Lightning Strike Coalition

The Lightning Strike Coalition is an Autobot subgroup from the Generation 1 and Aligned continuity families.

They strike like lightning...if lightning struck like a herd of plodding tanks.

The Lightning Strike Coalition (sometimes the Lightning Strike Coalition Force) is a brutal sub-faction of the Autobots.

“	That's terrible.	”
—Cliffjumper, upon hearing the name of Grimlock's team in Fall of Cybertron

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation 1 comics continuity

Calling all jerks!

The Lightning Strike Coalition includes:

• Grimlock (leader)
• Kup
• Ironhide
• Wheeljack
• Smokescreen
• Inferno
• Slag
• Sludge
• Snarl
• Swoop

Following Optimus Prime and Megatron's disappearances at the beginning of "The Dark Ages", the Autobots and Decepticons soon split into several sub-factions. The Lightning Strike Coalition (LSC), was formed out of Grimlock's old unit when Optimus received the title of Prime and the Matrix of Leadership.

The LSC acted as a commando unit striking Predacon and Decepticon sites and convoys. War Within: The Dark Ages When Ultra Magnus stepped in charge, the LSC members largely disbanded, but Grimlock put together a new fighting force known as the Dynobots with several ex-LSC members. This new unit followed a Decepticon group to Earth, sometime after the Ark's crash landing on that planet, but millions of years before the Earth-bound Transformers reactivated in early 1980s. War Within: The Age of Wrath

This tale would have been told in a story entitled "Rules of Extinction", inserted in Dreamwave's "Generation One 2004 Datatracks Annual", which was never released due to Dreamwave's collapse in the same year.

Aligned continuity family

We have wheels!

The Lightning Strike Coalition includes:

• Grimlock (leader)
• Slug
• Sludge (stasis)
• Snarl
• Swoop

Exodus

Hulking members of the Lightning Strike Coalition jostled for sightseeing space with Minicons in the High Council Chamber during Orion Pax and Megatron's hearing. Exodus Grimlock rose to become leader during the war. After being captured by Shockwave, they were reformatted into the Dinobots. Transformers Hall of Fame

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

We have... treads? Okay, what are the wheels for, then?

Shortly before the Great Exodus, the Lightning Strike Coalition were a brutal subgroup of Autobots under the leadership of Grimlock who reluctantly followed Optimus Prime's more cautious brand of warfare... when ordered. Swoop was sent to investigate Shockwave's energon sources but he worryingly disappeared. When the other four coalition members learned that Swoop had been captured by Shockwave, they disobeyed orders and went after him themselves. Good Intentions Grimlock, secure in his arrogance, was glad that the fate of Cybertron rested in their hands. Secrets However, upon arriving at the Sea of Rust, they were overpowered by a swarm of Insecticons. Sludge was killed and the rest were taken to Shockwave's labs. Siege Mentality

Trivia

• Most people, including members of said team, actually thought the name "Lightning Strike Coalition" was horrible. Apparently, only Grimlock liked the name.

Foreign names

• Russian: Thunderbolt (Удар Молнии "Udar Molnii")