Before the Storm
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Writers: Larry DiTillio and Bob Forward
Inferno brings Megatron an alien golden disk that causes him to offer a too good to be true cease fire to the Maximals.
Characters (in order of appearance): Tigatron, Megatron, Inferno, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Dinobot, Rhinox, Cheetor Tarantulas, Waspinator, Blackarachnia, Airazor, Terrorsaur, Scorponok
Original Air Date: February 21, 1997
Summary
Megatron is woken by the computer of the Darksyde. It reports an energy anomaly in the mountainside, and that it is of alien origin. Megatron, suspects this count be the start of something big and thus sends Inferno to investigate. The fire ant burrows into a mountain pulsating with a suspicious energy, and he recovers an strange discus.
Primal is in a scouting run looking for the same energy anomaly that Megatron already found (Why the Axalon couldn't detect it as the Darksyde could is unclear). He sees a strange probe, and follows it. The probe stops and forms into a holoform of Megatron. He proposes to meet about a truce on neutral ground, between both leaders.
When they meet, Megatron insists that the truce is not an act of treachery. He explains that he has no time to fight Maximals, and he needs time to think. Primal reluctantly agrees to a truce, bound by Maximal code. Rhinox proposes that it's about the alien energy. Primal agrees, stating that something scared Megatron very badly. Rattrap is sent - despite his usual complaints - to infiltrate the Darksyde.
Meanwhile, Tarantulas hacks his way into a holding chamber to steal one of the Predacon ship's remaining Transwarp cells. Waspinator surprises him and demands an answer, and Tarantulas easily defeats him. Megatron, watching the exchange, decides to let Tarantulas do his work, and throw another kink in it - Blackarachnia.
Airazor delivers Rattrap to the Predacon base - unarmed - and drops him off quickly before hailing the Predacon channels. Megatron casually disarms the perimeter defenses and asks Airazor to leave. As she leaves, he stops her a moment and suggests she take Rattrap with her. Foiled, they return to the base and report to Primal, but exchange knowing glances - the distraction was enough for Tigatron to make his entrance.
Blackarachnia surprises Tarantulas, and in the confusion, Megatron hacks the Transwarp cell and adds his own programming.
Tigatron hacks the Predacon database in a cool VR world, and discovers the second Golden Disc's datatracks. Terrorsaur finds Tigatron hacking and sounds the alarm, but Tigatron uses Terrosaur and Scorponok's goonery against each other. Under orders not to fire, the Predacons chase Tigatron, leading into a battle with the rest of the Maximals.
Under the limitations of a truce, the Predacons and Maximal's battle without using their weapons. Primal steals a wire from Inferno's rocket. Terrorsaur fails at dodging a piece of sheet metal Cheetor and Rhinox move into position. The spiders are smart enough to avoid one trap set by Dinobot, but my doing so are crushed by another. Without firing a single shot, the Maximals have won the day. Unless, of course, Megatron intentionally let Tigatron get away.
On the Maximal base, Tigatron explains - the same aliens, the same ones who crafted the flying island, the energon on Earth, the runes, and the golden discs - were coming back, and they weren't very happy about the Transformers' presence.
Notes
Inferno: Yes, my queen.
Megatron: I wish he wouldn't call me that.
Optimus Primal: When Predacons talk truce, it just means they need time to reload their weapons.
Rattrap: Ehhhh we're gonna diieeee!
Airazor: Isn't there a rule that heroes have to face destruction with dignity?
Rattrap: What's the use of dying if you can't enjoy it?
Megatron: There is a storm approaching. Of such magnitude, of such power... it is beyond imagination. And to think, I was once satisfied with mere energon. To think that my ambitions lofted no higher than the conquest of Cybertron. *laughs* *coughs* Well, no longer. For I have been given a glimpse of power. Real power. And that power shall be mine!
Transformers References
- When Megatron is talking to Inferno in his room, there is a G1 seeker head on his shelf, with an expression of pure horror. Either this is a reference to Starscream's treachery in the previous episode, or Megatron has some weird taste in ornaments.
- There's also a replica of G1 Megatron's fusion cannon on the shelf below the head.
Real-World References
- On the shelf in Megatron's room (aside from the seeker head and a picture of himself), there is a Transformer sized trophy and bowling pin. Must be good at that non-sport until he traded his hand for another head.
- When accessing the transwarp cell's programming, Megatron's code "A T T override" is a reference to the Usenet newsgroup alt.toys.transformers
