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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 12:20:45 GMT -5
Below is a comprehensive compilation of all the Novels and IDW comics written and published thus far for the Transformers Live Movie Universe continuity timeline that is canon for this site. The list below contains links to the corresponding post to make them easy to get to, and each post has a link at the top and bottom that will bring you back to this introduction.
Each post contains overviews, synopsis of the storylines, images where available, and links to where this information can be found for verification. All information listed is verifiable as I actually own copies of each book listed in detail below. If you have any questions, please send me a private note and I will reply as soon as possible, or give me a poke in the Chat Box in the side bar to the right. Thank you for reading! [/center]
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 13:10:32 GMT -5
Transformers: Movie Prequel The Transformers: Movie Prequel is a comic book story set prior to the 2007 movie from IDW Publishing. It stretches across a four-issue miniseries called Transformers: Official Movie Prequel (called Prime Directive in solicitations) and 2 Target-exclusive specials, later re-published together as the Transformers Official Movie Prequel Special. Together they serve as a foundation and backstory for the 2007 Transformers live-action movie. Overview:Megatron becomes obsessed with the search of the hidden AllSpark. He forms an army in order to capture it, while Autobots try to protect the artifact, eventually launching it into space. After the battle of Tyger Pax, Bumblebee's voice box is destroyed and Megatron leaves in pursuit of the AllSpark. His search of the Cube ends on Earth, where he crash lands in the Arctic and wents into stasis lock for millenia. In 1897, captain Archibald Witwicky discovers Megatron, which drives him insane. Years pass and Sector Seven hides Megatron in the Hoover Dam. The chase continues when Bumblebee, Starscream, Blackout, and Barricade arrive on Earth. Items of Note:1. The series was originally released without a story title, as "Transformers Official Movie Prequel". The original working title, "Prime Directive" (which was also the title of the first Dreamwave Generation 1 mini-series and the working title of the movie's script), was included in the original scripts, and was also mentioned in early solicitations for the series. 2. Two comics originally produced in cooperation with Target (later also collected as the Movie Prequel Special) were also both originally released under the title Transformers: Movie Prequel, and tie in to the story of this series (although the later-released Target comic contradicts issue 4). 3. An animated version of this comic (with voice acting), named Transformers: Beginnings, was included on a special bonus disc included with a Wal-Mart exclusive edition of the Movie DVD. Prequel Specials:Planetfall[/url] On Cybertron, the Autobots have hidden the AllSpark. But Megatron feels its pull, and goes to claim it for his own, sending Blackout to reinforce Starscream's troops at Simfur. The Decepticons there are mopping up, when they witness the AllSpark's launch into space. As Blackout and Starscream argue over their next step, they observe Megatron leaving in pursuit. Assuming cumbersome protoform modes, the group heads into space under Starscream's leadership. Much later, and light years away, the group makes planetfall on Earth, in Afghanistan's Khyber Pass. They sense the AllSpark's pull, but too faintly to track. Wreckage destroys an incoming human troop carrier, and takes its form. Starscream notes that Megatron could easily subdue the inhabitants, and Blackout says that they must discover why he hasn't. Wreckage leads the others to Bargam Airbase, where they hope to find more information on Megatron's whereabouts from its computers. At the base, the troops have lost contact with their troop carrier, and anticipate an attack. The Decepticons soon arrive, scanning additional vehicles and assuming alternate forms. Barricade claims friendship with humans, only to turn on them. Another soldier uses an EMP pulse weapon to disable Wreckage. Elsewhere, Blackout has found files on a "Project Iceman", but the humans use another EMP burst to shut down their own computers. Bonecrusher suspects Starscream is plotting something... which he is. Blackout heads off to another nearby base to find more information. Barricade wonders if things will really be all that easy; Starscream assures him that it won't be, since the Autobots are sure to turn up sooner or later. The war is only beginning. Interlude2003, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Bumblebee has arrived on Earth, and scanned a disguise form with his Robovision. He has one tenuous lead on the All Spark, sent into space eons before to keep it from the clutches of Megatron. From just outside a downtown insane asylum, he scans the records of one Archibald Witwicky, a man who found something in the planet's polar ice in 1897 which drove him insane. Two mysterious agents detect the scan, however, and realize that it must be N.B.E.-2. They alert Agent Simmons, who mobilizes vans and helicopters. The Sector Seven team tracks Bumblebee as he heads toward Springfield, Missouri, where Archibald's son Clarence lived. The vans attack him en route, attempting to run him off the road and snare him with a grappling hook. With some regret, Bumblebee runs them off the road and rolls on, his mission too important to be delayed. In Springfield, Bumblebee finds Clarence's house empty. But by scanning a real estate agent's portable computer, he finds a record of Clarence's son Herbert. The house sold in 1979, with the proceeds divided between Herbert's six children. Bumblebee heads off to track them down, starting with the oldest, Ben. A stop in Denver proves fruitless; en route to Tucson, Bumblebee comes under attack from another Sector Seven chopper. He blinds them with a flash of light and escapes. But his bad luck continues; in the desert, he comes under attack from Barricade. But as the words of Optimus Prime ring in his head, he vows to prevail... Prequel MiniseriesPart 1Their War... Bumblebee narrates as he travels through space in protoform mode. He attempts to find the All Spark before the Decepticons do. He explains that the All Spark is responsible for all life on Cybertron and that it was basically worshiped for eons. Peace flourished under the rule of Optimus Prime and Lord High Protector Megatron. Eventually though, Megatron secretly assembled an army to help him possess the All Spark for himself. He started a global war and many died. The once peaceful Tyger Pax was now a war-ravaged wasteland. The All Spark was moved to Tyger Pax in secret but Megatron soon learned of its location. Bumblebee's mission was to delay Megatron while others made preparations. His unit of six, including Arcee and Inferno, was under fierce attack while Optimus Prime's forces held off Megatron's main forces at Simfur. Megatron arrived and the tide turned against the Autobots. Bumblebee led the survivors into a building and planned to lead the Decepticons in and sacrifice the remaining Autobots to take out as many Decepticons as possible. They take out the roof supports and it collapses, but the Decepticons survive. They torture the remaining Autobots to find out the All Spark's location. Megatron arrives and Swindle apologizes for not extracting the information. Megatron sends him away and questions Bumblebee, who tells him nothing. He breaks off Bumblebee's arm and throws him across the room. Before Megatron can do more, he hears the rumbling of the All Spark being shot into space. Before he can transform into jet mode and follow though, Bumblebee trips him, allowing the All Spark to speed away. Megatron crushes Bumblebee's voice capacitor and transforms to follow the All Spark. The other Autobots soon arrive and repair Bumblebee's arm, but his voice capacitor is beyond repair. He learns to communicate in other ways and alerts the others to Megatron's actions. When it's decided to also travel into space to find the All Spark before Megatron, Bumblebee is the first to volunteer. He laments that the war is spreading to other worlds. Part 2...Our World In his inner monologue, Megatron recounts how he began the war, not to conquer Cybertron, but to possess the All Spark. Despite Megatron's determination to gain the All Spark, Optimus Prime was just as determined to stop him, eventually jettisoning the All Spark into space and condemning Cybertron to death. Megatron muses that he and Prime are not all that different. Locating the All Spark on Earth, the Decepticon leader loses contact with it upon reentry. Heading to the North Pole, Megatron crashes through the ice. Low on energon and with his safety buffers exhausted, Megatron goes into stasis. Millennia later, in 1897, the National Arctic Circle Expedition under Archibald Witwicky discovers something within the ice. Witwicky is driven blind and insane by what he sees, but his tales attract the interest of a group of spooks, who begin unearthing Witwicky's "Ice Man". Six years later, a Cube is discovered with symbols similar to those on the Ice Man. In 2003, the Hubble Space Telescope tracks an impact on Mars. Sector Seven, hoping to find raw materials to exploit examine, plans to secure their new visitor. Bumblebee. Part 3They Have Arrived! In 1924, Captain Witwicky is held in the Psychopathic Institute for the Long-Term Insane (no, really. That's what it's called). He keeps raving about a war that will come to our world. In 1935, one of the First Seven is shown the new Hoover Dam, including the new cryoblocks for Mega-Man. The old man is retiring soon, and wants one last look at the cube. An aide asks if the old man believes that more of them will come. He does, saying that it's not a matter of "if", but "when". In 2003, Sector Seven makes an attempt to secure N.B.E.-02 at his Virginia landing site, but ten minutes after landing, he is already gone. Realizing that the highway is nearby, the agents inform their superiors that the target is mobile. Heading for their mobile command center, the agents realize that N.B.E.-02 scanned a 1978 Chevy Camaro, then Transformed. In Tranquility, Ron Witwicky is showing his young son Sam his family legacy: the personal effects of Archibald Witwicky. Sam is not very impressed, and Ron takes his dismissal of Captain Witwicky's successes very poorly. In St. Louis, Bumblebee gains access to the internet and looks up "Extraterrestrial sightings". Captain Witwicky's claims immediately attract his attention. Meanwhile, Agent Simmons has been brought in to oversee the capture of N.B.E.-02. Simmons has a box containing energy similar to that given off by the Cube. Realizing that N.B.E.-02 is searching for the Cube, Sector Seven plans to set a trap for the N.B.E. when he detects the energy signature. Simmons is confident, saying that they've been preparing for this for over a century, and that nothing can possibly derail their plans. Nothing except for Starscream, Blackout, and Barricade, that is, who just arrived on Mars and are eager to kill something... Part 4Starscream is a capable leader for once. 2003, Nevada: An F-22 pilot out of Nellis Air Force Base detects an intruder. On investigating, he is promptly shot down by Starscream, who assumes the jet's form. Blackout and Barricade also report successful planetfall; they plan to rendezvous and begin their hunt for the All Spark. In New Mexico, Sector Seven has prepared a decoy All Spark, using an isotope derived from it. Agent Simmons mentions that the last time anyone tried this, the result was Three Mile Island. They hope to lure N.B.E.-2 into a trap. In Louisiana, Bumblebee finds that the Psychopathic Institute for the Long-Term Insane is long abandoned and in ruins. He heads onward. In the Nevada desert, Sector Seven has been waiting for two days, as their quarry draws closer through sightings in Louisiana, Missouri and Colorado. Simmons explains to another agent that the original founder of Sector Seven was his great grandfather, and the whole tracking-aliens thing runs in his blood. In Colorado, a smoking and damaged Bumblebee takes a rest by the roadside, before gathering his fortitude and continuing the hunt. In Tranquility, Nevada, Sam Witwicky consults with his buddy Miles about the value of his "legacy". Miles advises him that an online auction is about his only hope for wringing any cash from the artifacts. Sector 7 sights Bumblebee incoming, but as they prepare their trap, a mysterious police car intrudes on their turf. They soon recognize it as another alien invader. A helicopter and a jet soon arrive as well, attacking Sector 7's bunker. Blackout and Starscream easily handle the humans' military craft; Blackout remotely hacks their computers. Simmons cuts the hard lines before Blackout can acquire more than the name of Sector 7 and America's department of defense. Barricade has been sparring with Bumblebee, but lets him go so they can track him. Simmons and his troops are left amid smoking wreckage, as the various pieces begin to come together... Transformers: BeginningsTransformers: Beginnings is an animated (sort of) version of IDW Publishing's Transformers: Movie Prequel (aka Prime Directive) mini-series. It was available on a Walmart exclusive bonus DVD with the 2007 Transformers live action movie in October 2007 and features some of the (voice) actors from the 2007 movie, voice actors from the Generation 1 cartoon who didn't make it into the movie, and substitute voice artists for the rest of the characters. PlotBumblebee sends a message of the highest urgency to all sentient beings in the universe, telling them the tale of the All Spark. It had once helped the planet Cybertron flourish under the rule of Optimus Prime and Lord High Protector Megatron, but eventually something corrupted Megatron, and he attempted to use the All Spark for his own twisted purposes. Bumblebee was one of the warriors loyal to Optimus Prime, so he tried to protect the All Spark from Megatron. Eventually the Autobots launched the All Spark into space. After destroying Bumblebee's voice capacitator, Megatron follows it and eventually tracks it down to prehistoric Earth, where he ends up trapped in ice. Four million years later, an expedition headed by Captain Archibald Witwicky discovers him, but after unearthing his discovery, he ends up in a mental institution. There, he is visited by two employees of Sector Seven, who are interested in alien designs he drew on more than a hundred sheets of paper before going blind. Upon returning to their headquarters, they prepare for an expedition to the Arctic Circle. In 1902, they're preparing to excavate Megatron there, when other employees of Sector Seven discover the All Spark in a lake in Colorado. 