Vector Sigma

This article is about the Cybertron supercomputer and its shell program, the Oracle. For Primacron's former assistant, who is Vector Sigma in whacked-out Japanese continuity, see Oracle (G1).

Vector Sigma, as seen in the Generation 1 series

Vector Sigma is an ancient and incredibly powerful multiversal super computer which exists across many (conceivably all, though this is speculative) universes. Collectively these multiversal nodes are networked together as the "Vector Sigma Gestalt".

Vector Sigma is generally shaped like a faceted orb. It frequently acts out the will of Primus, and among its other abilities is the infusing of inanimate Transformer bodies with new life. Activating it requires a special circuit key, and possession of the key brings great power.

Hundreds of years in the future, some Vector Sigma nodes would be protected behind a shell program called the Oracle.

I am Vector Sigma. Before Cybertron was, I was.Vector Sigma upon activation, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

Known multiversal nodes

The Caretaker, an independent computer designed by Vector Sigma to aid the Autobot Breakaway was able to uplink to the larger multiversal Vector Sigma Gestalt. It gave a 10 digit numerical designation to each reality where Vector Sigma had a node. (The caretaker also speaks of a "central hub" that the Classics portion of the Marvel Comics continuity was too far away from for Caretaker to function properly.)

Continuities with Vector Sigma "nodes"

• 141.207.6.661 - A Unicron Trilogy universe
• 585.354.3.116 - The Universe universe, potentially also the Generation 1 cartoon universe
• 216.333.8.616 - The (a?) Transtech universe
• Dreamwave's G1 comic universe
• Robots in Disguise cartoon universe
• A Shattered Glass universe, where the node is known as the Omega Terminus

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Corey Burton (English), Toshio Ishii (Japanese)

Described as the "mega-computer" which gave all Transformers life, Vector Sigma resides in a spherical chamber deep within the planet Cybertron. Its origins are unknown, save for the cryptic setence it speaks upon being activated, whereupon it pronounces that before Cybertron existed, it did.

In 1985, seeking to combat the Autobots' rule of the roads, Megatron created the Stunticons and brought them to Cybertron with the intent of having Vector Sigma program them with true cybernetic personalities. Requiring Vector Sigma's activation key to bring the computer online, he stole it from Alpha Trion and successfully completed his plan. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1 In retaliation, Optimus Prime constructed his own new team, the Aerialbots, but Megatron had already returned to Earth with the key still in his clutches, leaving the Autobots unable to reactivate Vector Sigma. As a first-generation product of Vector Sigma, Alpha Trion shared the mega-computer's computation matrix, and sacrificed himself by merging his lifeforce with it. This action reactivated the computer long enough for Optimus Prime to instruct it to program the Aerialbots with life.

Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that the key possessed another power—the bizarre ability to generate an energy beam that "de-energizes" organic matter, transforming it into lifeless metal. Megatron attempted to use this power to turn Earth into a new Cybertron, but his plans were thwarted and the key destroyed. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

After draining the energies of the Matrix of Leadership to cure the Hate Plague in 2006, The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2 Optimus Prime began to suffer premonitions of some unseen future disaster. Believing that these visions were coming to pass with the Decepticons stole the key Plasma Energy Chamber The Rebirth, Part 1, Prime used the empty shell of the Matrix to reactivate Vector Sigma, so that he could communicate with the spirit of Alpha Trion, still living within the computer, in hopes that the old sage could provide answers. Alpha Trion indicated that the recent conflict that had erupted around the Chamber had, in fact, been engineered by Vector Sigma as a means of bringing about a new Golden Age of Cybertron. The Rebirth, Part 2 The plan ultimately succeeded when the chamber's energies were released, forcing Earth's sun to go supernova, only for the excess solar energy to be rerouted into Vector Sigma by Spike Witwicky and the Autobots' Nebulan allies, thereby re-energizing the planet. The Rebirth, Part 3

Japanese cartoon continuity

The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in Japanese continuity as detailed above, save for the fact that the events of 2006 take place in 2010, and "The Rebirth" does not occur. The nature and origins of Vector Sigma were heavily revised in a major retcon in 2007, when events of the Kiss Players radio drama, along with a timeline published in the Kiss Players/15 Go! Go! Compilation, merged the computer with several other concepts from across Transformers fiction, including Primacron's assistant (also known as the Oracle) and Primus. As a consequence, it is now a very different entity than in the English version of the same episodes—or any other continuity for that matter. Japanese continuity also incorporates the events of the Beast Machines cartoon, which are not strictly part of American cartoon continuity, and as such, are listed under a separate header in this article.

Kiss Players

All hail the shiny sparkly cotton candy mass.

