertWooWooWooWooWoo.ogg This never gets old. NEVER. — 55 Kb

RED UH-LURT!

• Red Alert w/Longarm (Max-Con, 2002/2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MC-02
  • Accessories: Claw-missile, disc, 2 hand-attachments

Red Alert transforms into a white Nissan Patrol rescue SUV. When a Mini-Con is attached to his hood-mounted Mini-Con port, the grille springs open. Pulling back on the attached Mini-Con launches a rescue disk/missile. Similarly, when a Mini-Con is used on his emergency lights port and is pushed forward, the sirens flash and a voice chip proclaims "RED-ALERT! WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO-WOO!" (Naturally, the Japanese version has different sounds.) In robot mode, pulling back on the Mini-Con unlocks a shoulder-mounted missile/rescue grappling claw launcher, which can also be detached and held in his hand. His right leg guard contains several tools that can be attached onto his left wrist socket, while his left leg guard can be unfolded to become a Mini-Con repair bay. He comes with his Mini-Con partner Longarm.

The Takara version has some slight paint application differences from the Hasbro version, mainly a "separated" Autobot insignia and the addition of dark blue paint on his kneecaps.

This mold was later used to make Energon Prowl and Movie Inferno.

• More information on Red Alert at TFU.info

• Red Alert (Fast food premium, 2003)
  • McID number: 6

Part of the Armada Happy Meal promo at McDonald's, this simplified version of Red Alert features a pull-back motor that zips him along in SUV mode. The toy also features Powerlinx plugs, which enable him to form a "leg" to the really silly-looking Mighty Robot; his normal placement is as the left leg.

• More information on McDonald's Red Alert at TFU.info

ORANGE UH-LURT!

• Powerlinx Red Alert w/Longarm (Max-Con, 2003)
  • Japanese ID number: MC-12
  • Accessories: Claw-missile, disc, blaster hand-attachment, triple-blaster hand attachment

This is a predominantly orange redeco of Armada Red Alert, with white stripes and "RESCUE" tampographed lettering, giving him a more beach-rescue vibe. He retains all of the same gimmicks and sounds as the previous version of the mold, and also a redecoed Longarm.

The Japanese version has some slight paint application differences, mainly additional metallic red paint on his arms (notably his right hand), and the removal of the "EMERGENCY" text on his hood.

• More information on Powerlinx Red Alert at TFU.info

Built To Rule

Red Alert's left hand is restored by the power of not-Lego.

• Red Alert w/ Longarm (Built to Rule, 2003)
  • Accessories: Three missiles

One of the larger Built to Rule sets, Red Alert can be built into an emergency SUV, robot, or whatever your imagination can make out of the blocks provided. The set features a large pressure-launch triple-missile "Gatling" cannon. He also came with a block-version of Longarm.

• More information on Built To Rule Red Alert at TFU.info

Cybertron

Cut you up, geezer!

• Red Alert (Deluxe Class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GC-11
  • Accessories: Clamp attachment, hammer attachment, Earth Cyber Key

Cybertron Red Alert transforms into a Dodge Magnum emergency vehicle. Plugging a Cyber Planet Key into the back of his car mode causes two rear side-panels to pop out and reveal two spring-forward non-firing blasters. This gimmick is retained in robot mode, where they become over-shoulder blasters. He features an unusual transformation sequence where both the front and rear halves of the vehicle mode come together to form his legs. His hood halves open to reveal storage space for extra tools (a hammer-head and an opening claw) that can be attached onto his left arm blaster. He came with a silver-bordered Earth-style Cyber Planet Key which, in the Hasbro version, has the Key Code "d26w" tampographed on the back. Later releases of the mold had slight indents made in the leg pieces to allow them to clip together better.

The Takara version of this toy lacks the gold paint on the robot-mode shoulders.

This mold was later used to make Cannonball, the live-action movie-verse Crankcase, and Timelines Kup.

• More information on Red Alert at TFU.info

• Red Alert (Fast-food premium, 2005)

Available only as part of Burger King's Cybertron promotion, this version of Red Alert is a very simplified version of the original toy, transforming into a Dodge Magnum emergency vehicle, devoid of any gimmickry... and that includes functional wheels. That's right, this toy doesn't even roll in vehicle mode.

• More information on Burger King Red Alert at TFU.info

Just what every injured robot wants to see... a giant shoulder-mounted cannon aiming at them.