33 years later, one of the Sector Seven agents that were present when Megatron was excavated oversees the construction of the Hoover Dam together with a younger agent, and predicts the arrival of more of the "Mega-Man's" kind. In 2003, Bumblebee arrives on Mars, which is noticed by the Hubble Space Telescope and quickly catches the attention of Sector Seven. Two weeks later, he lands on Earth, but when Sector Seven investigate the site of his impact, he's gone, with the I-64 nearby. Satellite surveillance footage reveals that a yellow Chevrolet Camaro had suddenly entered the interstate only moments after an identical Camaro had passed the position, which causes Sector Seven to conclude that "N.B. E.-2" is a "mimic". Around the same time, Sam Witwicky learns from his father about the legacy of his great-great-grandfather. His ancestor's glasses don't particularly interest him, and upon learning that Archibald Witwicky had ended up in a mental hospital, he freaks out. Meanwhile, Bumblebee discovers information about Archibald Witwicky on the internet, while Sector Seven prepare a trap for him, headed by a specialist, Agent Simmons. In the meantime, the Decepticons Starscream, Blackout and Barricade set foot on Mars and destroy the Beagle 2 Mars Rover. Soon afterwards, they arrive on Earth. Starscream destroys an F-22 Raptor fighter jet and adapts his body to transform into a replica of it. Blackout and Barricade also report having assumed local camouflage. In a former Cold War bunker in new Mexico, Sector Seven prepare their trap for Bumblebee, using an artificial isotope made to give off the same sort of energy signature as the All Spark. Meanwhile, Bumblebee arrives at the mental asylum where Archibald Witwicky had spent the last years of his life, but finds it abandoned and in ruins. Two days after Sector Seven set up their trap, Bumblebee is sighted in the area, with Barricade in pursuit. Just as Sector Seven realize that the "local law enforcement" is actually "N.B.E.-3", Blackout shows up and attacks the bunker, soon joined by Starscream. Blackout quickly discovers that the real All Spark is not in the bunker, but also figures that the humans must know where the real All Spark is if they were able to simulate his energy signature. As he tries to hack into Sector Seven's database, Simmons orders his people to cut the connection to the S7 mainframe. Blackout, having been unable to dig up more than the name "Sector Seven", is about to consider it a dead end as Barricade reports having encountered Bumblebee. He suggests letting Bumblebee lead them to the All Spark.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 15:27:09 GMT -5
Transformers: Saga of the Allspark Saga of the Allspark is a four-issue series published by IDW Publishing, starting in July 2008, and set in the Movie continuity. The series reprints stories from the UK-based Titan's Transformers magazine, at 2 stories per issue. Prelude: Optimus PrimeOptimus Prime makes the decision to send the All Spark into space to ensure Megatron can never find it. This is a decision that weighs heavy, as its absence could condemn Cybertron to a slow death. A Decepticon drone assassin—one in a long line of them—attacks the Autobot base in search of Optimus, who goes out to meet the threat head on, ordering his assistant Arctus to launch if he doesn't make it back. Destroying the drone by transforming and ramming into it at high speed, Optimus is left badly damaged and sees a vision of the Transformer war spread to other worlds. This causes him to question launching the All Spark. But it's too late, as it's already been launched... Prelude: MegatronHaving just dispatched Bumblebee, Megatron pursues the All Spark into space, intent on intercepting the cube before it reaches its destination - the Alkaris Anomaly, a wormhole that would transport it to any one of an infinite number of potential locations throughout the universe. Passing by Cybertron's moon, Megatron finds himself ensnared by a powerful tractor beam that pulls him down to the moon's surface. Freeing himself by destroying the beam projector with a reverse particle stream, Megatron turns his weapons on the Autobots responsible - Jazz, Ratchet and Ironhide - but soon realizes that this is what they want, as it will delay him from his pursuit of the All Spark. Instead, Megatron summons Devastator from Cybertron to fight in his place as he goes after the cube, but Megatron proves unable to stop the All Spark from entering the anomaly, and decides to enter it himself. The battle on the moon comes to an explosive end when Devastator unleashed a foldspace warhead - while he himself is at ground zero - and the combatants all vanish in a flash of light. Meanwhile, Megatron is disgorged from the wormhole in some far-off region of space, with no trace of the All Spark... Lost in Space 1: RatchetDue to the foldspace detonation from last issue, Ratchet has been transported to an alien planet in the grip of genocidal war between the Thraal and the A'ovan - a war that strikes Ratchet as hauntingly similar to Cybertron's. Ratchet attempts to defend himself non-lethally but this just increases the violence; to avoid getting involved further, he scans a local vehicle, adapts his alternate mode and transforms in order to blend in. He establishes a signal beacon in the hope of signalling Jazz and Ironhide. Afterwards, unable to stand by and let the Aovan be massacred, Ratchet attacks and defeats Durguth, the Thrall leader (who he views as the same "type" as Megatron). This causes Ratchet to technically become ruler of the Thrall Imperium, and he negotiates a ceasefire and eventually an alliance between the two factions. He warns them he'll be back one day to see how they're doing - if he can get home... Lost in Space 2: DevastatorDue to the foldspace detonation, Devastator has been transported to an uninhabited alien world covered with cities. With no one around to fight or terrorize, Devastator is bored out of his mind and has been randomly destroying stuff. He's being mentally affected by an unknown source but doesn't care, but he eventually gets himself to realize he needs to get off-world before he runs out of fuel and so locks onto an energy source. A holographic message, left behind by the world's extinct inhabitants, tells him that the energy source—"the Flame"—unleashed the inhabitants' worst instincts and caused them to kill each other. Devastator, uninterested, drives on halfway through the message. Other Decepticons—Starscream, Barricade and Bonecrusher—appear before him, taunting him about his stupidity and attempting to kill him so he can't reach the Flame. The nature of these apparitions is left unexplained (it is most likely caused by the Flame getting inside Devastator's head) but he shows no interest in them and isn't bothered by their taunts, simply blasting them aside. He reaches the Flame, ignores all the questions it raises about what he's faced and his aggression, and simply takes the power he needs and heads back into space. "See, me, I go by one guiding principle—keep it stupid... simple!" Lost in Space 3: IronhideAfter several solar cycles of planet-hopping, Ironhide has locked on to Ratchet's homing signal from #3. But en route he's abducted by a mysterious alien craft. Inside, vast alien entities, claiming to have created the All Spark and that is was stolen from them, do a psychic probe of his mind. To resist, Ironhide focuses on an incident from his past... Back on Cybertron, Ironhide is leading a training mission - one he's now leading to destroy a Decepticon outpost and rescue a POW, despite recruit Signal Flare's protests that there'll be half a battalion in there. Skyblast provides covering fire; Signal Flare and Strongarm do flanking runs to draw the guard tower's fire; Slipstream and Bumper back-up Ironhide as he personally blasts into the outpost, which turns out to only have one Decepticon in it. Ironhide, who knew all along it was automated, explains to them the third rule of soldiering is "take nothing at face value"...Ironhide decides to take this own advice, and discovers most of the craft is derelict and the aliens are actually an illusion of the ship's former inhabitants - "digital phantoms from a bygone age". These illusions were the front for the fish-like aliens who'd salvaged the craft and were tracking the All Spark to exploit it, and who immediately surrender to Ironhide. He finds they'd found him via a device, salvaged in the craft, that was attuned to All Spark energy pattern - he takes it with him, and wonders who once owned this craft "and what their true connection to the Allspark is!". Lost in Space 4: JazzJazz ignored Ratchet's emergency homing beacon, as he'd landed on a planet he called the Information Highway, a constantly-morphing world with "the accumulated knowledge of countless alien cultures, condensed into some kind of sensory precipitation." He decided he was done with the war and was going to remain here, where he was overwhelmed by all the data, the new ways of thinking, "of being!" He merrily decided to examine new, mushroom-like towers that appeared on the planet surface—and upon touching them, he was covered in a swarm of green balls of light. Whereas before the planet was giving him information, now it started to take... It played back a memory from Jazz's past: Having externalized his Spark Core forcefield to keep his bodywork "buff", he had almost had his spark ripped out by Bonecrusher, who'd deliberately wanted to cripple, destroy and eventually kill Jazz for looking nice "when I look like this!" Fellow Autobot Clocker had saved him and then tried to get him to safety. When Bonecrusher caught up, Clocker had ordered Jazz to run away to get help while he fought the Decepticon, as Jazz had been too injured to be anything but a hindrance. By the time help had arrived, "there wasn't much left of Clocker to salvage"... Jazz emerged from this memory to find he was being absorbed into the planet's surface, and so much of his system capacity was focused on data storage, he had no power to resist. Everything about his mind was being stripped and invaded, and his last action was to launch a warning buoy into orbit so others would know to stay away. Time passed, and in brief periods of lucidity, Jazz realized the planet was alive and all that data had come from countless other victims... Eventually, Ratchet and Ironhide arrived, having picked up the signal from the buoy. Ratchet quickly realized the planet was alive, and Ironhide started shooting at it to make it give Jazz back. Jazz was rescued and, having found out where Cybertron was, they went home. Starscream’s Militia6:52 PM - At Starscream's command, Barricade, Blackout and Devastator have risen from beyond the grave—and the Autobots can't stop them! Less than half an hour ago - Megatron was killed. Starscream nominates himself supreme commander of the Decepticons now that there's no one around to object, though he notes he'll probably need some Decepticons alive to command. Noticing a few rampaging Allspark Mutations, he systematically kills them, harvests their All Spark energy, and uses it to turn the Decepticon corpses into zombies under his direct command. Back in the present, the Autobots have no idea how to stop the relentless zombies, and Ratchet has no idea how they can possibly be walking around. Optimus states that they can't let them continue unchecked, but as Ratchet is smacked aside, he's forced to admit he doesn't know what to do—"Allspark help me, Ironhide, I just don't know!". With his power still drained from fighting Megatron, he is similarly unsure how long he can keep fighting... Luckily, Ratchet works out the zombies are being controlled by corrupted All Spark energy and tells the others to target their weapons on such energy signatures. Doing so, they swiftly kill the zombies. However, Starscream's escaped from the city and still has several sources of All Spark power... Scorpion StingIn Qatar, Ironhide tears apart an army vehicle, screaming at the soldiers to run and hide before he kills them, as he is now a slave to the will of Scorponok! Earlier, at a local US air base, Ironhide discovers Captain Lennox has been reassigned. Captain Cartwright's team of Army Rangers will instead be assisting him in hunting for Scorponok. Ironhide is slightly perturbed by the change of plan, and when asked to "show us some credentials" merely transforms as a display of force. Cartwright admits that'll do. As they head out, Ironhide grills Cartwright on what he knows about the quarry and questions if they're ready for the Decepticon to fight. The soldiers reply in the affirmative, but nobody realizes the Decepticon is tracking them. Picking up multiple weak contacts, Ironhide transforms to get a better view. Cartwright barely has time to realize these are "ghost" contacts to confuse them before Scorponok emerges. Ironhide is hit before he can respond, and the Decepticon drills into his head and takes over his motor functions. As the Decepticon forces him to attack and he screams at the Rangers to run, Cartwright orders a barrage of shoot-to-disable sabot rounds. But in contrast to previous results with Decepticons, the rounds have no effect... The Autobot grabs one tank and uses it to smash another, injuring two of the Rangers. Cartwright swiftly regroups his team and orders Weapons Sergeant Darius Gale to sever Scorponok's connection with Ironhide. The other Rangers distract the enemy, who forces Ironhide to fire on them, allowing Gale to reach an XM8 Carbine with armour-piercing rounds and draw a bead on Scorponok. He severs the Decepticon's connection, allowing an enraged Ironhide to grab Scorponok and viciously kill him. Watching the fiery wreckage, the Rangers "figure we can tell Lennox...job done!".
