Infiltration protocol

The infiltration protocol is a Decepticon modus operandi from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Purple prose on a red background.

The Decepticons under Megatron's command follow a strict infiltration protocol—a carefully staged process of destabilizing and conquering inhabited planets. The staged conquest is highly secretive, with soldiers under strict orders not to break cover till late in process. Though brutal in its later phases, this tactic is still constrained by the Code of Interplanetary Conflict.

The Decepticon infiltration protocol has six phases:

Phase One presumably comprises the initial infiltration of a planet's society and gathering of intelligence. The Transformers have been on Earth for three years by the time Ratchet meets up with Verity, Hunter and Jimmy; Phase Two appear to be in its early stages by that point.

Phase Two involves the agitation of pre-existing conflicts and igniting "international hotspots". Frequently this is accomplished with facsimiles—artificial duplicates of key members of the planet's native population, equipped to duplicate the original's actions, memories and personalities, but programmed to serve the Decepticons' interests. The goal is to get the natives to obliterate themselves, without the Decepticons' direct involvement.

On occasion, the Decepticons will encounter unusual resistance, and see fit to use a special protocol known as mirror response mode, as they did when encountering the Avengers as Phase Two unfolded on Earth. Whether this modus operandi is tied specifically to Phase Two is not known.

Phase Three is not described. It presumably continues agitation of conflict, but may involve direct-albeit discreet-involvement of the Decepticons (such as dealing with people who suspect outside influences, etc.).

Phase Four is not described. The Decepticons have presumably dropped cover to some extent by this point, possibly attacking the most destabilized areas of the planet directly.

Phase Five is not described, but it appears that the Decepticon presence is now known at this point, and is usually the earliest that Sixshot will get involved.

A special modus operandi known as Siege Mode is typically initiated during Phase Five. Military protection of assets appears to be the goal of Siege Mode, implying that the Autobots or the natives are now making efforts to stop the Decepticons through straightforward military force; a massive above-ground fortress (variously known as the siege armature or siege mode armature) is typically installed on the planet and used as a base of operations. Secrecy is no longer a concern, as evidenced by the enormous and highly visible cliff-side command bunker that Starscream's crew erected in Oregon, as well as Runabout and Runamuck's flagrant and unconcealed attacks on Ratchet. Ratchet states that he has only seen this phase once before, though whether this is due to his normal role as a non-frontline combatant or because of other circumstances is not clear.

Breaking protocol is extremely rare, to the point that Ratchet was in a virtual panic when Starscream's unit on Earth engaged Siege Mode too early in the infiltration. Megatron himself soon arrived on-world to investigate and apply some Decepticon-style discipline. Having put Starscream out of commission, he promptly downgraded the operation back to Phase Two.

Phase Six, by all accounts, is pretty much the end of the world. Phase Six involved the invasion of destabilized planets on the brink of collapse and the elimination of any possible resistance. Three Decepticons were specifically chosen for this task: Sixshot, Black Shadow and Overlord. All, or at least the vast majority of Decepticons employed in this phase have fail-safes installed in their systems, to prevent their firepower and tactical acumen from being used against Megatron himself. An aside comment by Springer ("I don't care if it's Phase SIXTY!") implies that the Decepticons have achieved Phase Six in the invasion of Varas Centralus: a state of open, all-out war on a devastated planet.

Notes

• Though never actually stated, it could be assumed that the events of All Hail Megatron take place during "Phase Five", as at this point the Decepticons are no longer hiding and attack out in the open (however, Sixshot never appears, and it could be argued that the Decepticons had abandoned infiltration protocol by this point).