• Cybertron Defense Red Alert (Ultra-Class, 2005)
  • Japanese ID number: GC-21
  • Accessories: Rocket, small missile, clamp attachment, hammer attachment, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key

An upgraded, all-new tooling of Red Alert. He now transforms into a cross between a Russian R-400 Oka mobile ballistic missile launcher and a BTR-90 armoured personnel carrier. The left side of his vehicle mode has a flip-up non-firing double-blaster, which can also be "used" in robot mode. Inserting a Cyber Key into the rear of the missile pops it in half, activates the electronic sound and lights, and exposes the inner spring-loaded missile launcher "laser cannon". In robot mode, Red Alert finally has two normal robotic hands, but he comes with a shield that, when a Key is inserted, flips out a multi-tool arm that can be equipped with several tools stored in his shins (a spring-loaded hammer-head or a gripping claw), emulating his old tool-arm. This shield can be mounted on either arm. He has two (nonfunctional) Mini-Con hardpoints in vehicle mode, and two different hardpoints in robot mode. He comes with a Cybertron-Autobot Cyber Planet Key; the Hasbro version has the Key Code "up0t" tampographed on the back.

This mold was also used to make the BotCon 2006-exclusive "Dawn of Future's Past" Megatron and Universe (2008) Countdown.

• More information on Red Alert at TFU.info

First he tried Powerlinxing with the other Dirt Boss. That didn't go so well.

• Red Alert with Dirt Boss (Multi-pack, 2005)
  • Accessories: Clamp attachment, hammer attachment, Earth Cyber Key

Available exclusively at Walmart stores, this multi-pack features an unchanged Deluxe-class Red Alert with a new redeco of the Armada Mini-Con Dirt Boss, who also came with his own carrying tin.

Hasbro copy writer Forest Lee confirms that the Cybertron Tiny Tins exclusives were originally planned with two different Race Team decos in mind, hence the backstory involving one version of the Team being from an alternate universe and the Tins' decos showing the Mini-Cons in silhouette rather than the normal full-color images. He could not confirm what the then-chosen decos were, however, but it seems likely they were re-packs of the two schemes from Armada, given the use of "Road Assault Team".

No, we don't know why the path is so critical either.

• Critical Path Pack! (Multi-pack, 2005)
  • Accessories: Clamp attachment, hammer attachment, Earth Cyber Key

This two-pack of the Deluxe-size Red Alert and Cybertron Sideways toys was made available only at Target stores, retailing for $16.99. The toys are identical to their individual releases.

In this instance, the "C" in "ICBM" stands for "cul-de-sac".

• Red Alert (Legends of Cybertron, 2006)

A much-simplified version of the "Cybertron Defense" incarnation of Red Alert in terms of detail and articulation, this toy was made available in the third wave of the Legends of Cybertron series. The missile is permanently in its split-open state.

This mold was later used to make Classics Perceptor and Universe Onslaught.

• More information on Legends Red Alert at TFU.info

Notes

• The Armada Red Alert toy's "WOO WOO WOO" sound effect has since become a famous in-joke within the Transformers fandom. For a short time, it also became something of an impromptu chant among fans at Transformers conventions. Reportedly, at the start of the OTFCC 2003 Hasbro Panel, several fans started chanting "WOO WOO WOO WOO!" to the initial confusion of Hasbro designer Aaron Archer, until he realized what was occurring.

• One concept drawing in the Micron Legend Yearbook 2003 depicts Red Alert as having a large siren perched atop his cranium.

• According to the Armada Playstation 2 game instruction booklet, Red Alert's Armada body has the following statistics:

• Mass: 3,838 lbs
• Robot height: 19' 8"
• Robot top speed: 37 mph
• Vehicle height: 7' 3"
• Vehicle top speed: 155 mph
• Vehicle power: 450 hp @ 6600 rpm

• According to Aaron Archer, Red Alert's head sculpt seems to be based on RoboCop, hence his personality.
• His Cybertron Defense toy's Cyber Key Code info contains a reference to the '86 movie. According to the info, Hot Shot had his arm torn off during the battle with the Scrapmetals. Red Alert mended the arm better than it had been before, even fixing a bad rotator cuff. This references Hot Rod's repair of Kup on Quintessa ("You even got rid of a nasty burr on my rotator").