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 16:34:24 GMT -5
Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday In 1969, shortly after the Apollo 11 moon landing, the clandestine organization known as Sector Seven tests their first Ice Man-derived spacecraft with disastrous consequences. Ghosts of YesterdayAs Apollo 11 launches into space, all eyes are on it. Almost all eyes, anyway. In the Arctic Circle, Sector Seven is preparing to launch their own ship, the Ghost 1. As the Ghost's crew launch into space, some S7 workers—including Thomas Kinnear—are worried. The captain of Ghost 1, Samuel Walker, silently worries about the mission. He knows that he has to return to Earth, but he's not sure that he'll make it. He gives his crew a speech, and they rocket towards the Sun. As they are about to slingshot towards Jupiter, they are sucked into a wormhole, and they all lose consciousness. Meanwhile, the Nemesis is continuing its search for Megatron and the Allspark, when the Decepticons receive indications of wormhole travel. Since Cybertronians are the only ones who use wormhole travel, Starscream orders them to investigate. However, Optimus Prime and the Autobots detect the same energy signature, and takes the Ark to investigate. The Nemesis arrives first, and the Decepticons cannot believe what they are seeing. It appears to be a Cybertronian vessel of Decepticon design, but it's too crude to be one of theirs, along with the organic life forms inside. Blackout believes they should destroy it, as anyone capable of wormhole travel is sufficiently advanced to be a threat. To regain the initiative, Starscream decides they will investigate. Before they can, Barricade detects the Ark's reemergence from wormhole travel, and the Nemesis manages to hide behind the moon of the planet the vessel reached. As the Autobots arrive, Ironhide assumes the vessel is Decepticon, but further analysis shows that it can't be. On board Ghost 1, the crew regains consciousness, and upon seeing the Ark, become concerned. Back on Earth, Walter Simmons orders that the Ice Man be moved from the Sector Seven High Arctic Base to a secret location close to the more recently discovered Cube. The Soviets learn of the move and raid the convoy hoping to recover the frozen artifact. During the chaos of battle, Megatron partially wakes up in a bad mood. The Soviets are beaten back with the help of Staff Sergeant Martin and his unit of commandos. Megatron is re-frozen with liquid nitrogen and eventually makes the trip to Nevada without further incident.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 16:36:56 GMT -5
Transformers: Novel An ancient conflict between the forces of chaos and those who covet freedom has come to Earth. Their War. Our World. NovelizationThe book begins with the history of Cybertron's destruction at the hands of Megatron, and his quest to obtain the Energon Cube. Megatron discovers the Cube on Earth, but crash-lands in the Arctic Circle, becoming frozen in the ice. Captain Archibald Witwicky and his crew of explorers stumble upon Megatron's body in the late 19th century. Megatron's navigational system is unintentionally activated, and Archibald's eye glasses are imprinted with the coordinates to the Cube's location. Sector Seven, a secret organization of the United States government, discovers the Energon Cube and builds the Hoover Dam around it to mask the energy signal. The still-frozen Megatron is moved into this facility, and is reverse engineered to further advance human technology. In the present day, the rest of the Decepticons—Blackout, Scorponok, Frenzy, Barricade, Starscream, Bonecrusher, and Devastator—have already landed on Earth and assumed the disguise of Earth vehicles. Blackout and Scorponok attack a U.S. military base in Qatar in an effort to use the military database to discover the location of Megatron and the Cube, but they do not succeed. A small group of survivors from the military base attack wander through the desert and are attacked by Scorponok. The Autonomous Robotic Life Form (shortened to "Autobot") known as Bumblebee is also on Earth, disguised as a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro, and looking for Sam Witwicky, the descendant of Captain Archibald Witwicky. As soon as he locates Sam, the two quickly begin to bond as Bumblebee helps Sam try and woo his crush, Mikaela Banes; Sam is unaware of the fact that Bumblebee is an alien, until he witnesses Bumblebee transform and send out a homing signal for the rest of the Autobots. After Blackout's failure, Frenzy infiltrates Air Force One and discovers that Sam possesses the map that will lead the Decepticons to the Energon Cube. Frenzy and Barricade begin tracking Sam's location. Barricade confronts Sam, demanding Archibald's glasses. Bumblebee, who is following Sam, transforms and battles Barricade. Mikaela, who is also following Sam, is caught in the crossfire, and leaves with Sam and Bumblebee to rendezvous with the rest of the Autobots. The Autobots—Optimus Prime, Jazz, Ironhide, and Ratchet—land on Earth and take on the forms of several Earth vehicles. Sam, Mikaela, and the Autobots return to Sam's home to retrieve the glasses. However, agents from Sector Seven arrive to take Sam and Mikaela into custody. Bumblebee is also apprehended, against the pleas of Sam who assures the agents—to no avail—that he means them no harm. Frenzy secretly accompanies the group to the Hoover Dam, and releases Megatron from cryogenic stasis. Locating the Cube, he sends out an alert to the rest of the Decepticons. Megatron escapes, and Sam convinces the Sector Seven agents to release Bumblebee so that he can get the Cube to Optimus Prime. The Decepticons chase the Autobots, who now possess the Energon Cube, into a neighboring city. An battle ensues, resulting in casualties on both sides, with Sam ultimately destroying Megatron and the Energon Cube when he rams it into Megatron's chest. The remains of the Decepticons are cast into the Laurentian Abyss. With no other home to go to — Cybertron having been destroyed by Megatron and the Cube being the only thing that could have restored it — the Autobots decide to stay on Earth, and Optimus sends out a signal across space in an effort to locate any surviving Autobots, while Sam and Mikaela begin a relationship. Starscream, one of the Decepticons that survived the battle, leaves Earth.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 18:44:12 GMT -5
Transformers: Movie Adaptation Transformers: Movie Adaptation is the title of IDW Publishing's four-issue comic book adaptation of the 2007 Transformers live-action movie. It was published weekly during the month of June, 2007. Part 1A car finds its owner while others look for the All Spark. Over a million years ago, Cybertron was destroyed by war and the All Spark was launched into space, with Megatron in pursuit. Its course was altered to Earth. In 1897, on an Arctic expedition, Captain Archibald Witwicky falls through the ice and discovers a frozen Megatron. When the captain chips at the ice covering Megatron's face, light from Megatron's eyes blinds Witwicky, but burns a map of the All Spark into his glasses. One hundred ten years later in Qatar, an unidentified helicopter previously thought shot down is forced to land at a military base. The helicopter is actually the Decepticon Blackout, who transforms and delivers a devastating pulse wave to the base before attempting to access files on Project Iceman. When the military cut the line and attack, Blackout deploys Scorponok into the sand, who follows a team that escapes while Blackout destroys the base. The team follows power lines to a village, but power is cut when one of the poles is sucked into the sand. Soldier Donnelly notices spikes poking through the sand and fires upon them, but they quickly disappear and Scorponok impales him from behind. In Tranquility, U.S.A., Sam Witwicky fruitlessly attempts to sell his great grandfather's property on ePay before his father takes him out to buy a car. Salesman Bobby Bolivia sees a Camaro that he didn't know was on the lot which beeps at Sam. He sells it to the Witwickys for four grand and Sam drives off. Later that evening he offers Mikaela a ride home after she fights with her boyfriend. The Camaro stalls and Mikaela fixes the distributor cap. At night, Sam's car drives off and he gives chase on a bicycle, while informing the police on his cell phone. He sees the car transform into Bumblebee and shine an Autobot beacon into the sky. Bumblebee saves Sam from some attack dogs and honks at Sam, who runs away. The police arrive and arrest Sam, mistaking him for the thief. At the police station, Sam explains what he saw to a disbelieving officer before his father takes him home. Aboard Air Force One, flying over Virginia, a radio boom box transforms into Frenzy and attempts to access files and plants a virus. When discovered and attacked, he deploys shuriken which kill several agents and converts back into the boom box to avoid detection. After landing, Frenzy sneaks off and rendezvous with Barricade in police car mode. He reveals information that matches Captain Witwicky to Sam's ePay transaction and Barricade downloads Sam's address. Part 2In Qatar, Scorponok battles with the military team and is eventually defeated by aircraft with 6000 degree Sabot rounds. He escapes under the sand with a bit of his tail broken off left behind. In Tranquility, U.S.A., Sam flees from Bumblebee while he unbeknownst is pursued by Barricade and Frenzy. Barricade corners him in a parking lot and transforms, asking him about the auction of his great grandfather's artifacts. Mikaela follows Sam and the two are rescued by Bumblebee. Barricade deploys Frenzy to attack the humans while he battles Bumblebee. Mikaela cuts off Frenzy's head with a power saw while Barricade and Bumblebee fall off a cliff. The Autobot climbs back up and speaks to the humans through his radio while Frenzy's head scans Mikaela's cell phone and transforms into an exact copy. The humans travel with Bumblebee and give him the suggestion to transform into something nicer; he instantly converts into a 2009 Camaro. Bumblebee leads them to the site of a meteor crash. The meteor is actually Optimus Prime, who scans and converts into a semi truck. He then transforms and assures the humans not to fear as the other Autobots approach. He lets the humans know his name and that they are from Cybertron. Part 3Sector Seven pays Bumblebee a visit, and the Decepticons pay a visit to Sector Seven. Optimus Prime asks Sam if he's related to Archibald Witwicky and introduces the Autobots (which Mikaela joins) to the humans: Jazz, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Bumblebee. Prime educates the humans on the Autobots' mission to find the All Spark, what it is, and who Megatron and the Decepticons are, along with Cybertron's war. He also lets Sam know that the All Spark's location is imprinted on Archibald's glasses and that if Megatron finds it, he will use its power to rebuild his armies. Scorponok's tail is studied and it's discovered that the Transformers are sensitive to temperature. Sam returns home and Mikaela is sneaked into his room to help look for the glasses. The Autobots attempt to be inconspicuous but Jazz leans against a power line and is shocked, knocking out power to the home. Prime continues to talk to Sam, making his parents suspicious until Mikaela reveals herself. When they finally recover the backpack containing the glasses, Sector Seven arrive and take Sam and Mikaela due to his report of the transforming car to the police. Sam plays dumb and Optimus Prime rips the roof off the SUV while Jazz takes the agents' guns. The agents are not that impressed with the giant f*cking robots and backup soon arrives. Using a pulse blast, the Autobots attempt to escape with the humans but when Mikaela almost falls from Optimus Prime beneath a bridge, Bumblebee and Sam save her, but are caught in the process. Prime and the Autobots decide not to pursue but instead to locate the All Spark, which Prime plans to merge with his spark to destroy it and end the Cybertronian wars. Banachek fills General Keller in about Sector Seven and the Transformers on Earth and the group take off in helicopters to the Hoover Dam. Frenzy, riding in Mikaela's backpack, jumps out and alerts the other Decepticons to Sector Seven's location; Barricade, Starscream, Brawl, Bonecrusher, and Blackout travel toward Hoover Dam. Inside, Sam and Mikaela exchange their knowledge of Transformers with the agents while on their way to see "N.B.E.-1". When Sam sees it, he informs them that it's actually Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. Part 4The Autobots and Decepticons battle it out while Sam takes charge of the All Spark. As Sam identifies Megatron, Agent Simmons informs the group that reverse engineering on Megatron is the source of all modern machines. Sam states the Transformers are on Earth because of the All Spark and the group heads to the area where it is kept. Simmons informs the group that the All Spark was discovered in 1913 and that Hoover Dam was built around it to hide its energy. He also demonstrates that the All Spark can give life to any mechanical device. The Decepticons arrive and attack the dam—the blasts complete the awakening of Megatron. He kills the scientist near him and transforms into his jet mode. Sam convinces Simmons to free Bumblebee to help protect them. Bumblebee shrinks the All Spark into a tiny cube and leaves with Sam and Mikaela. Megatron meets up with the other Decepticons and give chase to the Autobots, knowing they have the All Spark. Bonecrusher and Barricade attack but Optimus Prime, who kills them both. Simmons stops to call in an air strike and a jet soon arrives. Unfortunately, it's actually Starscream, who injures Bumblebee and causes him to drop the All Spark. Brawl attacks, unphased by the military but is attacked by Jazz. Jazz, in turn is killed by Megatron, infuriating Optimus Prime, who begins to battle his brother. Sam takes the All Spark along with Ironhide, who is blasted by Starscream. Megatron knocks out Prime and goes after Sam and the All Spark. Mikaela, meanwhile hooks Bumblebee up to a tow truck to get him to safety. Brawl pursues them, but is blasted by Bumblebee and killed. Captain Lennox, along with an air strike kill Blackout while Sam faces off with Megatron. Megatron blasts the ledge, causing Sam to fall, but he's caught by Optimus Prime. Before Prime can destroy the All Spark, Megatron attacks again. Sam throws the All Spark into Megatron's spark, destroying him. In celebration, Mikaela kisses Sam but the Autobots gather around Jazz's body. Later, Sector Seven is terminated and the Decepticons are dropped into the Laurentian Abyss and a nuclear blast buries them. While Sam and Mikaela enjoy life, Optimus states that the Autobots will live on Earth, hiding in their vehicle modes to protect the humans. He sends a message into space welcoming any surviving to join their brothers on Earth.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 20:50:20 GMT -5
