The Revenge of Bruticus
Even though Starscream and the Combaticons are banished to space, they are still a threat—a threat returning to destroy both the Decepticons and the Autobots...
Detailed synopsis
Stuck in a cosmic "time out" with the Combaticons, Starscream decided to book it, declaring the Combaticons incompetent. What he didn't know was that Onslaught had developed a plan of revenge and that Blast Off had been dragging their asteroid to Cybertron. Interupting a little target practice Shockwave was holding for the Sentinel drones, the Combaticons merged into Bruticus, decimated the Sentinels, and launched Shockwave, still in gun mode, into deep space. Onslaught declared that Operation: Revenge has begun.
On Earth, Megatron was overseeing the Insecticon Army's assault on a city as they devour each building at a time. Optimus Prime and the Autobots arrived, but the Insecticons moved into a nearby neighborhood that was still inhabited. Unwilling to risk civilian casualties, Prime sent in the Protectobots to evacuate the civilians. At the Autobot base, Perceptor was giving Spike Witwicky little science lesson instead of helping fend off the attack. Meanwhile, back out in space, Starscream ran into Shockwave. Shockwave, apparently unaware that Starscream had been exiled, enlisted his help to rescue Cybertron. At Shockwave's base, Brawl was itching for a fight, but Onslaught had a better idea, one that involved the space bridge. Though it was far ahead of any Decepticon technology Onslaught had previously seen, he managed to rig the space bridge to draw Earth into its sun, which would destroy the Decepticons and the Autobots at the same time!
By this point, the humans had been successfully evacuated from the city under Insecticon assault, and a fight between the Autobots and the Insecticon Army ensued. However, Spike and Perceptor, having learned of Earth's altered orbit, informed Prime of the peril. The Autobots headed for the space bridge, and Megatron ordered Shrapnel to remove the control console and evacuate. On Cybertron, Starscream and Shockwave used a holographic projector to make the Combaticons believe that they were under attack. After Shockwave discovered what the Combaticons had done, Starscream shot him, then sent Megatron an ultimatum: Surrender leadership of the Decepticons, or everything on Earth, including Megatron and the Decepticons, would fry. However, the Combaticons had already figured out the ruse, and they imprisoned Starscream. Megatron sent Thrust and Ramjet to locate the Insecticons, but they discovered the bug-bots had chewed up the console. The Autobots, who had also tracked down the Decepticons, offered to assist Megatron and the Decepticons. Perceptor repaired the console with parts from Prime and Megatron, and the Transformers headed to Cybertron.
Arriving, the Combaticons attacked the Autobots and Decepticons, merging into Bruticus and decimating them. Starscream revealed that Bruticus had three weak points on his body that would shut him down if shot. Prime managed to shoot the weak points, and Sideswipe managed to reverse the space bridge, returning Earth to its proper orbit. Prime and Megatron agreed to destroy Bruticus, and Megatron allowed the Autobots to leave unharmed. However, the Decepticons faked Bruticus' destruction and reprogrammed the real Bruticus to serve Megatron. Starscream was pardoned and restored to his former rank.
Stats
Original airdate: ???
Written by:
Featured Characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Regulars
Guests |
Notable quotes
"I can't stand it! I can't stand it! This place is a cosmic prison!"
-- Starscream on the prison asteroid drifting across space.
"Swindle, put Starscream on the revenge roster."
"After Megatron, Cybertron AND the planet Earth."
"Are we getting any closer to Cybertron?"
"FORT Cybertron, you mean."
-- Brawl and Swindle discuss the departed Starscream while Vortex checks their progress.
"Blast Off, increase speed and prepare for planetary liberation."
-- Onslaught informing Blast Off to move their asteroid prison faster towards Cybertron.
"Some refer to us as Combaticons, but..."
"...I am also known as Bruticus."
-- Swindle and Bruticus answering Shockwave's demand that the Combaticons identify themselves.
"Bruticus is outnumbered, but Bruticus will win."
-- Bruticus as Decepticon Sentinels surround him.
"Mission accomplished. Cybertron is ours!"
-- Bruticus after defeating the robot Sentinels and shooting Shockwave into space.
"Operation: Revenge has begun."
-- Onslaught as the Combaticons have taken control over Cybertron.
"Ramjet, if this Autobot quack does anything suspicious, shatter his lenses. From the inside."
-- Megatron delivers an indirect warning to Perceptor as the latter takes components from him and Optimus Prime in order to repair the Space Bridge.
"It was the Combaticons. They locked us in here and forced me to threaten you, Megatron!"
"He's lying!"
-- Shockwave snitches on Starscream.
"Not until you relinquish control over the Decepticons."
"Don't be a fool."
"Then let the Earth burn!"
-- Starscream trying to blackmail Megatron.
"They've ganged up on us!"
"Well, let's gang up on them!"
"Combaticons, transform and become Bruticus!"
-- Brawl, Vortex and Onslaught as the Decepticons and Autobots surround them.
"Bruticus hates Cybertron! Bruticus hates you all!"
-- Bruticus goes emo on the Autobots and Decepticons that have come to destroy him.
"We were imprisoned on Cybertron for millions of years. And now... I shall have... my REVENGE!"
-- Bruticus as he grabs Megatron and attempts to crush him.
Other notes
Animation and/or technical glitches
- When Starscream demands to be leader of the Decepticons in order to stop the Earth from falling into the sun, Brawl attacks, but the next scene shows only Swindle, who retreats.
- When Starscream and Shockwave are rescued from prison, a second Megatron appears briefly beside the first.
Continuity errors
- The Combaticons’ lack of energy absorbers as shown in "Starscream's Brigade" is not mentioned and seems to cause no problems for them. (Maybe they installed new ones once on Cybertron.)
- Cybertron appears to be deserted except for Shockwave and a few Sentinel robots.
Transformers references
- The Protectobots make their debut...without any sort of origin.
- Shrapnel's Insecticon Army make another appearance in this episode.
- Shockwave appears completely unaware that Starscream was an exile. Has Megatron never heard of memos?
Real-world references
- References
Miscellaneous trivia
- This episode marks the second and last appearance of the Sentinel robots.
External links
