Stasis pod
A stasis pod is used to store a Transformer protoform newborn until it has its spark installed, is given programming, and is formatted into a functional adult Transformer. The protoform is sealed safely inside the stasis pod, supported by nothing more than a lubricating fluid. In normal use, an exploration ship will carry several stasis pods, seed a planet with them, and the stasis pods would scan for native forms and birth new Transformer life.
If the stasis pod is damaged, the spark of the protoform may be extinguished, turning it into a lifeless "blank" protoforms. One such blank protoform was used by Rhinox to restore Optimus Primal to life; Megatron used another blank to create Dinobot II.
Because a stasis pod's life support functions are so efficient, they can also be used to transport adult Transformers, usually for long-distance travel. They have also been used to carry sentenced criminals into exile.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Kup caught Grimlock trying to remove Snarl (and the other Dinobots) from the stasis pods on the Ark, where they'd been since they were 'killed' by Starscream. Kup told Grimlock that Snarl would die if removed from the stasis pod. Grimlock promptly knocked Kup out and stole the Dinobots anyway.Eye of the Storm
When Grimlock returned to the Ark he ordered Sludge to pump Nucleon into the stasis pods and revive the fallen Autobots -- not knowing that Megatron was one of the dead hidden in the pods.The Void!(US) When Shockwave and Starscream took over the Ark, Megatron finally busted out of the stasis pod, alive again -- only to come face-to-face with the stow-away Galvatron. Exodus! Ratchet revived as well, spewing out of his stasis pod covered in purple goo. A Savage Circle
Beast Wars cartoon continuity
Dawn of Future's Past
A stasis pod containing Protoform X was transferred into the Axalon as cargo. Dawn of Future's Past
Beast Wars cartoon
After the Axalon suffered damage to the stasis hold during the firefight with Megatron's ship, Optimus ordered the stasis pods launched into a stable orbit. The pods were all expelled from the back of the ship and ended up orbiting the strange planet the Axalon subsequently crashed on. Beast Wars (Part 1) The orbit of one pod decayed enough that it fell out of orbit, landing in the northern sector. After Dinobot used a laser link to activate the pod, the protoform inside became Tigatron, who watched the Maximals and Predacons fight over the pod before he picked a side. Fallen Comrades Another apparently-damaged pod landed in an icy region. It was spirited away back to the Predacon ship by Waspinator, where Tarantulas turned the occupant into another Predacon, Blackarachnia. Double Jeopardy
A third pod was clipped by space debris and descended to the ground, landing in Grid Vega. The damage to the pod meant that it was unable to complete the process of scanning a new form, endangering its occupant, and Rhinox set about repairing it with the use of Cheetor's locking chip. The repairs eventually allowed the pod to scan a new form for Airazor. The Spark Yet another pod dropped out of orbit, landing in Grid Halex. Tarantulas found it first and reprogrammed it to turn the occupant into a Predacon, however the pod had already scanned a beast form, and Inferno emerged with his personality dominated by his ant form. Tarantulas attempted to make off with the pod for use in his plan to escape the planet, but Inferno, who regarded it as his colony, gave chase. The pod was destroyed by Tigatron, who believed that Tarantulas intended to plunder its technological secrets. Spider's Game
As it became obvious that the aliens were coming to the planet, Tarantulas calculated when the next stasis pod would land, but it was too distant for his purposes. Instead, he and Blackarachnia broke into the Axalon and began modifying a stasis pod in the hold with a stolen transwarp cell. Meanwhile, the energies unleashed by the revealing of the Planet Buster also disrupted the orbits of the other stasis pods, causing them to head downwards. Other Voices, Part 1 The work was completed by Blackarachnia, who was promptly caught by the Maximals. Optimus Primal commandeered the makeshift escape pod and flew it into the Planet Buster. Though he intended to eject before the detonation, Megatron had other plans, and Optimus was destroyed with the pod. Other Voices, Part 2