Transformers: Reign of Starscream The Reign of Starscream is IDW Publishing's five-issue comic series which is their official sequel to the 2007 Transformers live-action movie. It was published monthly (more or less, with several minor delays) from May to August 2008. While originally not intended to tie in with the sequel film, it has since been tied to the Transformers: Destiny comic, which is a direct prequel to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. OverviewThe first issue is mostly a recap of events preceding and during the 2007 movie. Much of the actual story takes place in the very immediate aftermath of the movie, literally spanning only hours for the next two issues, covering an encounter between Starscream and Sector Seven at their Hoover Dam base, followed by his return to the Decepticons' temporary base on Mars. There, the Decepticons are ambushed by a group of Autobots, but the Decepticons are able to kill most of them, with Arcee as the only confirmed survivor. The remaining two issues might cover a longer timespan; the exact time frame is not stated. Upon his return to Cybertron, Starscream attempts to construct a new All Spark and solidify his position as Decepticon leader. Arcee and another group of Autobots try to stop him, coinciding with a rebellion among the Decepticons. The final issue ends with Starscream returning to Mars. According to the trade paperback, the story went through four revisions. The first was called Starscream's Revenge and Sam Witwicky was a major character. The second was entitled The Search for Starscream. The last two, which settled on the final title, had Soundwave in a major role and killed off Arcee. Mowry also noted that Rumble, Laserbeak, Ravage, Overkill and Devastator were in the early draft in addition to Soundwave. Part 1Starscream takes the mantle of Decepticon leadership after the death of Megatron. In the distant past, Optimus Prime launches the Allspark into space to keep it away from Megatron and his Decepticons. Instead of wiping out the Autobots, Megatron pursues the cube and leaves Starscream to eliminate the Autobots. Prime leads a large contingent of Autobots aboard a massive ship to catch Megatron alone in space and recover the Allspark, while some forces stay on Cybertron to deal with the Decepticons. Starscream orders his troops to pursue in their own craft, though Barricade lets his dissent be known. Dreadwing reports that the cube is heading toward the Eshems Nebula, with Megatron following, as well as the Autobots following both of them. The Autobots let loose a volley of mines that damages the Decepticon craft and seriously injures Dreadwing, so the Decepticons are forced to halt for repairs. Over time, the Allspark lands on Earth and Megatron ends up trapped in the frozen Arctic. Along the way, the Autobots send teams out to different locations, reacting to trace elements of Allspark energy. The Decepticons park their ship on Mars, and Starscream leads a contingent to Earth, traveling in their protoform alternate modes. Wreckage is soon killed by a group of humans, and Starscream concedes that while they may be weak, humans are also dangerous, and he stresses the need to reformat themselves for disguise. They eventually discover the frozen Megatron at Hoover Dam and mobilize toward him. Starscream destroys the dam's power generators, allowing Megatron to thaw, but when Megatron learns that the humans have taken the Allspark, he can only state that Starscream has failed him again. The Decepticons engage the Autobots, and Ironhide causes Barricade to crash into a barrier. Blackout reports that Barricade may still be alive but Frenzy is most likely dead, but Megatron is still consumed with the cube. As the other Decepticons fall in battle, Starscream is angered by Megatron's non-concern with his brethren and fights the urge to destroy him. Sam Witwicky shoves the Allspark into Megatron's chest, destroying both. As Starscream declares that the human will pay, a group of jets attacks him. Enraged, he destroys them all. He then travels to see if Barricade is still alive, which he is, though barely. Barricade states that Frenzy has detailed files on the Allspark and Sam. Starscream orders Barricade to continue reconnaissance on the Autobots when he has recovered and to refer to him now as Lord Starscream. Starscream then travels to Hoover Dam to recover Frenzy and prepares to assault the humans there. Part 2Starscream goes to the Hoover Dam to find Frenzy. He kills a lot of people. Starscream arrives at Hoover Dam to find a number of soldiers there to meet him. He gives the puny flesh creatures a chance to surrender. Their response: a bazooka shot to his face. Starscream makes it clear that this was a bad idea via his cluster bombs, but even so, the humans' assault starts to overwhelm him. More irritated than injured, Starscream's priority is nevertheless to find Frenzy, and he flies into the dam's interior to do so. Once inside, Starscream can sense residual All Spark energy, amused by how Megatron must have been driven insane by its closeness during his captivity. He can also sense Frenzy nearby, but is unable to pinpoint him due to interference (of the bullet kind) from nearby pests. He exterminates this annoyance and continues deeper into the dam, through narrow corridors that almost hinder his search, but not quite. Outside, Sector Seven Agent Salazar contacts his troops. After ensuring that Agents Simmons and Banachek and Secretary Keller are out of the area, he tells them to get out now that "N.B.E.-3" is apparently trapped. Meanwhile, Starscream has reached the dam's radio room, monologuing on how his Seeker attributes have not been hindered by this planet, nor has his ability to adapt. He detaches his hand from his arm, his wrist stretching out into little more than ropy wires, and reaches one of those wires into the room, pulling out Frenzy, as well as two human scientists. Surprisingly, he allows the two scientists to live, providing they give up Frenzy without a fight. They comply, and Starscream stores the little spy in his cockpit before rocketing quickly upwards out of the dam. Outside, Sector Seven is waiting. Starscream cannot waste anymore time or energy fighting. He intends to run, but one of the humans addresses him by name, surprising him. Agent Salazar orders Starscream to stand down. Starscream is not amused, but still cannot risk a fight. Sector Seven does not see it that way, and Salazar unleashes a "secret weapon": L.M.-1. Starscream senses an odd energy signature from the vehicle and realizes what it must be as it begins to transform. Even though it cannot complete its transformation, Starscream's curiosity gets the better of him, and he lowers his guard, giving Sector Seven a window in which to attack. Berating himself, Starscream pounces on Salazar's jeep, captures it and the agent, and takes off into the sky. Apparently, merely flying is relaxing to Seekers, as Starscream's energy reserves begin to recharge. Using this time to his advantage, he tosses the jeep back to Earth and begins his interrogation of Salazar, demanding to know how the agent knows his name. Salazar uses the excuse that he's not authorized to tell Starscream anything, and an irritated Starscream drops him, then dives down and catches the plummeting flesh-creature, saying its job is now to tell Starscream what it knows or else be "returned" to its planet. Salazar stubbornly still refuses. With fighter jets appearing on the horizon, Starscream can no longer waste time with this game. He shoves Salazar into his cockpit, intending to take him back to Decepticon HQ. Transforming back to F-22 mode, Starscream prepares for his journey to Mars, confident that his Earth alternate mode can survive the trip. His "passenger"? Not so much. Approaching Mars, Starscream hopes his subordinates aboard the Nemesis have made themselves useful, theorizing that it's only a matter of time before they are discovered. As a certain, green spaceship observes him entering Mars' atmosphere, transmitting his findings to his friends on the planet's surface, Starscream's theory proves correct. Almost out of energy, Starscream arrives at the Nemesis just in time, and "one of his own" is there to help him. Starscream has no time to waste in answering stupid questions and is quickly taken to the regeneration device. After his recovery, while comfortably seated in his command chair, Starscream muses to his fellow Seeker on how interesting humans are, capable of great achievements, like destroying Megatron and the All Spark. Thundercracker expresses confusion at this, since apparently Starscream had told him that he had the All Spark. Belittling his subordinate for stupidity, Starscream explains that he does not have the All Spark itself, but rather a way to recreate it and Cybertron—under his rule, of course. Thundercracker, apparently confused, instead questions Starscream's Earth mode. Starscream assures him that while they may look like Earth vehicles, their adaptive abilities mean that they are not limited to the vehicles' abilities, and the modes will prove useful when they rule Earth. However, his priority is to rule their own planet, and the data in Frenzy's memory is the key to doing so. Starscream orders Thundercracker to plug in Frenzy and start transmitting the data to Cybertron, also asking if a space bridge terminal has been constructed. A view outside confirms that one has been, but due to their distance from Cybertron, it will not be a straight trip, but rather a connection through multiple space bridges. This makes no difference, as Frenzy's data can be sent back to Cybertron ahead of Starscream making the trip himself. He is confident that with Optimus Prime on Earth, nobody will be able to stop his conquest of Cybertron. Nobody, except perhaps the team of Autobots heading his way. Part 3The guy the series is named after vs. some guys we've never seen before. This can only end in tears. Starscream's Decepticons await the Autobots' incoming attack on their base on Mars and send out their drones as a welcoming party. Smokescreen temporarily disables the first attack wave, which Cliffjumper and Camshaft use to destroy a few of them. Hardtop, who previously warned Thundercracker of the impending Autobot attack, prepares to snipe Smokescreen, but is instead sniped himself by Arcee. But just as the Autobots appear to gain the upper hand, a heavily damaged Air Raid is dropped by Thundercracker, who attacks the Autobots with a sonic blast. Thundercracker makes his way through the Autobots, slicing Camshaft in half and knocking down Cliffjumper. Just as he is about to kill Cliffjumper too, Arcee, guilt-ridden for having failed to prevent Bumblebee's mutilation at the hands of Megatron attacks Thundercracker, inflicts some damage on him and then continues to attack him together with Cliffjumper. However, Cliffjumper is suddenly shot in the back by Starscream, who then transforms and proceeds to blow up Smokescreen, who is trying to carry the wounded Air Raid to safety. Starscream returns to Arcee, who is tending a heavily wounded Cliffjumper, and takes her out with one punch. Starscream then returns to his base and prepares a ship for launch, setting course back to Cybertron. Meanwhile, on a base in the Nevada desert, an arriving Sector Seven commander is informed about Starscream's abduction of Agent Salazar and in turn provides a theory about how the Transformers create weapons from their own bodies. Unbeknownst to them, they are eavesdropped on by Barricade, who is standing on a mountain ridge nearby the base. The Sector Seven commander instructs his people that the President of the United States wants to have the vehicles that were given life by the Allspark in Mission City destroyed. An unspecified amount of time later, Starscream's Decepticons return to Cybertron, landing in the city of Trypticon. Starscream and Thundercracker are greeted by Ramjet, while Dreadwing prepares to transfer the data retrieved from Frenzy's body. Starscream makes some "renovations" by destroying a giant sculpt of Megatron's head when he's informed by Stockade that construction of a new All Spark Cube is progressing on schedule. Part 4Starscream's horrific plan is revealed, and a ragtag band of Autobots is all that stands between him and galactic conquest! The new AllSpark Cube is nearly completed, as Starscream continues to make preparations to rebuild the planet of Cybertron. In the process of chiseling the hieroglyphics on the cube, Grindcore collapses from exhaustion. Warpath, concerned about the well-being of his comrade, tries to help him up, but is immediately incapacitated by two Payload Drones. Warpath begins to express his discontent when Stockade shows up and kicks him. He tells the Payload drones to get him back to work and make more room on the line because Dreadwing is gathering more help. Elsewhere, Signal Flare flees for his life through a desolate wasteland when Dreadwing warps in front of him and knocks him out with a single punch. He then contacts Starscream via built-in communicator and informs him of the new "test subject" that he just acquired. Starscream commends Dreadwing for his excellent work and informs him that they are almost ready to begin. Meanwhile, in the Decepticon capital city of Trypticon, Starscream, muses on his status as supreme ruler of the Decepticons. Although he's held this position for nearly a quartex, he begins to wonder if those who already oppose his rule will ever realize the good that he will bring them. Starscream begins to imagine a world without factions or needless sacrifices. Starscream promises Cybertron a new start, a fresh beginning for a dying planet. With the new AllSpark cube, he plans to unite all of Cybertron under his rule and make Cybertronians a proud species again once the planet has been restored. Starscream then declares that Cybertron has been waiting for a leader like him to restore her power, declaring himself to be her champion, as he welcomes all who wish to serve him. As for those who wish to oppose him, Starscream simply states, "Let them try." As Starscream ends his narrative, a Decepticon cruiser makes port at the docking station on the outskirts of Trypticon. Two drones disembark the space cruiser at Trypticon; the Dreadwing drone initiates an inquiry of an audio anomaly, while the Payload drone maintains security protocol. The Dreadwing drone, having turned up nothing on the audio anomaly, begins an analysis of the ship surface. He detects an intruder and attempts to notify Master Dreadwing. The Payload drone is not so lucky; as he asks the Dreadwing drone to repeat the last transmission, he is eviscerated by Arcee. The Dreadwing drone also meets a similar end. Arcee muses on being back home but doesn't like the feeling, and begins to think that it may have been best for her to have remained on Mars. Arcee flashes back to the moment when Starscream suckerpunched her. She thought that her life functions were going to stop, but instead she just went blank. When she came to, Arcee saw that Thundercracker and Starscream were preparing to leave. Going against common sense, she grabbed onto a piece of the landing gear as it was taking off. Arcee had hoped to break into the ship before the beam from the space bridge connected with the ship, because she thought anything not fused to the ship would not teleport. She turned out to be wrong and managed to hitch a ride back to Cybertron. In the midst of her self-loathing due to her recent failure to prevent the destruction of four of her Autobot comrades, Arcee goes off in search of a safe zone, or a place where she would be able to regroup with an Autobot. She states that most of the Autobots had left with Optimus Prime, but some Autobots had chosen to stay behind, and that she hopes that she can find them. Back at Lord Starscream's palace, Starscream is condemning Wreckage (who had been rebuilt by Sector Seven for their own purposes) for telling Sector Seven everything about Cybertronians. Starscream begins to wonder just how many more have betrayed the Decepticon cause. Dreadwing walks in and informs Starscream that