Conspiracy
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 If you want something done right... | ||||||
| "Conspiracy" (Inbō) "Scheme: Conspiracy" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-17 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | January 10, 2003 (English) 2 May 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Isao Shizuya | |||||
| Director | Satoru Kusuda, Shigenori Awai | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
At another battle for a Mini-Con panel, Megatron schemes to have the Star Saber handed to him.
Synopsis
The Decepticons are enjoying their recent success. Starscream casually provokes Demolishor into attacking, and then tauntingly holds the tank off with the Star Saber. Starscream walks away, laughing, while Scavenger, characteristically observing events from a distance, predicts that Starscream's arrogance will cause the faction's eventual failure.
In the Autobot base, things are looking down. Billy and Fred unintentionally lay the blame with Hot Shot. Later, when a repaired Hot Shot is watching the sunset, his moping is interrupted by the five kids making really, really stupid faces. This display of crazy expression cheers the Autobot up. As soon as he's regained his enthusiasm, Hot Shot is called to go on another mission.
In thick foliage, the Autobots and Decepticons all split up to search for the Mini-Con. Demolishor and Starscream again prepare to clash, but Megatron puts his underlings back in line. Once the other Decepticons leave, Megatron instructs Leader-1 to put "the plan" in motion.
While considering his own ambitions, Starscream comes under attack from laser fire, which is heard by everybody else. Starscream, not seeing his assailant, displays his power by slashing a tree, and then almost accidentally attacks the other Decepticons.
Hot Shot runs into Sideways, who transforms and drives away. Hot Shot chases after the traitor and heads right into Scavenger, who taunts Hot Shot while dodging the Autobot's attacks with ease.
Optimus, Smokescreen, Red Alert, Cyclonus, Starscream, and Demolishor engage in an open firefight. Starscream comes under fire from Leader-1 once again and, unable to see the tiny Mini-Con, again almost accidentally slices Demolishor. Megatron, however, is able to leap out and block the slash. The Decepticons inquire as to why Starscream is attacking his comrades. The airborne Con tries to explain the accident, but nobody believes him, and eventually it's agreed that Megatron should hold the Star Saber.
Laserbeak, remote piloted by the kids, finds the Mini-Con panel. At the same time, Demolishor's Mini-Con also finds the panel. The Autobots and Decepticons engage each other once more, and Optimus forms his Super mode. Sideways and Hot Shot again race each other. By recalling what Scavenger said earlier, Hot Shot is able to defeat the motorbike. Back at the battle, Scavenger grabs onto the Mini-Con panel, and the Decepticons return to base.
At the Decepticon base, the Mini-Con resonates with the other yellow Mini-Con panel. Scavenger then announces that his time with the Decepticons is over, though Megatron is dissatisfied with his resignation. Before leaving, Scavenger mockingly notices that Megatron's wound heales too quickly. He soon arrives at the Autobot base, and Optimus orders Red Alert to let the Decepticon inside. Shaking hands with Optimus, Scavenger reveals that his entire time with the Decepticons was as an Autobot spy.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"What an arrogant cretin. I bet he's going to be the one that causes the downfall of the Decepticons..."
- —Scavenger does not hold a high opinion of Starscream.
"Would you get with the program, Starscream? You're really starting to bug my system."
"Process this: You're finished!"
- —Demolishor is tired of hearing about Starscream's sword.
"You dented my armor, you creep! I don't have to hang around here and take this! Smash you later!"
- —Cyclonus after getting a smackdown from Optimus
"You saved me?"
"Don't flatter yourself. It was the Star Saber that I saved. Now let's blast these Autobots!"
- —As unlikely as it seems, Starscream was just saved by Demolishor.
"I'm gonna hack you into the Matrix!"
- —Starscream to Red Alert
"I'm fine, that is, long as I know that you are all right. I did it for you."
"Oh, Megatron, sir."
- —Megatron feigns concern for Demolishor.
"If you want me to, I will take the Star Saber. I only want what's best for the Decepticons. I promise I'll keep well hidden until my wounds heal."
- —A mock-subservient Megatron offers to take the Star Saber from Starscream for the good of the Decepticons. Right.
"You must first know yourself. Only then will you have a chance at defeating your opponent."
- —Scavenger goes Obi-Wan on Hot Shot.
"Scavenger, where will you go?"
"Does your wound still cause you pain?"
"What?"
"It's amazing how fast you've healed..."
- —Megatron and Scavenger, who's wise to the whole plan.
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
Animation and technical errors
- When Smokescreen initially shoots his cable at Starscream with Red Alert, it isn't glowing.
- During the scene where the Decepticons force Starscream to give Megatron the Star Saber, Sideways's head is his Autobot head with his Decepticon head's colors.
- At one point, all of Megatron's Decepticon symbols are missing.
- Optimus mistakenly refers to his Mini-Con as Jolt.
Trivia
- The kanji 策略 would be pronounced as "sakuryaku", while "inbō" is used for the kanji 陰謀.
- In this episode, Megatron receives the Star Saber from Starscream. As it happens, Megatron was the only other Decepticon at this time whose toy had hands capable of holding the sword.
- In the group shot of Mini-Cons in the Decepticon base are two previously unseen members of the Street Speed Mini-Con Team (as well as their teammate Spiral, who was last seen with the Autobots in "Gale") and two members of Destruction Mini-Con Team. Also in this shot is Rollbar, whom Scavenger picked up in part 3 of the Linkage comic.
- In a super-obvious foreshadowing moment, when Starscream threatens Demolishor and Demolishor looks to his teammates for backup, Sideways tells Demolishor "I'm not taking sides."
- Scavenger, upon seeing Leader-1 enacting Megatron's plan to take Starscream's Star Saber, says "That's strange. A Mini-Con acting on its own." Apparently he is unaware that this is possible, possibly due to him spending all his time in the Milky Way with the Decepticons.
- This episode marks the third time Optimus Prime uses his super mode, and only the second time he has powerlinked with Sparkplug. He has not done either since episode 4.
Foreign localization
Hungarian
- Title: "Csapda a ködben" ("A Trap in the Mist")
Polish
- Title: "Intryga" ("Intrigue)"
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 5 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