Three of the pods crashed down in a barren area. One of the three was destroyed. Aftermath The DNA scanners on the other two malfunctioned, giving the occupants hybrid "Fuzor" forms. The Maximals also found a stasis pod containing a blank. Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1) They took it into the Axalon, and with some help from Rhinox, Optimus Primal's consciousness was able to implant itself in the protoform, restoring him to life. Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2) Protoform X's stasis pod ended up in an unstable area rich in energon. It apparently survived the explosion of an energon deposit underneath it, and was later found intact but empty by Tarantulas, shortly before its occupant dismembered him. Bad Spark
A badly-malfunctioning stasis pod was accidentally uncovered. Its misformatted occupant, later dubbed Transmutate, destroyed it in the process of escaping. Transmutate Blackarachnia modified a stasis pod into a sort of flying sled, using a graviton generator supplied by Silverbolt. As the Maximals assaulted the Predacon ship with the help of Ravage, she made off on it. The Agenda (Part 1) The sled was destroyed in a mid-air collision with Waspinator. The Agenda (Part 2) Megatron got hold of another stasis pod containing a blank which he used to create Dinobot II. Feral Scream Part 1
Beast Wars II cartoon
The Yukikaze had a number of stasis pods on board which the Maximals used to escape the ship as it crashed on Gaea. The New Forces Arrive!
3H comics
Packrat, a thief, was contained in a stasis pod.
IDW Beast Wars comics
Among the Protoforms awakened from Stasis Pods for the events of the Gathering were: B'Boom, Bonecrusher, Ramulus, Snarl, Wolfang, Optimus Minor, Armordillo, Bantor, K-9, Noctorro, Stinkbomb, Torca, Claw Jaw, Cybershark, Air Hammer, Night Glider, Prowl II, Sonar, Grimlock, Buzz Saw, Buzzclaw, Injector, Insecticon, Jetstorm, Lazorbeak, Powerpinch, Razorclaw, Retrax, Scavenger, Scourge, Sky Shadow, Snapper, and Terragator. Believe it or not, Transquito was actually among those NOT from a protoform... Magmatron BROUGHT him. Huh.
Beast Machines cartoon
Nightscream states that they "junked all the stasis pods" in the Quantum Cycle Upgrade that gave all Transformers on Cybertron DNA scanners. It is likely stasis pods are no longer widely used. Survivor
Robots in Disguise cartoon
Scourge's crew were stored as protoforms in stasis pods for their trip from Cybertron to Earth. After their ship crashed, they remained dormant until the ship was uncovered by the Predacons. Megatron stole the six stasis pods and took them to nearby McKinley Army Base, where the pods were forced to scan military vehicles while Megatron infused them with his own spark energy. The protoforms consequently emerged as Decepticons. The Decepticons
Animated cartoon
The Autobot's ship was equipped with six emergency stasis pods. Optimus Prime and his crew used them when the ship crashed into Lake Erie on Earth, and remained in stasis for 50 years. Transform and Roll Out
Shattered Glass
The Ark used stasis pods as, essentially, escape pods. The crew utilized them when they were shot down over Earth. Do Over Soundwave's pod landed in Wyatt's Roadsideaganza, where it was found by Heatwave. Heatwave persuaded it to scan a nearby vehicle for Soundwave's new alternate mode, and Soundwave subsequently set it to explode. The Desert Heat!
Wings Universe
As Cybertron ran dangerously low on energy, Alpha Trion prepared a number of stasis pods in which most of the remaining Autobot population would hibernate in until Optimus Prime's team returned with more energy. Battle Lines, Part 6
Aligned continuity
Stasis pods, some of which contained damaged warriors, were loaded onto the Ark. Fall of Cybertron
The Rescue Bots were hibernating in stasis pods when they got Optimus Prime's call to come to Earth. Family of Heroes After braving a forest fire, Blades spent an hour in a stasis pod to recover. Hotshots
Notes
- The Marvel comics versions of the stasis pods are called "Life Support Pods" enough that it seems the two terms are interchangeable in this continuity.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Pod (ポッド poddo)