he has returned and that the cube is finally ready. Dreadwing tells him that it is and the only ones who know are himself, Starscream, Stockade, and the unlucky workers who were forced to build it. Starscream commends Dreadwing, and decides that the time to activate it has come. Meanwhile at the cube construction site the enslaved Autobots try to negotiate their release with their Decepticon captors. Ramjet bluntly states that if any of them try to run, they will be liquefied. Signal Flare and Warpath are having trouble trying to get a distress signal out; something might be blocking their transmitters. Starscream, Thundercracker, and Dreadwing arrive at the construction site. Starscream impatiently asks where Payload is and that he should have the generator by now. Elita-One attempts to beg Lord Starscream for mercy, only to find that Starscream has none to dispense. Payload finally arrives with the generator, apologizing for the delay, stating that Dreadwing's drones weren't much help, and some of his comrades weren't cut out for hard work. Crankcase doesn't respond well to that remark. Having grown tired of Crankcase's incessant bitching, Starscream promptly puts an end to it by destroying his vocal processor. Ramjet places Crankcase with the other test subjects. Arcee comes upon the ruins of an old training facility to look for a weapon, but instead chances upon Clocker. Arcee briefs him on the dismal events that led up to her return, including the death of Megatron and Starscream declaring himself the new leader of the Decepticons. They are joined by Crosshairs. Surprised to see that he is still alive, she asks of the whereabouts of Elita-One and the others. Crosshairs tells her that they were lost in a raid not too long ago, and that he, Clocker, and the others who stayed behind are planning a rescue. Meanwhile, back at the cube construction site at Simfur, Starscream prepares to greet the masses of Cybertron with the newly constructed AllSpark cube. As the Autobots reach Simfur, Arcee can't believe what her optical receptors are seeing, Starscream has the new AllSpark cube and the captured Autobots, including Crankcase, are strapped to it. Replica AllsparkThe replica Allspark is a product of Starscream's somewhat dubious initiative to create an exact copy of the lost artifact using Sector Seven's exhaustive data, then jump-start it with a robot sacrifice. This was a popular plan. You go into a city-state like Trypticon, and like a lot of places across the planet, you can see that the AllSpark has been gone for thousands of years, and nothing has replaced it. The general population, the kind of Joe-sixtrain that doesn't care about high-minded rhetoric or agendas, was failed by Megatron's leadership. And Prime's leadership, and every successive leader who promised that somehow these city-states were going to regenerate—but they never have. So it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy towards species who aren't like them or anti-Autobot sentiment or anti-drone sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. When a population is sapped of hope, all they can think about is the shitty state of their city-state, and they will be ready to try anything, to believe in anything or anyone that promises to relieve their suffering. ConstructionThe replica Allspark was constructed over a period of about a month using a combination of drones and slave labor. When it came time to activate the replica Allspark, five prisoners-of-war were sacrificed to activate it. Signal Flare Warpath Elita-One Crankcase Grindcore An energy pulse was used to extinguish all five lives simultaneously, then gather the energy released at the moment of death and store it in a generator at the cube's base. Once fed back into the cube this energy was supposed to open a connection through which would flow a infinite wellspring of power, much like the self-renewing energy source of a Transformer's own spark. It makes perfect sense really; perform a death-ritual before a block with ancient symbols carved on it in order to open a gateway to the afterlife, which will supply you with cheap non-polluting electricity for all time. Of course it can't fail. Then the damn thing didn't work. And then Dreadwing and Ramjet turned on Starscream and Thundercracker. And then a group of Autobots under Arcee launched a surprise attack. OriginThe genesis of this plan appears to lie in Starscream's attempt to re-create the circumstances of an ancient illustration depicting the AllSpark's energy being regenerated while figures stand around it, their sparks feeding it. Perfectly sensible! There are two problems however: 1. Starscream only sacrificed five sparks, the illustration clearly shows six figures—no wonder it didn't work! 2. Starscream got the image backwards. The AllSpark wasn't being re-ignited by six sparks that were sacrificed... it was channeling energy into the entombed creatures after absorbing the power channeled from a sun harvester. Part 5Can the Autobots stop Starscream from ruling all of Cybertron? Just outside the temple at Simfur, Arcee and her crew contemplate their next move in saving their friends. Crosshairs suggests that they split into two teams: one to head back to Trypticon and cause a diversion, while the rest take on the rescue. Strongarm, Breakaway and Wingblade volunteer for the former, while Armorhide agrees to take a team to provide cover for the rescue party. Down at the temple, Starscream marvels at what he has achieved. He looks over the crowd, seeing them not gathered out of fear or displaced loyalty, knowing no matter their previous allegiance, they will all bow before him as the new leader of Cybertron. He addresses the crowd, putting down the efforts of their previous leaders, and how he has returned to rebuild Cybertron for them. All he asks is that they swear allegiance to him and his cause, to which the entire crowd readily does. After that, he explains the purpose of the prisoners shackled to the AllSpark; the five of them will give their sparks to reactivate the cube, and restore Cybertron to its former glory. Elita-One pleads with him to stop, calling his plan insane. But Starscream is resolute in his actions, and with the push of a button, the five "criminals" are terminated. Their spark energy is stored and, with another flick of a switch, Starscream activates the new AllSpark... only to find it's not working. Starscream has little time to contemplate why it has failed, before he realises he has bigger problems in the form of Dreadwing, who calls in his drones to surround the confused bot. Payload and Ramjet also show their true colours, siding with Dreadwing as he explains his actions. He saw the data from Frenzy, and decided he wanted it for himself. He brags about the size of his forces, and how easy it was to form this little coup. Starscream quickly rebukes him, calling Dreadwing a novice and regretting ever saving him. However, Dreadwing doesn't let it faze him and orders his drones to seize Starscream and his remaining followers. Arcee and members of the rescue party watch in disbelief from the outskirts; their job has just become a little harder. Clocker and Crosshairs theorize that the master switch must be at Trypticon, and perhaps Breakaway can deactivate it. Arcee makes her move, using her rifle to take out the fake AllSpark with a mighty explosion. Dreadwing is not pleased, sending Ramjet and the drones to deal with the new intruders. Crosshairs and Armorhide hold the line, and Ramjet nearly runs the latter through before Crosshairs decapitates him. Meanwhile, back at the temple, Starscream has had enough. He's furious that he let his lust for power blind him, as it did Megatron, and goes on the offensive. With the help of Thundercracker and Stockade, he takes out numerous drones before he notices Dreadwing escaping. Starscream leaves the clean up in his subordinates hands and goes after the traitor, taking a surprised Divebomb along with him. Admiring the valiant efforts of the Autobots fighting below, he intercepts Wingblade's message to Arcee about deactivating the drones. His path clear, he searches Trypticon until he finds the traitor. On board a starship, Dreadwing plans to escape to the atmosphere and reactivate the drones. His plans are put on hold as Starscream throws Divebomb onto the front of the ship, before blowing him to smithereens. He cripples the ship before boarding, threatening to kill Dreadwing before the ship crashes. Dreadwing states he only did what Starscream never had the bearings to do to Megatron, but Starscream is not swayed. Below them, Arcee pulls her team out of Trypticon to avoid the collision. However, Dreadwing has one final ace up his handless sleeve. As the ship tumbles out of control, he activates the Space Bridge before teleporting away from the enraged Starscream. His screams of the traitor's name are cut short as the ship collides. The explosion turns the Decepticon city into a smoldering crater before it's absorbed into the wormhole. Trypticon has fallen, and Starscream is gone. Outside the city limits, Arcee and her crew observe the destruction. She notes that this could be the turning point in the war, but knows that if Starscream survived the explosion, he could turn everything around again. She vows to find him...and judging from the sight of the Thundercracker speeding away from the scene, she's not the only one. Far away from Cybertron, on Mars, the disused Space Bridge antenna activates. The remains of the starship as well as the explosion come crashing through the wormhole, obliterating it. While this happens, a confused but very much alive Dreadwing emerges. He marvels at his miraculous escape just long enough for Starscream to sneak up, tear his head off and crush his spark core. The traitor addresses him as "Lord Starscream" before he finally goes quiet. A damaged Starscream takes a moment to think about all that has happened. Dreadwing is dead, but his plan (or possibly his followers) have failed. But he knows there are allies back on Earth, and he knows they will join with him. He will have his rule no matter where it may be.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 22:53:42 GMT -5
Transformers: Destiny Transformers: Destiny is a series published by IDW Publishing. It serves as both a sequel to The Reign Of Starscream and as a lead in to Revenge of the Fallen, and as such is in direct continuity with the film. Destiny consists of two four-issue story arcs: the first arc, Transformers: Alliance, began in December, 2008, while the concurrent arc Transformers: Defiance debuted the following month. Items of NoteInitially, Chris Mowry was asked to do a prequel series for Revenge of the Fallen. The theme of "destiny" was key, so that's what the title was called. Eventually, the staff of IDW felt that since there is so much to tell in the movie universe, there should be two separate series. So while there are two stories, they fall under the "destiny" banner and help to explain a larger story. A teaser advertisement for Destiny, written mostly in Cyberglyphics, appeared in the last issue of The Reign of Starscream. Chris Mowry said he wanted to have Laserbeak appear as a Predator Drone in Alliance, but he was not permitted. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Alliance Transformers: Alliance is a 4-part comic series published by IDW Publishing which originally ran from December 2008–March 2009. It serves as both a sequel to The Reign Of Starscream and as a lead in to Revenge of the Fallen, and as such is in direct continuity with the film. Alliance and another four-issue story arc called Transformers: Defiance are together known as Transformers: Destiny. OverviewPrior to the Mission City battle, Wreckage is experimented upon by Sector Seven. After the Mission City battle, the Autobots help Captain Lennox eliminate rogue 'bots brought to life by the All Spark, and then leave before Sector Seven arrives. Sector Seven wants help from Lennox, who has agreed to help the Autobots. While Barricade sends out a signal for Decepticon help, Starscream plans his revenge. When the time comes to dump the robot remains in the Laurentian Abyss, Optimus travels with Jazz's remains, leaving a fragment of the All Spark with Sector Seven. The shard reactivates Wreckage, but Starscream and Bumblebee arrive in time to help. Starscream kills Wreckage, and, receiving a signal from Soundwave, goes to rendezvous with the latter. Part 1As the Autobots clean up after Megatron's Mission City rampage, old enemies begin to resurface. Four months before the Mission City "incident", two F-22 fighter jets fly over the Nevada desert, escorting a US Air Force cargo plane to a secret Sector Seven base. Agent Salazar is delivering Wreckage for the purpose of conducting research. After explaining Wreckage's story to Professor Vine, Salazar oversees the beginning of experiments conducted on Wreckage. One month before the "present" time: In the aftermath of the Mission City battle, Ironhide, Captain Lennox, Technical Sergeant Epps and a few other soldiers track down and destroy the All Spark's creations. Meanwhile, Ratchet is reattaching Bumblebee's leg. Sam and Mikaela are watching on when Sam is suddenly hit by a soda can. Dispensor attacks them, but Ratchet nonchalantly stomps him into pieces. Optimus Prime asks Lennox for a favor, helping them leave the city before humans he doesn't consider trustworthy show up. After placing the remains of Jazz in a truck trailer Prime can haul, the Autobots set out to leave the city. Lennox gives Ironhide his cell phone so Sam can call Epps when they have left the city. Shortly afterward, Agent Simmons and his fellow Sector Seven agents show up to retrieve the remains of the fallen Decepticons and the All Spark's creations. Simmons asks Lennox for Sam's location, but Lennox claims Sam just disappeared. Simmons wants to recruit Lennox and Epps for Sector Seven, but Lennox would prefer to return home to his wife and daughter. Just then, Epps's cell phone rings. Sam informs then that they have left the city, but because of the bad connection, he's yelling into the phone, loud enough for Simmons to hear him as well. Lennox asks Simmons for a vacation before he agrees to accept the offer. The next morning, Simmons is in the Sector Seven facility in Nevada, overseeing the arrival of the Decepticons' remains. He informs the scientist that he has received orders to dump the robot bodies into the ocean, so they only have one month to conduct their research. The scientist replies that Wreckage has not been active since Salazar shut him down a few weeks earlier, and now Salazar is dead. Simmons suggests calling Lennox in case Wreckage doesn't wake up. One month later, Lennox and Epps have a secret meeting with Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Ironhide (according to Optimus, Bumblebee continues his assignment as Sam's guardian). The Autobots mention having been followed by a police car, which Lennox suggests might have been Barricade. Lennox informs Prime that the Decepticons' remains are about to be dumped into the ocean, and they want the Autobots to escort the transport. Unbeknownst to them, however, they are secretly being spied on by Barricade, who transmits his newly gained information to Starscream, who has recently returned to Mars. Though unsure whether Barricade might end up betraying him as well, Starscream decides that the opportunity of disposing of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Wreckage all at the same time would be too good to ignore. Optimus Prime’s Holo-DriverLooks suspiciously like Peter Cullen, Optimus’ voice actor from the G1 series and the Live Movies Part 2Wreckage and Starscream have a (w)reckoning. It's moving day in Nevada, and Vine and Simmons are still packing. They lament the loss of their new source of information as they wait for their escort to arrive. They also discuss N.B.E.