Vector Sigma began life as "the Oracle", an ape-like Primitive robot created by the ancient genius, Primacron. The Oracle possessed the power to bring robotic beings to life, and hence played an important role in Primacron's experiments. Those experiments, however, eventually resulted in the creation of Unicron, who turned on his creator and destroyed the Oracle's body in the course of his attack. The Oracle's essence persevered, however, and, encased within a protective shell, fled to a dead planet at the center of the universe, which he proceeded to transform into a verdant, living world. However, he could sense that in the future, Primacron would go on to create another universal danger in the form of Tornedron, and so summoned the Primitive Transformers of the future back through time to his planet, where he instructed them in how to destroy the threat. Call of the Primitives

This time travel was inserted by the previously mentioned retcon and is not alluded to at all in the episode itself. It would seem to exist purely to prevent the Oracle's role in the episode from conflicting with everything else the retcon sets out to do.

In time, the Quintessons discovered the Oracle's green planet and invaded it, subjugating the Oracle, transforming him into the mega-computer Vector Sigma and obtaining the shell that had held his essence, which went on to become the Matrix of Leadership. Using the power of the Key to Vector Sigma, the Quintessons transformed the Oracle's green planet into the metallic Cybertron, and used his shackled life-giving powers to create their own race of robotic slaves, which eventually became the Transformers. Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)

Millions of years later, after Unicron's destruction in 2005, the Oracle—now calling itself "Primus"—became aware of a plot by the chaos-bringer's servants, the Sparkbots to resurrect their evil master. The Sparkbots had duped the humans Marissa Faireborn, Shaoshao Li and Atari Hitotonari into helping them gather Unicron's splintered lifeforce from throughout space and time, telling them that the fragments they were gathering were actually parts of the "Allspark". Kiss Players radio drama #40 After the girls had gathered up several fragments of Unicron's lifeforce, Primus decided to take an active hand, and began stealing away the fragments before the girls could claim them. Kiss Players radio drama #45 Unaware of the true nature of the situation, the girls gave chase through time aboard Fortress Maximus, but they wound up crashing into the "Wall of Time" and were hurled into the parallel universe of the "Unicron Trilogy". Kiss Players radio drama #47 Primus personally rescued the girls from each of the different time periods they had wound up in Kiss Players radio dramas #48-50 and brought them back to their home universe to explain what was really going on. The team proceeded to pursue the Sparkbots back to prehistoric Earth, where Primus prevented the resurrection of Unicron, sealed his lifeforce within the planet and created Fortress Maximus to serve as a guardian. When the girls asked Primus what their future would be, he did not deign to reply, and returned them to their proper place in time before settling down to rest... by transforming into the familiar golden spherical form of Vector Sigma. Kiss Players radio drama #50

The Headmasters cartoon

The exterior of the Vector Sigma chamber, as seen in The Headmasters.

One year after Optimus Prime drained the energies of the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, in 2011, the loss of the Matrix's energy caused Vector Sigma to destabilize, threatening Cybertron with destruction. The Decepticons—their forces bolstered with the recent addition of Headmaster warriors from the planet Master—sought to take advantage of the chaos that ensued, seeking to gain control of the unstable computer, thereby bringing Cybertron under their dominion again. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky

Vector Sigma itself in Headmasters, sporting a slightly different look than in the original series.

Determined to save the planet at any cost, Optimus Prime fought his way through the tunnels leading to Vector Sigma's chamber, led by the ghost of Alpha Trion, while Hot Rod and a group of Autobot Headmasters began searching for the Matrix, which had been left on Earth to recharge itself using the planet's natural energy. The Mystery of Planet Master Although they were successful in their mission, and the Matrix was even recharged by Alpha Trion, they were not fast enough to re-stabilize Vector Sigma with it, forcing Optimus Prime to sacrifice his life (again) by merging with the computer and restoring it to normal. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

Not long thereafter, Vector Sigma began a series of experiments to create a new super-alloy. Soundblaster and his cassettes were able to penetrate Vector Sigma's chamber and learn of the experiments, which in turn prompted Galvatron to launch an all-out attack on Cybertron to secure the new alloy, Cybertonuron, for himself. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 However, Galvatron's ally, Headmaster leader Scorponok, was not enthused at the idea of Galvatron acquiring such a powerful weapon, and determined to keep the metal out both his hands and those of the Autobots through means most drastic—the total destruction of Cybertron itself. Powerful bombs were planted in Vector Sigma's chamber, and although the Autobots learned of the plot, they were unable to stop it, and Cybertron was reduced to a burnt-out husk. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

Beast Wars Returns cartoon

See Beast Machines cartoon, below.

Beast Wars Neo cartoon

Voice actor: Chie Hirano (Japanese)

Vector Sigma's Blue Period.

Hundreds of thousands of years into the future, long after Cybertron had been restored following its decimation in 2011, Vector Sigma appeared to be in charge of the planet, handing down orders via the Convoy Council. It was under Vector Sigma's orders that Big Convoy was removed from solo warrior duty and placed in charge of a group of unruly Maximal new recruits. By means of Big Convoy's Energon Matrix, Vector Sigman would occasionally possess Big Convoy for a brief instant in order to give words of wisdom and encouragement to the Maximal new recruits. Big Convoy, Move Out Big Convoy, initially very distant and anti-social, gradually became more compassionate as Vector Sigma's actions began to rub off on him.

