Autobots Fight Back
Autobots Fight Back is the third in the Ladybird Books series of Transformers storybooks.
Written by: John Grant
Illustrated by: Mike Collins and Mark Farmer
- Major characters (in order of appearance): Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Ravage, Trailbreaker, Hound, Spike Witwicky, Sparkplug Witwicky, Ironhide, Ratchet, Jazz
Summary
Dispatched to the Decepticon base on a spying mission, Bumblebee discovers that the villains’ construction of their space cruiser has been impeded by an inability to test their new ion-drive propulsion system due to the massive space requirements of the test rig required, a tube 5m in diameter and 1500m long. Detected by Soundwave, Bumblebee flees, but is pursued by Ravage through woods and hills. Ducking around a bend, Bumblebee is able to stun his pursuer with a blast of bright light from his headlights, and makes good his escape, leaving Ravage to vainly attempt to pick up his trail. While searching, however, Ravage happens upon an abandoned railway and follows it to an equally abandoned tunnel, providing the Decepticons with the perfect venue to build their propulsion system test rig. Although the tunnel has partially collapsed, the remaining section is to the exact dimensions required.
Having reported to Optimus Prime on their enemies’ troubles, Bumblebee returns to the Decepticon base to learn more, only to discover it all but deserted. Trailbreaker and Hound use their tracking abilities to co-ordinate the Decepticons’ position, and with help from Spike and Sparkplug, the area is identified as containing a large abandoned quarry which Sparkplug suggests the Decepticons have set up shop in. The Autobots are unsure of how to proceed without being detected by the Decepticons, but when Spike goes grocery shopping with Ironhide, he learns of an impending car rally that will run right by the area the Decepticons are set up in. Optimus Prime arranges for Jazz and Spike to participate in the race in order to investigate.
On the day of the rally, Spike and Jazz split up after the race begins to avoid Jazz’s true nature being exposed to the Decepticons, and Spike finds and follows the railway to the quarry. However the quarry is deserted aside from a abandoned train of stone hoppers. Meeting back up with Jazz at their objective, Spike has him contact Optimus Prime, and following the railway downhill the pair discover the tunnel itself, where they discover the Decepticons and their equipment. Soundwave detects their presence, but just then, Prime and the other Autobots burst into the tunnel via an airshaft, and a firefight ensues that plunges the tunnel into darkness. Spike has Jazz drive him back to the quarry, where he instructs the Autobot to push the train of stone hoppers after releasing the brakes. Jazz sets the train in motion downhill towards the tunnel and alerts the Autobots so they can escape. The cars smash into the Decepticons and their machinery, collapsing the tunnel on the evil robots with a massive explosion.
Errors
- As in Autobots' Lightning Strike, Ravage is again referred to as a “canine,” when he’s feline in nature.
Items of note
- The influence of More Than Meets The Eye is again felt upon the Ladybird continuity, as the main plot of this book revolves around repairing the Decepticons’ spacecraft, which crashed at the conclusion of the miniseries.
- Sparkplug’s map confirms that the Autobot and Decepticon bases are in Oregon, as in most G1 continuities. The map also singles out two fictional towns, Valgenia and Paprika Plain.
- This story was also released as a Talk and Read audiobook which included music and sound effects.