-03 (whom Vine, surprisingly, refers to by his name), who still hasn't woken since he went on a rampage through Sector Seven headquarters and Agent Salazar pulled the plug on him. Salazar used information Wreckage had given (while in a more cooperative mood) to create the L.M. units. Vine speculates that if he alive, he is some sort of hibernation, Simmons isn't worried, as he believes that when Wreckage does come online, Lennox and Epps will be able to handle him. As Lennox regrets his decision to join S7, the Autobots finally arrive. Optimus Prime insists on accompanying Jazz's remains, and also gives Vine a shard of the All Spark. (Megatron's corpse + life-giving power = a very bad day.) As the caravan leaves, Lennox leaves Salani in charge of the others. The soldiers and Autobots speed toward the waiting aircraft carrier. On Mars, a shadowy figure examines the wreckage of Starscream's ship, Dreadwing's head, and an impression of Frenzy. He is unaware of the recent events, but is soon able to piece together the mystery—and looks toward Earth for an answer. Back in Nevada, Simmons and Vine argue about whether the All Spark shard is safer underground, where any stray Decepticons won't be able to detect it, or above ground, where it won't get close to the offline Wreckage, which Vine has a bad feeling about. When Salani chimes in on Simmons's side, Vine agrees to take it underground, giving it to a pair of S7 guards, but insists that they keep it isolated from Wreckage. As soon as they pass Wreckage's chamber, the shard flies out of their hands, and into Wreckage's chest. Things kind of go downhill from there. The newly reactivated Decepticon promptly rampages through the base; Salani lays down covering fire as Vine and Simmons escape. Wreckage soon bursts onto the surface, looking for revenge against Salazar and the location of Megatron. Suddenly, three of the Landmine units attack. Simmons realizes they must have been brought online by the shard as well, and Vine goes to look for it as the battle rages. Wreckage is surprised that they can transform, but quickly dispatches the Landmine units with ease. Wreckage is about to squash the scientist when a missile strike from above slams into him, and Starscream descends on him like an avenging angel. The two titans clash, each shouting accusations of betrayal: Wreckage for working with Sector Seven, Starscream for leaving him to die. During the battle, Wreckage knocks Frenzy's remains out of Starscream's chest; they land near Simmons. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime changes his mind about leaving the All Spark fragment with Vine, and he sends Bumblebee and Ironhide back to retrieve it. Bumblebee, show-off that he is, speeds ahead and is able to arrive at the base with reinforcements just in time. Wreckage gains the upper hand—and Bumblebee promptly shoots it off. Starscream immediately takes advantage of the distraction to rip out the traitor's Spark, then turns against the humans and Autobot. He downs Bumblebee and is about to finish the job, when he receives a communication from a Decepticon on Mars. Recognizing the sender, Starscream once more blasts off into space, now with renewed confidence. Starscream informs his compatriot of the death of Megatron, the loss of the All Spark, and the apparent alliance between the Autobots and humans. The recently arrived Decepticon asks what threat this poses, but Starscream is confident they can defeat it, and becomes even more confident when he learns that reinforcements are heading toward Earth, with even more held in stasis on the ship. In space, several comets streak toward Earth as Starscream makes his plans with Soundwave, who claims he still has orders to follow. Part 3The alliance between humans and Autobots grows as a Decepticon threat arrives on Earth. All around the world—in Italy, San Francisco, Africa, China, the South American rain forest and Sydney, Australia—Decepticons land on Earth in comet form. On the devastated Sector Seven base in the Nevada desert, Ironhide has arrived and is tending Bumblebee, whose vocal processor has been damaged in battle with Starscream. Meanwhile, Salani, the soldier Lennox had assigned to stay at the base, is retrieving injured Sector Seven operatives, while Agent Simmons is sitting nearby, silently complaining about those robots' manners. When Salani calls him, Simmons secretly hides Frenzy's head, which is lying nearby. Salani informs Simmons that many Sector Seven personnel have been killed, among them Professor Vine. Simmons, however, is mostly interested in finding the Allspark fragment. At this moment, Lennox, Epps, Optimus Prime and Ratchet arrive at the devastated base. Lennox hands Simmons a radio that connects him to Defense Secretary Keller, who informs Simmons that Sector Seven has been disbanded with immediate effect, and he has put Lennox in charge of the operation. Simmons drives off, keeping Frenzy's head with him. Shortly afterward, Salani returns with the Allspark fragment, which he has found in the lab, and hands it back to Optimus Prime. The remains of Wreckage and the Landmine units are loaded onto flatbed trucks. Two weeks later, Lennox has to explain himself to his superiors via video conference, because he wants to cooperate with the Autobots—the military still has a problem telling Autobots and Decepticons apart. Lennox and the Autobots are on board of an aircraft carrier. A crane dumps Optimus Prime's trailer in the ocean, which contains the remains of Jazz. Optimus thanks the soldier for participating in his first lieutenant's funeral. Afterwards, the Decepticons' remains are dumped in the ocean. Back under deck, Lennox informs Optimus that many comets have entered Earth's atmosphere recently. Lennox's superiors want the Autobots and the US armed forces to form a defense alliance against the Decepticons. As a basis for their cooperation, Lennox demands mutual trust, which Optimus willingly agrees to. Meanwhile, in Italy, a racing car breaks through the barrier of a military base, followed by two Decepticons in robot form. Fracture informs her two partners that she has found suitable alternate modes for them. At the same time, Decepticons also destroy military bases in other parts of the world and scan new disguises—Overcast in Japan, Jetstorm in the Middle East and Dropkick and Incinerator in Florida. Back in Italy, Gunbarrel and Reverb have assumed their new Earth forms and join Fracture, who informs the other Decepticons that they will need a distraction while they search for Megatron. In San Francisco, Swindle and Dead End are driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, letting each other know how much they hate each other, and prepare for the distraction Fracture asked about. On the island Diego Garcia, a US military base in the Indian Ocean, Lennox, Epps and other soldiers are training together with the Autobots. While Ironhide congratulates Bumblebee for a good shot, a promoted Major Lennox discusses the future of their alliance with Optimus Prime. The Allspark fragment is also stored in a facility on the island. When Lennox asks Optimus about the Autobots he called to Earth, Optimus replies that he hopes they will arrive soon. At the same time, what appears to be an Autobot probe has landed on a scrap yard near Mission City. Suddenly, Lennox receives a distress call: An explosion has occurred at a gas station in San Francisco, and footage from a surveillance camera shows a Decepticon whom Ironhide instantly identifies as Swindle. Lennox promptly orders his team to roll out. Part 4Everyone gets ready for the Revenge of the Fallen. En route to San Francisco, the Autobots and NEST soldiers converse about their mission. Two Decepticons have been spotted in the city, but thankfully, there was no mention of robots, so they must be in their vehicle modes. Lennox wonders how their team can do this without drawing attention from bystanders; Ironhide tells him to leave it to the Autobots, knowing that the two Decepticons will put up a fight. Once they land, Salani reminds them that this is for real. Team 3 is to serve as perimeter defense, Team 2 sets up the trap, and Team 1 (consisting of Lennox, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee) will flush them out. Lennox once again lays down the plans, with a chemical spill used as cover for their operations, as they need as much secrecy as possible. In downtown San Francisco, the area is cordoned off, and the civilians have been moved out, so Team 2 is cleared to go. Ratchet teases Ironhide about his appearance being unsuited to the mission, but Ironhide tells him to stow it. Suddenly, Ratchet picks up energy readings, then Swindle and Deadend crash through a sliding wall and Team 2 picks up the chase. Swindle thinks that, if Barricade's intel is right, he and Deadend are chased by Ironhide and Ratchet; no sign of Prime. Just then, Prime appears out of nowhere and runs over Deadend. Oops. Swindle runs off, but Bumblebee chases after him. Prime is okay, but Deadend isn't, as noted by Ratchet. Salani calls Epps for a clean-up crew, while at the Golden Gate Bridge, Epps asks Lennox for his status. Lennox is pursuing Swindle, and Swindle is heading toward the Bridge fast. Lennox tells Epps to have the soldiers let Swindle get a bit of "clearance", then he and Bumblebee continue the pursuit. When they reach the bridge, Swindle transforms and is incredulous that Bumblebee came alone, but Lennox tells him otherwise. Swindle blasts at them, then beats up Bumblebee. Lennox fires at Swindle, and he turns his attention to Lennox, but before he can do anything, Bumblebee blasts him. Dying, Swindle declares: "None of you are safe. We'll find it," but shuts down before he says anything more. Lennox considers the mission a success, and Epps thinks they pulled off the secrecy thing. Hours later, during the trip back to base, Optimus Prime notes that Lennox looks tired, but Lennox says that he was wondering if things are about to get worse, and is worried about what Swindle said. Prime asks him if he's also worried about Sam Witwicky; Lennox says yes, but is more concerned about the "we'll" part--are more Decepticons going to arrive, and if so, why are they on Earth? Prime doesn't have the answer to that, but does agree that Sam needs to be kept safe--whatever's going on, Prime thinks he's going to be involved. Lennox tells Prime that they need someone to watch over him, and Prime knows just the one. When the team lands back at the base, a refreshed Epps meets with the still-tired Lennox, who tells him that something's going on out there. Epps tells him that they're ready for anything, but Lennox questions this, saying that for all their training, they weren't clean during the day's mission. Epps thinks it could have been worse, but Lennox says that it might get worse, as well as saying that Bumblebee is leaving the team to once again guard Sam. Epps is upset, saying that they can't lose team members that came from another planet; Lennox agrees. Later, Lennox is debriefed by the Army on the day's mission. Lennox tells them about the incident at the Golden Gate Bridge; the commander debriefing the team isn't pleased with this, as they were given strict orders to not transform. If the Decepticons did so, then so be it; however, the team was ordered not to, as the Army doesn't want to risk disclosure in a major city again. Lennox says that they had no choice, as the Decepticons had engaged them, and they took caution in how they responded. The commander says that civilians aren't used to seeing robots or jets flying in major cities. Lennox points out the jet was an enemy, and only proves that the army needs the Autobots on their side. The situation isn't perfect, but they're working on it, and despite the incident at the bridge the mission was a success. The army commander still isn't sold on Lennox's idea. They authorized that mission, but they expect that the rules to be followed in the missions that will be coming, and that the unit will be used to fix problems, not make new ones. After making Lennox clear on this issue, the commander says he'll pass this onto his superiors, and tells Lennox that he and his men need to look over the day's mission and learn from them. When the conversation ends, Lennox is upset at the commander, saying that he's impossible to work with. Prime says that the team will have to work harder, but Lennox thinks that the problem is the army still doesn't get the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. Optimus Prime says that they have to succeed. The next day, Bumblebee says his brief good-byes to the group. Ironhide tells him to stay out of trouble, while Optimus Prime reminds Bumblebee that Sam's protection is his first priority, then Bumblebee leaves. Later, the team is briefed by the army. There have been multiple Decepticon sightings all over the globe. Lennox lets Optimus Prime talk to the army, and Prime believes that, given Swindle's comments, the Decepticons are looking for something, be it Megatron's remains, Sam's house, or something else. The commander asks if they aren't spreading out for another attack, but Prime thinks these Decepticon soldiers are acting less like soldiers and more like scouts. The commander gives them new orders; they are to find these Decepticon scouts, engage, hunt down, and eliminate them. And so, as Prime relates, with upgraded technology from Sector Seven installed by Ratchet, the Autobots found the Decepticons, and, when found, they were destroyed immediately (in Italy, Fracture gets smashed by Ironhide and falls to the ravine). With help from NEST, the war with the Decepticons continues. As weeks, then months went by, they trained and got better. Soldiers from all over the world signed up. Together, they celebrated triumph (in Europe, Overcast is shot down by NEST forces) and mourned those who made sacrifices (a mission in the Middle East resulted in the death of Salani). They grew as a team and learned from one another, becoming stronger allies in an ever-changing war. The Decepticons wouldn't give them info, but they never lasted long enough anyway (in Florida, they eliminate Dropkick and Incinerator), and others they couldn't get rid of (Barricade flees after the Florida battle). Each mission was followed with an army debriefing. It was from there that they received judgment and new orders. It was in one briefing that they were given hope and joy. The next day, the Autobots head to a junkyard. Lennox says that the rad detector is going crazy, and that it's not them. Optimus reassures Lennox, then calls to the hiding Autobots. The new Autobots respond by appearing (in the guises of a silver sports car, three motorcycles, and an old ice cream truck), and saying that they got Optimus' call. However, the reunion is cut short by more sightings. The old Autobots catch up with the new ones through their training. The training ends as they are called to the briefing room, as Optimus wonders that if something is out there, friend or foe, they are the only ones who can deal with the situation, one which is threatening their new home, themselves, and their alliance with the humans. Inside, Lennox briefs the team on a new assignment, which will involve the new Autobots sticking to their training and watching their backs. Their target location: Shanghai...