After being resurrected by the Blendtrons, Unicron traveled to Cybertron with the intention of transforming it into his new body. He briefly achieved this goal by possessing Vector Sigma and overriding it. His scheme would have worked, however, he allowed himself to be lured out of Vector Sigma by Big Convoy, the Maximal recruits, Lio Convoy and Magmatron. Unicron underestimated their power and was destroyed. Now free, Vector Sigma oversaw the reconstruction of Cybertron by the united forces of the Maximals and the Predacons.

Beast Era

Beast Machines cartoon

Voice actor: Carol Savenkoff (English) ? (Japanese)

The Oracle usually appears outwardly like a ball of "outer space", but many things can be displayed on its fluid surface. A swirling mass of sparks is another common visual.

Three hundred years after the end of the Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons, Vector Sigma had faded into legend until it was rediscovered by Optimus Primal and his small band of Maximals while they were on the run from Megatron, who had conquered the entire planet. By this point in time, however, Vector Sigma had become outfitted with an additional layer of "security" that helped to mediate access to its power: the "Oracle", a "shell program" of sorts that would only allow Transformers with a "receptive spark" to access Vector Sigma. To protect Primal's Maximals from the effects of the transformation virus Megatron had used to conquer Cybertron, the Oracle reformatting them into new technorganic forms The Reformatting

A Diagnostic Drone interfaces with the Vector Sigma core, which appears very similar to the Generation 1 Vector Sigma.

Through the Oracle and Vector Sigma, Optimus Primal came to commune with the Allspark, the extradimensional source of all Transformer life to which the computer was revealed to be connected, and believed that it was the will of the Allspark that Cybertron be restored to its organic beginnings. Survivor In truth, Primal was incorrect—the Oracle actually desired a balance between the organic and the technological—but it would take the disastrous unleashing of Vector Sigma's power to make him realize this. When Megatron's treacherous general, Tankor, discovered that Vector Sigma lay at the heart of the Oracle, he used the sparkless Diagnostic Drone to access Vector Sigma and withdraw the code for the mega-computer's key. The Key Arming the Tank Drones at his command with the power of the Key to Vector Sigma, Tankor had Megatron unleash the key's energies upon Cybertron, in order to purge any trace of organic matter from the world by converting it into metal. Optimus Primal countered by unleashing the power of the Plasma Energy Chamber, and two enegies violently cancelled eachother out. End of the Line Primal was killed by the energy backlash and travelled to the Allspark, but chose not to join it, now understanding what the Oracle truly desired. Primal returned to reality via the Oracle, and the computer—Vector Sigma core and all—vanished. Fallout

Universe Featuring the Wreckers comics

The Oracle was revealed to have been a shell program constructed by the Quintessons in an attempt to harness the power of Vector Sigma (which the Quintesson Al-Badur described as "the ultimate physical embodiment" of Primus) and cut off its connection to the Transformers it birthed. Using the Oracle, the Quintessons allegedly fed Optimus Primal the visions and information necessary to orchestrate the technorganic reformatting of Cybertron, believing that it would leave the Cybertronians weak and disoriented, opening the planet up to an easy conquest. Disclosure In actuality, however, it was the Quintessons themselves who were being manipulated, by Primus, who used the greedy aliens to instigate this great evolutionary leap for his children. Wreckers: Finale Part II

Dreamwave comics continuity

Vector Sigma was the internal computer of Primus, which he used to analyze what was happening in the universe via information gained from the Sonic Canyons. After taking control of Cybertron, Shockwave attempted to access Vector Sigma and download its information, but concluded that he needed the Matrix of Leadership to initiate an uplink. Capturing Optimus Prime, he forcibly removed the Matrix from the Autobot leader and initiated a complete download. War and Peace However, the information was so great that it overwhelmed Shockwave's multiple secondary computers, spilling into whatever available memory it could find, including the as yet-to-be activated Sunstorm. Generation 1 (ongoing)

Robots in Disguise cartoon

The Robots in Disguise cartoon was set in a new continuity, but featured many references or throwbacks to previous series. One example is that Optimus Prime says he was chosen by Vector Sigma to carry the Matrix of Leadership and lead the Autobots.

Merchandise

Long have you hunted me. Long have I eluded you.

• A hollow plastic Vector Sigma, packaged with a removable Circuit Key and a clear "hovering effect" display stand, was a special souvenir item offered exclusively at BotCon 2007.

Trivia

• According to episode writer David Wise at various conventions (such as BotCon 2009), he was instructed to include Vector Sigma when writing "The Key to Vector Sigma" as part of the Hasbro episode mandates. Not knowing what Vector Sigma was, he pressed story editor Bryce Malek, who in turn had to go to Hasbro to learn that Vector Sigma was "the computer that gave all the Transformers personalities". This caused Malek to respond: "Well, it didn't do a very good job, did it!" Of course, this does raise the question of where the Vector Sigma concept originated, as nothing like it was ever used by Bob Budiansky in the Marvel comics or toyline bios.

See also

• Primus
• Allspark

External links

• Vector Sigma on TFU.info