Cybertronian data cylinder
Several dozen Cybertronian data cylinders were created in the Golden Age of Cybertron to store the accumulated knowledge of Cybertronian society. The cylinders house the information in the form of living data stored as energy. The cylinders are organized by topic. The cylinders are equipped with a self defense mechanism designed to prevent non-Cybertronians from accessing the knowledge. However, since they were created before the Great War, they do not distinguish between Autobots and Decepticons.
Known data cylinder topics:
- Stellar cartography
- Medicine
- Ancient mythology
- Synthetic Energon
Fiction
Prime cartoon
 Plot details for Transformers: Prime episode 21 follow. |
In the distant past, the Autobots dispersed the data cylinders across the galaxies in order to keep the information from the Decepticons.
In the present day, a cylinder was discovered on Earth by both the Autobots and Decepticons residing there. A skirmish broke out over the cylinder Optimus Prime's scouting party and a group of Decepticons. Optimus Prime called to Bulkhead for reinforcements. Miko was board so she activated a GroundBridge to follow Bulkhead and watch the action.
Once there, Miko noticed the data cylinder was unguarded during the fight. She attempted to push the large cylinder into a GroundBridge, but only succeeded in setting off the cylinder's alien defense mechanism. Bulkhead had fallen in front of the cylinder just as it was beaming the information out, transferring the data to Bulkhead's brain. The Decepticons managed to escape with the empty cylinder, only to discover it was empty.
The data in Bulkhead's brain threatened to take over his mind, so Optimus Prime opened negotiations with Megatron for the data cylinder thinking it was the only way to save Bulkhead. During the negotiations, the Decepticons discovered Bulkhead off on his own. Megatron crushed the cylinder since they thought they could get the information directly from Bulkhead. Transformers: Prime episode 21