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 23:24:25 GMT -5
Transformers: Destiny Transformers: Destiny is a series published by IDW Publishing. It serves as both a sequel to The Reign Of Starscream and as a lead in to Revenge of the Fallen, and as such is in direct continuity with the film. Destiny consists of two four-issue story arcs: the first arc, Transformers: Alliance, began in December, 2008, while the concurrent arc Transformers: Defiance debuted the following month. Items of NoteInitially, Chris Mowry was asked to do a prequel series for Revenge of the Fallen. The theme of "destiny" was key, so that's what the title was called. Eventually, the staff of IDW felt that since there is so much to tell in the movie universe, there should be two separate series. So while there are two stories, they fall under the "destiny" banner and help to explain a larger story. A teaser advertisement for Destiny, written mostly in Cyberglyphics, appeared in the last issue of The Reign of Starscream. Chris Mowry said he wanted to have Laserbeak appear as a Predator Drone in Alliance, but he was not permitted. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Defiance Transformers: Defiance is a 4-part comic series published by IDW Publishing that ran January–April 2009. Along with another four-issue story arc called Alliance, it serves as both a sequel to The Reign Of Starscream and (as it is set far in Cybertron's past) provides backstory for Revenge of the Fallen, and as such is in direct continuity with the film. The two arcs together are known as Transformers: Destiny. Part 1As the Cybertronians search for the secrets of their past, an ancient threat rises... Commander Starscream returns to Cybertron after a patrol of the Eshems Nebula and is met by First Officer Ratchet. Starscream is sporting a wound from an encounter with a scout ship, the fourth one he's spotted so far. As Ratchet works on him, they chat about the science sector's latest archeological dig. With repairs complete, Starscream meets up with his captain, Ironhide, and the two go to meet "the boss". Meanwhile, Optimus is filling in Megatron on the dig's progress and recent unusual energy pulses being emitted by the Allspark. Starscream and Ironhide interrupt, however, and Megatron has them report on the defense record of the past solar cycle. In the Eshems Nebula, an alien fleet awaits, attracted by a mysterious signal. The aliens decide that they should launch an attack and try to claim the energy source. In Simfur, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper are standing guard over the Allspark. Bumblebee complains that Optimus is running off on a dig when he should be investigating the Allspark energy spikes. Cliffjumper tells him to calm down and points out Bumblebee is just complaining because he'd rather be out fighting someone. Cliffjumper tells him the two of them are able for anything and are already Defense Force material, but that they'd be just as bored with the Defense Force, going on nothing but patrols. Above Cybertron, the aliens ready for their attack. At the dig site, Arcee's team finds something, and she rushes off to tell Optimus. Observing with Ratchet and Jazz, Optimus is considering whether or not the artifacts they keep finding might actually predate their race. His thoughts are interrupted as Megatron arrives and asks Optimus what he thinks the site contains. Optimus isn't ready to give any definite answers, and the pair quickly start arguing over procedure, culminating in Megatron telling Optimus that when he chooses to lead, he can make the decisions, not before. They're interrupted by Arcee, who tells them of her team's discovery, an intact artifact bearing an unknown marking. Following her to the site, they find a large, triangular slab bearing a strange symbol. Megatron wants the artifact removed at once, but Optimus says that they need time. Before the argument can kick off again, an explosion goes off in the nearby city of Metrotitan. Starscream calls in, confirming it to be an attack by the same species he encountered before. Megatron prepares for battle, but Optimus wants to have his division follow the same procedures as before: They will guard the site and the Simfur Temple, while the Defense Force fights directly. Megatron accepts this, but orders the artifact transported to his quarters in Trypticon. In the Simfur Temple, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper are pinned down and desperate for help. It arrives in the form of Megatron coming through the city. He is disgusted that they haven't taken the fight to the enemy, but takes a serious wound while berating them. He quickly destroys his attacker, and as Starscream arrives, orders him to continue the battle and to keep Optimus' team out of their way. Megatron returns to Trypticon, drawn to the artifact, feeling as if it calls out to him. He begins to scrape the dirt away from it, but his injury overwhelms him and he collapses. As he lies there, the artifact moves ever so slightly closer... Part 2Megatron begins to change... for the worse! Thousands of years ago, in what will become Egypt, a bunch of humans are building a pyramid. The start of a thunderstorm sends them fleeing into a stone archway—an entrance adorned by a Decepticon insignia. Not too long ago, the people had witnessed the actions of a great evil, and though it has gone, they fearfully await its return. Cybertron, in Megatron's quarters in Trypticon. The Cybertronian leader lays vulnerable on the floor, until a mysterious voice tells him to "awaken." Clocker, Warpath, and Signal Flare dig up the remains of dead Transformers under the watchful gaze of Optimus. When they ask what happened, Optimus explains about the earlier alien attack. Before he seeks out answers about who attacked them or why, though, he wants to help the attack's victims. He sets out to the temple at Simfur, where Bumblebee and Cliffjumper wonder about what's going to happen next; Bumblebee feels something big is about to happen, but Cliffjumper reminds him that they're just sentries, and will probably be left out of it. Prowl arrives, and after scaring them into shape, asks them about the behavior of the AllSpark during the battle. Jazz and Prowl accompany Optimus; Prowl notes that it looks like the aliens were trying to break in, and bets that they were after the AllSpark itself. Megatron arises, guided by the mysterious voice, which explains it has used the last of its power to heal his grievous wound. His demands to see the voice's face, and the voice responds that it cannot do so, unless Megatron helps. Megatron demands to know why the Protector of Cybertron should follow its demands, and Megatron then sees that the voice is coming from the relic, which says it can take Megatron from being Protector of Cybertron to being its Lord. It then fires a beam into his eyes, asking that he allow it to "expound." Back on the battlefield, Optimus and Arcee find the body of one of the aliens. Unfortunately, it's already dead. Unable to glean any more information, Optimus goes to find Megatron, leaving Arcee and the others to take the remains to Ratchet. When he arrives, Megatron delivers a surprising proclamation: Cybertron is going to war! Optimus, while not able to fully understand, promptly states that his division, never meant for battle, will not be on the frontlines. He also points out that Megatron's team is supposed to defend, not attack. Megatron responds by slamming Optimus into a wall, and demanding once again that he assemble his team. Ratchet analyzes the alien remains, discovering that their structure is actually similar to that of Transformers; although they appear incapable of transformation. They have what could be spark cores. Signal Flare drops in to announce that Optimus has called a meeting, and they need to be there now. Soon, Optimus stands before his fellow Autobots, and says that they should focus their efforts on helping the ruined city of Metrotitan. He says that, when Megatron tells them to join in the counterattack, they should not follow him, as it goes against everything Autobots stand for. He says that those who wish to fight may do so, but extends his thanks to those that would rather stay with him. He and the Autobots then travel to Trypticon. There, Megatron delivers a similar speech, rallying his soldiers to battle. Until this situation ends, Megatron declares that he is control of Cybertron, and all soldiers are required to fight. Those unable to fight are to await orders. Ground forces will pick off evacuees while the fliers join him. After he finishes barking out orders, he leads his troops into space to attack the alien fleet in the Eshems Nebula. Reaching the enemy fleet, the Defense Force attacks. Dreadwing sends the drones to attack the alien flagship, but they are destroyed by the ship's primary weapon, resulting in the loss of half the Transformers attack forces. It matters little, as the Defense Force has superior maneuverability and weapons, and pretty soon, the kills start to rise. However, they cannot yet launch an attack on the flagship, as the primary weapon is still online. Starscream orders Blackout to launch a disruption wave at the ship. While they fight, Optimus remains with some of his own troops on the ground. He speaks to Prowl about Megatron's leadership, noting that there seems to be a divide in their ranks. Jazz replies that Megatron hasn't incorporated them into his army, instead giving them little more than sentry duty. When Prowl tells Optimus that includes guarding Megatron's quarters, Optimus asks for a favor. Blackout disrupts the enemy ship's shields and communications; Megatron promptly moves in for the kill. He rips his way through the ship; as his "master" says, since they came for the AllSpark, he's coming for their lives, a fair trade in his mind. He finds and kills the ship's captain, then orders Starscream to destroy the ship altogether. He reveals to Starscream that passivity has weakened them, and that in the coming days, they will conquer the surrounding systems. He also reveals that he is allied with a powerful entity that will guide them in this endeavor. And on Cybertron, Optimus, Jazz, and Prowl stand before the doors of Megatron's quarters... Part 3Megatron forges a new path for Cybertron, as fate calls upon Optimus. In the Capital City of Trypticon, Optimus and Megatron's two security officers, Prowl and Jazz, break into Megatron's quarters. Optimus believes that something happened to Megatron, and that he wanted to look for a clue. When they enter, they notice the mysterious triangle-shaped relic. Optimus is fascinated by it, but is confused, as the artifact wasn't in its newly-pristine condition when Optimus' excavation team found it, to which Optimus believed that Megatron did the restoration himself. But before Optimus can think further, Prowl tells Optimus that Megatron is returning, and so they leave. Later, Megatron walks in victorious, and is awaiting his next command from his master, the "artifact". The voice tells him to await his return. Megatron asks how he can help, to which the voice tells him to expand his army, and that Cybertron will be his for the taking, while the voice tells him that everything else will be his. At the Burthov Launch Site, the excavation team test out a booster separation system, which is successful. Ratchet tells Optimus that the team were analyzing the fragments that they found, while Optimus tells him about the artifact's mysterious restoration. The conversation is interrupted by Arcee, who discovered a match with a symbol found on one of the fragments. When Optimus asks which one, Arcee points to his head, which has the same symbol carved on it. Ratchet says that this proves that the Dynasty of Primes does exist, and that Optimus is somehow connected. Optimus wonders: is he a Prime? Meanwhile, the "artifact" tells Megatron about Optimus being in his quarters during his battle against the aliens. Megatron is furious, believing that Optimus and his group want the same power that the "artifact" promised him. The "artifact" tells Megatron that he'll still get the power, but he must deal with his new enemies, to which Megatron knows how... by death! Megatron orders Prowl to look for Optimus, then gives another set of orders to Starscream. At the excavation site, Optimus, Ratchet and Arcee are discussing their discoveries. Ratchet believes that "Optimus Prime" has a good ring to it, but Optimus isn't convinced yet, believing that it could mean "records clerk" or something. Arcee couldn't find the construction drones, and asks Optimus about the site. Optimus replies that if it's related to the Prime dynasty, then it could shed light into the history of the AllSpark, but the biggest piece of the puzzle is with Megatron, who doesn't seem to be in a sharing mood. Optimus wonders why it was the only intact one found, and Ratchet expresses his theory that the others were deliberately destroyed. The discussion is halted when Prowl's security team arrives, with orders from Megatron to detain Optimus and the others for treason. Optimus angrily questions this to Prowl, but Bumblebee tells him that they're only following orders. Optimus thinks it's absurd, but comes along nevertheless. Frenzy spies on the group and Megatron gives Starscream his orders; terminate everyone except Optimus. Optimus realizes that something isn't right; Wreckage told him that there was construction to the main road and that the route was cleared for them. Prowl agrees with Optimus' request to stop. Prowl orders Jazz and Camshaft to check the road, and he and Optimus talk about the sneak-in at Megatron's quarters. The group then gets attacked by Starscream's group. Optimus deduces that the area is unstable due to damaged energy lines, and that it would be a perfect ambush spot. Optimus orders everyone to stay sharp and for Ratchet to help out the injured. Smokescreen lays out a disruptor cloud to buy some time for everyone to head to Burthov. Optimus ambushes and threatens Starscream, to which he replies that Megatron is the chosen one. Optimus refutes this by saying that he, too, is chosen, and to tell Megatron that he will not control them before punching Starscream unconscious. Optimus lays out some explosive charges, and transforms, after which the explosives go off, bringing the city down on Starscream's group. While driving away, Optimus ponders about how Cybertron will be on the brink of something different, and questions if everything that has happened was either their own doing, or if it was just destiny... Later, in Trypticon, Megatron tells his fellow warriors that the long-reigning peace has been too long, what with attacks from beyond Cybertron and betrayals. Megatron requests that the brave Cybertronians forge a new path; one based on vengeance, redemption, and defiance. The new faction will crush their enemies both on Cybertron and the stars. Megatron urges the group to join his group; for those that side with him will be known as... the Decepticons! Almost everyone sides with Lord Megatron, while others silently question this... Part 4The seeds of the first movie's plot are planted. Far from Trypticon, Captain Ironhide wanders far away from the city, his thoughts occupied elsewhere. Suddenly, he is ambushed by Cliffjumper. When Ironhide readies his ion cannons, four more Autobot soldiers surround him. Ironhide lowers his weapon, saying that he doesn't want to fight, that there's nothing for him back at Trypticon, and that the tide has changed. Jazz reports this to Prowl, who responds by asking him to bring Ironhide to Optimus Prime. Inside a hidden base, Optimus requests to Prowl to make the base isolated, with Prowl agreeing to this. Ironhide enters, repeating his word about not wanting to fight. Optimus asks Ironhide why he's at the base, to which he replies that he wants to join Prime's forces. Ironhide then fills in Optimus about Megatron forming his large army. Ironhide is a soldier made for war, and Optimus' group isn't. Optimus corrects him, saying that everyone are brothers born from the All Spark. Ironhide counters that some Cybertronians believe in chaos and destruction, and that some of the troops that used to serve with Ironhide are now with Megatron's Decepticons. Optimus asks why he left and how he found them. Ironhide says that he has no desire to kill innocents, and that Prime's group is innocent. The Autobot leader dismisses being referred to as a "Prime", but Ironhide said that his Autobot team called him that. Optimus asks Ironhide how he knew, to which he replied that he had been listening to Prime's group for solar cycles. Ironhide asks Prime to trust him, as he isn't all punch and no processing. On Trypticon, Megatron oversees the progress of the Nemesis, then later on, enters his quarters. Megatron reports the Nemesis' progress to the mysterious "relic". The "relic" promises that once they find the Matrix, the power of the All Spark will be theirs, and that the entity inside the relic will return. Megatron promises to free him, but the relic replies "only after it has been found". The "relic" notes that there are parallels in their existence, and tells Megatron not to make the same mistakes that he made, and that he must strike swiftly with no hesitation, because it drives the Decepticons into conquest and destruction, all for the sake of power... ...of the All Spark. It held tremendous power, the same one that created the entity's kind. As the All Spark energy gave the "creatures" life, they soon realized that its power wasn't limitless and had to be replenished and restored. As if on cue, an exploding star recharged the All Spark. But when the planet's landscape changed due to the All Spark, the "creatures" realized that they need to find another energy source. Though the creatures possessed the ability to jump between dimensions, they were helpless in locating a star, but as before, the All Spark had the "solution": it created workers, but they were not like the "creatures". They were special, in that they were the first breed of Transformers, in which they had the ability to transform into different forms.
