Metal Hunter
The "Metal Hunter" is a large, plant-like construct built by the Vok. The device formed organically out of the alien plant that had previously been responsible for abducting the Maximals Airazor and Tigatron. Its attack was the Vok's next attempt to destroy the Transformers after their Planet Buster failed to destroy prehistoric Earth.
The Metal Hunter has the ability to unleash a devesatingly powerful blast which dealt severe damage to all Cybertronian life. Strangely, the effect was much less noticeable on Transmetals and Fuzors, both of whom were knocked out for several minutes, but unharmed.
The base originated from an alien site which was apparently activated by Tarantulas, just as Tigatron and Airazor arrived. A strange plant at the size seized them and fired a massive energy beam into space, transporting the two hapless Maximals along with it. Some time later, a replying beam of energy came from space, and the plant transformed and grew into the massive Metal Hunter base. The alien device's first (and only) action was to unleash a massive energy wave at the Transformers surrounding it, knocking them all offline.
Recovering from the initial attack, Megatron infiltrated the base and was able to take control of it by inserting the alien disk into a specially designed niche. Control of the Metal Hunter appears to have been his first taste of godhood: he immediately projected an enormous relief of his own face onto the base's side. Speaking to his fallen troops in a booming voice, he lifted them (and Optimus Primal) off the ground before teleporting them inside the base, which then teleported away itself.
Megatron had his troops wire the base with transwarp cells; his intent was to take the weapon to Cybertron, where he would use its power to conquer the entire planet. Optimus Primal noted with great alarm that this might very well bring Cybertron's exact location to the attention of the aliens.
Though the Maximals were unable to locate the teleported Metal Hunter, Tarantulas -- betrayed by Megatron and temporarily siding with the Maximals -- was able to do so with ease once given access to their scanners. The Maximals attacked, providing a distraction for Rattrap and Tarantulas to infiltrate the base. Operating the base from a floating control chair, Megatron unleashed a barrage of firepower from the base at the attacking Maximals.
While Rattrap rescued Optimus Primal, Tarantulas managed to sabotage and destroy the alien base, mere seconds before its teleport sequence would have transported it to Cybertron.
The weapon was never actually called The Metal Hunter on-screen; the name comes from the episode scripts.
It never actually hunted any metal, either.
