Desperate Times

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« The Transformers:
Till All Are One #6
"Desperate Times"
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published December 28, 2016
Cover date December 2016
Written by Mairghread Scott
Art by Sara Pitre-Durocher
Colors by Joana Lafuente
Letters by Tom B. Long
Editor Carlos Guzman
Continuity IDW continuity
Chronology Current era

As the Titan assault on Cybertron worsens, Windblade is forced to take desperate steps.

Synopsis

Iacon is devastated as the battle against the undead Titans continues. While Windblade helps the fallen Metroplex get back to his feet to continue the fight, Lightbright and Sparkstalker race across the battlefield in an attempt to get to her side, so Lightbright can add her cityspeaker abilities to Windblade's in hopes of improving Metroplex's chances. The pair are forced to separate when Sparkstalker is almost smashed flat by a Titan—a fate that Blurr and Knock Out also narrowly avoid, though Knock Out's righteous anger at his scuffed paintjob only inspires him to fight harder. Elsewhere, Fireshot is badly hurt when he and Vanquish do some explosive damage to another Titan, but both tiny 'bots are safely caught by Moonracer as they fall from the sky. Tigatron and Airazor, however, are not so lucky, as a Titan smacks them out of the air when they try to leap to safety. Soon, Lightbright reaches Windblade's side, but the situation has deteriorated to the point where Metroplex is clearly not going to prevail. To save Metroplex's life, Windblade undertakes a drastic, dangerous maneuver, disconnecting his brain module from his body so that it can be preserved in isolation.

From the Spire, Starscream watches as Metroplex collapses, and tries again to convince Elita One to transform Carcer, but she still refuses—though her subordinates Greenlight and Lancer feel pangs of guilt over the decision, even if they understand their mistress's secret reasons for it. Starscream contacts all the council representatives out on the battlefield and summons them back to the Spire to regroup, where he reveals Elita's refusal to help. Left with no option, Starscream orders Ironhide's security forces to begin the evacuation of Cybertron. Ironhide's men manage to keep order among a panicky populace of 'bots desperate to escape, including one particular pushy 'bot who tries to board a fullly-occupied escape ship, but as they are loading prisoners aboard a transport, Chromia urges Ironhide to go to Windblade's aid, fearing that the desperate situation will make her do something foolish.

Chromia is, in fact, entirely correct: back at the Spire, knowing that Elita has always been hiding something about Carcer, Windblade announces her intent to take a strike team to invade Carcer and seize control of the Titan away from Elita One. A small unit consisting of Moonracer, Lightbright, Sparkstalker, Blurr, Tigatron, Airazor, and Knock Out's Conjunx Endura is quickly assembled; as they move to depart, Sparkstalker slips Windblade a small device that she has requested, though he is unsure of how it will help their mission.

To provide cover for the insertion of Windblade's team, Starscream directs a contingent of Cybertronian ships to open fire on Carcer, and Devastator is deployed to strike the Titan's hull directly. Obsidian proposes that the Carcerians try to explain the truth behind their decision to their comrades before irreparable harm is inflicted on their alliance, but Elita One refuses and orders a counterattack...

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Others

Quotes

"No one scuffs... my... FINISH!"

—Knock Out


"I am not accustomed to repeating myself, Starscream. But I wish to make myself clear. You can die. I can die. The galaxy itself can burn in flame and darkness. But Carcer will never transform."

—Elita One


"Elita doesn't want to help us. But maybe Carcer does."
"When did you get to be so ruthless?"
"I've given up everything for this world. Now she can, too."

—Windblade and Starscream


"Anyone wanna think up a team name?"
"OOH! I—I mean, that's an interesting idea, commander. For another time, obviously."

—Blurr and Lightbright


"Starscream, we're reading a large number of ships off our bow. Do you really want to waste time and resources you don't have fighting your friends?"
"I think you underestimate the depth of my pettiness."

—Elita One and Starscream

Notes

Continuity notes

  • Windblade explains that Caminus had his brain separated from his body and preserved independently, which fits with what we learned of that Titan in Windblade vol. 1 #4, and how he willingly allowed his body to be taken apart and spread around the planet he had settled on.
  • Nobody mentions it, but it's worth pointing out that this isn't even the first time Windblade has had to disconnect and relocate Metroplex's brain: she, Chromia, and Nautica did it before during Dark Cybertron, though they just moved it into his shoulder and soon hooked it back up.
  • Windblade knows that Elita is hiding something about Carcer, which she originally deduced not long after meeting her back in Windblade vol. 2 #7, when Elita claimed that "Carcer" and "Tempo"—which Windblade knew were two separate Titans—were one and the same.
  • Devastator notes that he "failed the Chosen One once," referring to the events of The Transformers #50, in which his overly destructive attempt to put down a riot resulted in several fugitives escaping. Devastator has got his Decepticon insignia back, intact, after spending Combiner Wars without it, and the previous year of The Transformers with it partially scratched out.

Covers (3)

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