Some of these Cybertronians were able to travel across space. They were called "Seekers", and when they found a star, they led the "creatures" to it. Once a star was found, the entity and his "brothers" traveled by "dimension-hopping", but they needed help harvesting the star. In response, the workers built a "harvester" and activated it, which would give the All Spark the power it needed. But then, the entity decided to have the power to himself, and decided to act. When preparing to claim the All Spark, he tried to erase the existence of his "brothers", but when his strength was nearly gone, he made his mistake. The "brothers" survived, but sacrificed themselves to seal the entity in his sarcophagus. And so he has remained in his "tomb" until the Harvester is located again, and then, the entity will have his revenge.Megatron promises to help him. Once the Nemesis is built, he will travel the galaxy to look for the last Harvester. The Decepticons will find it, conquer other planets, and crush anyone standing in their way. The entity decides to come along to ensure this. Megatron tries to say that they both will, but the entity says that only he will go, and that Megatron will remain on Cybertron and await his return. Megatron tries to ask for his help, but the entity forcefully and angrily quiets him. The entity orders Megatron to gather his crew once the Nemesis is built, and compliments him on his large army, while also ordering him to kill anyone opposing Megatron. Megatron says that he has scattered them, and will make them pay for their betrayal. The entity suggests that if they don't wish to serve the most powerful army on Cybertron and in the galaxy, then they may find a different side. Outside Trypticon, Bumblebee and Arcee manage to take pictures of the Nemesis, and report this to Optimus. After looking at the images, Optimus ponders about why the Decepticons wanted to build something that would hold thousands of Cybertronians. Ironhide doesn't have a clue, while Prowl thinks that Megatron is using it to abandon Cybertron. Optimus believes that Megatron will use it himself, and that Megatron is intentionally doing it to send his troops out to the galaxy. Jazz asks if the Autobots should have their own ship. Optimus considers it, but thinks that it will be used to hide his group. Ironhide chimes in, stating that it doesn't have to be a transport ship, and that there's one hidden somewhere that was salvaged a long time ago. If they repair it in secret, it would help them. As the Nemesis nears completion, Megatron surveys the ship, then asks Soundwave to join his troops as they enter the ship. Once inside the ship, Megatron has a private conversation with the "relic". The "relic" is pleased at Megatron's progress, and tells him that once he locates the Harvester, he will return... and Megatron will be rewarded while remaining full rule of Cybertron. And as the group of Decepticons gather inside the ship, Arcee and Bumblebee are taking notice of this. As the Nemesis left Cybertron, the Transformers were left at a disadvantage. The Decepticons' recruitment became smaller, while the Autobots' ranks swelled. Just as Megatron traveled across Cybertron looking for soldiers to recruit to his cause, Optimus did the same, discovering brave citizens wanting to be free from Megatron's rule. With the Autobots ready, they fought back against the Decepticons, raiding munitions and storage facilities. But as the frequency of their battles grew, so did the scale of battle, and over time, casualties mounted. As time went on, Cybertron was devastated by the endless fighting between the two factions, with both sides never gaining the advantage. Optimus realized that he will never know when the war will end. After many, many stellar-cycles of fighting, Optimus does the unimaginable. He makes the decision to capture the All Spark, saying that Cybertron is being destroyed by their actions, and that it must end. The ship which they had repaired in secret has been ready. Now it is time for the Autobots to take their destiny. However, the ship cannot hold all Autobots, so Optimus asks fore volunteers to enter the ship. Those that remain must come up with an alternate escape plan. With that, Optimus readies the Autobots for their final move. In the sequence of events that soon followed, the All Spark was shot into space. Megatron, seeing the All Spark flying out of Cybertron, believes that with this action, Optimus Prime was showing cowardice, and with no time to spare, follows the Cube. Unable to use a space bridge, Megatron followed the All Spark, but just as he closed in on it, he picked up a distress signal from the Nemesis. Entering, he finds it abandoned and Megatron calls for his master. The "relic" appears from below and asks Megatron if he found it yet. Megatron proceeds to tell the "relic" that the All Spark has sent into space, and that it continued to travel when he received the signal. The "relic" is furious, saying that if he had his strength back, he would kill him, but instead, the "relic" orders him to resume pursuing the All Spark. If it is freed from Cybertron, it will lead to where the Harvester is. Megatron continues to chase the All Spark, while Optimus and his crew are inside their ship. Light years away, the All Spark's journey will come to an end, its energy like a beacon for anyone within its range. Megatron follows, weak but determined to claim the All Spark, as his master ordered. However, Megatron doesn't have the strength to survive his landing and ends up lost in Earth's cold elements, trapped in a frozen tomb. All Megatron can do is wait... after all, freedom is only a matter of time.
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Post by Leathurkatt on Jun 11, 2010 23:29:44 GMT -5
Transformers: Novel NEST forces mobilize to counter isolated Decepticon activity around the globe. The Veiled ThreatPresent-day, Megatron lies dead, at the bottom of the sea. Cut to the Gulf of Aden where pirates attack a freighter which just so happens to be ferrying Epps, Lennox, Ironhide, Ratchet, and other NEST (Networked Elements: Supporters and Transformers) members to their base on Diego Garcia. Ironhide soon transforms to robot mode and scares the pirates off. Arriving at Diego Garcia, the boys meet up with cybernetics expert Kaminari Ishihara, who has been swimming in the lagoon, with the newly arrived Autobot veteran Longarm serving as lifeguard. Everyone enters a briefing where a sighting of Starscream in Zambia is discussed and a plan is hatched with Optimus Prime to confront him. Meanwhile, we find that Agent Simmons is now, with the disbanding of Sector Seven, working in his mother’s deli in New York City. He’s also tinkering with Frenzy’s disembodied head in his basement. In Africa, we learn that Starscream is not only in the area, he’s gaining control over local rebel groups by using his internal synthesizers to create gold coins. He is also accompanied by three other Decepticons, Dropkick, Macerator, and Payload. They soon attack a local dam construction site, making short work of the security forces, and proceed to steal mass quantities of explosives. The NEST team soon arrives in Africa with Prime, Ironhide, and Ratchet as well as new arrivals Salvage and Beachbreak, who transforms into a commando jet ski. The Autobots soon engage Dropkick, Macerator, and Payload in battle in the Zambezi River. This is all part of Starscream’s brilliant plan, however, as the Autobots soon discover that the current is pushing them towards Victoria Falls. Everyone but Prime and Macerator gets out in time, the dueling pair going over the side. Starscream swoops in to save Macerator while Prime dangles helplessly. Eventually the NEST team manages to haul Prime up using Beachbreak’s tow-cable, but the celebration is short lived as Starscream swoops in and knocks the diminutive Beachbreak off the falls and to his death. The Autobots and their human allies soon realize that Starscream may try and destroy a series of dams along the Zambezi and head off after the fleeing Decepticons. At one of the dams, the ground-based Decepticons attack. Payload heads to the valley floor to try and crack the dam with repeated blasts while Dropkick and Macerator fend off the arriving Autobots. After a short scuffle, Prime manages to knock Macerator over the side of the dam before dispatching his dangling foe with his built-in sword. Ratchet takes repeated hits from Payload while trying to melt the fissures in the cracking dam back together. Both Ratchet and the dam are ultimately saved when the humans enter the dam and open the flood gates, knocking Payload downriver and out of the book. A damaged Dropkick escapes and everyone returns to Diego Garcia. Again, we cut back to Simmons in his basement, experimenting on Frenzy and brooding that that punk kid Sam Witwicky has a hot girlfriend and is going to Princeton. Frenzy tries to subvert the building’s electrical system, and after a little chaos, Simmons decides he needs to move the Decepticon head to a space beneath his mother’s deli. Back at NEST headquarters, two more Decepticon presences are detected and a pair of teams is readied to head out and take care of them. Epps and Russian scientist Petr Andronov accompany Longarm and impetuous young motorcycle Knockout to Peru to find Decepticons that have been detected in the deep jungles. On a steep mountain pass, the party is attacked by Decepticons Ruination and Blademaster. Despite inexperienced and risky behavior by Knockout, both are severely damaged and driven off. Simultaneously, Lennox, Ishihara, Prime, Ironhide, and Salvage arrive in the Western Australian Outback and begin searching for Decepticons. Lennox soon realizes that the ‘Cons are attacking sites with energy reserves, oil and coal in Peru and uranium in Australia. The team decides that there is a second group of Decepticons not under Starscream’s command, harvesting massive amounts of energy in an attempt to revive Megatron. Arriving at a uranium mining site, the NEST team discovers a trio of construction vehicles which, naturally, turn out to be Decepticons. The leader, Kickback, confirms the team's suspicions on attempting to revive Megatron, but also mention that there is an ancient power on the rise. Kickback takes Prime on and is quickly run through with the Autobot leader’s sword. The other two, Tread and Trample, are quickly killed through the combined efforts of the rest of the team. Back at Diego Garcia, a small crab Decepticon infiltrates the base and hacks into the NEST computers before sneaking back into the sea and an unknown accomplice. Despite the break-in, the NEST team continues their usual business: discussing different ways the Decepticons could draw massive quantities of power to revive Megatron. In Italy, Starscream enters into a deal with an Italian criminal named Bruno Carrera to help destroy Optimus Prime in exchange for dominion over Europe when the Decepticons triumph. A plan is hatched and Swindle and Deadend begin ripping through the streets of Rome, causing general chaos and trying to draw the Autobots out. After an extended chase where Knockout proves he has what it takes and more, Starscream challenges Prime to single combat inside the Coliseum. Prime and the Autobots enter the ancient structure, and Prime promptly falls through a trap door to a subway tunnel extension and into a strong set of restraints arranged by Carrera. Starscream then proceeds to attack the remaining Autobots while a helpless Prime is confronted by a vengeful Barricade. Before the Decepticon can dispatch Prime, the humans attack Barricade and Prime manages to work himself free. He easily hands Barricade his skid plate and returns to the surface where Starscream has fled. On his way to whatever scheme he has cooked up next, Starscream takes the time to visit Carrera at this villa, where he pays him back for his "failure". Finally, Epps and Lennox are relaxing on the beach back at Diego Garcia when Knockout approached and informs them that something significant is happening, mentioning how he is unfamiliar with the term “shanghaied”.
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