Siege episode 3

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"Fractured"
Production company	Allspark Animation
Airdate	July 30, 2020 (Netflix)
Animation studio	Polygon Pictures

Optimus has a plan but needs Ratchet's help. Ultra Magnus is tortured for information while Starscream continues to foster dissent among the Seekers.

Synopsis

While Megatron broadcasts a memorial speech for Impactor, Ratchet wanders around the ruins of the planet collecting medical supplies, and finding Impactor's arm, he manages to uncover the rest of him, still functional, but heavily damaged.

Approaching Prime and Elita-1, Prowl questions their next move, leading Optimus and Elita to point out that nowhere on Cybertron would be safe under Megatron's reign. Optimus immediately makes a plan to shuttle AllSpark off of Cybertron, despite concerns from Elita.

Starscream proves disgusted by Megatron's plan and sets about spreading dissent among the other Decepticons, leading him to once again butt heads with Jetfire. Megatron soon shuts them up with the threat of death, and cowed, Starscream is sent on patrol by Jetfire. Although loyal, Jetfire quickly shows slight disgust at Megatron's disregard for his troops.

Still holding Optimus' plan in disregard, Elita-1 questions on how they'd get the AllSpark off Cybertron, at this point Wheeljack Finally tells Optimus of the spacebridge ruins. Although Prowl deems repairing it insane, Wheeljack reveals he knows an expert, allowing Optimus to make his final decision on the matter, to Elita-1's extreme concern.

Reporting faliure in finding the Autobots, Shockwave complains about the limits Megatron has placed. This enrages the tyrant to hold him at a pointblank range with his fusion cannon, before releasing the limits on one condition: the next results had better be successful.

As the Decepticons trade jokes, they see a newcomer who claims to have a lead on the Autobots, prompting them to brag about their kills. Horrified, the unidentified Decepticon tries to cover as his paintwork glitches, reavling him to be Autobot Mirage in camouflage paint. Before Skytread shoots him however, the con ends up shot in the back by Chromia before the other Autobots join the battle. Optimus impales Spinister on a spike while Mirage's clones take out the Refraktors. Their cover blwon, the Autobots move out, though not before Mirage and Chromia mourn their fallen comrades. Approaching an old theater, the group finds a grouchy, resentful and reclusive Ratchet. Attempting to recruit him, they find Ratchet unwilling to join, not letting them stay unless repair and medical attention is needed. Entering the former theater, Optimus finds Ratchet treating numerous patients aligned with both Autobots and Decepticons. Furthering attempts a recruiting Ratchet, the former inventor holds them at gunpoint to leave, causing Mirage to attempt a shootout. He then gets pounced on by Impactor, who quickly boils up tensions in the room. After realizing the scene they're making, Optimus instructs his team to depart, though not before Wheeljack makes another attempt.

At Decepticon headquarters, Ultra Magnus is tortured by Shockwave to reveal information, but he refuses to give up that easily, leading him to receiving another dosage of pain. As Megatron leaves, Magnus manages to break free, but unable to shoot Megatron in the back, is quickly subdued by Jetfire and recaptured.

After hearing of their intentions, Ratchet continues to refuse to help, but upon hearing Prime mention the AllSpark, he agrees to do so, but mainly for the sake of his patients. He has Impactor take place in guarding the patients while he helps repair the spacebridge, though in gratitude to the medic, the con offers to tag along and protect Ratchet. Mirage heavily vouches against it, but Prime and Ratchet allow it, so long as the stay in line.

Continuing to endure Shockwave's torture methods, Magnus pleads to Megatron for more sane approaches before finally relenting after suffering damage.

Arriving at the entrance to the spacebridge chamber, Elita-1 orders no entrance until Impactor's comm is removed. Ratchet refuses until Impactor agrees, though the signal reaches a shocked Jetfire and Skywarp. The 2 locate the Autobots,but as Skywarp gloats about wiping them out, Jetfire opts for giving them a chance to surrender, causing a scuffle that ends with Skywarp getting blasted. He makes it to Starscream while MEgatron broadcasts a lecture, perishing as he reveals Jetfire's betrayal.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.

Notes

Transformers references

• Optimus resurrects a Transformers plot point nearly a decade old: moving the AllSpark off Cybertron. The spacebridge plot was also a reused concept, having been scrripted in Cyberverse.
• Ratchet? A spacebridge expert? Where did they get that idea? Of course, we all know him as a grumpy old bot- for obvious reasons. Not so obvious is his legendary inventor status.
• Mirage is disguised as a Decepticon, possibly referencing the original Mirage being accused of treason in the original cartoon.
• We have yet another Camien Chromia.
• Impactor states that he was a miner like Megatron, drawing roots from IDW's 2005 continuity.
• This isn't the first time the last quote from the 1986 film was spoken in a cartoon nor by a Megatron.

Trivia

• Jetfire previously showed to be a firm loyalist, though in this episode, he was visibly disgusted at Megatron disregarding his troops at the most extreme manner before growing more disturbed by the minute of the violence.
• Always saving it 'til the last moment, huh, Prime?
• Mirage makes use of holograms, something usually associated with G1 Hound.
• Ratchet's bumper kibble is that of Ironhide's rather than his own Siege toy's uniquely sculpted variation.