DW - War Within

Plot

Bluestreak tells Optronix about how Sentinel Prime has been killed by Megatron, but the archivist isn't interested in the building war outside his archives. Elsewhere in Altihex Grimlock's team airlifts out some civilians whilst the Decepticons are attacking and Grimlock laments on how they need a better Prime next time to turn the tide of the war.

Optronix is called to the High Council's chambers and is told that he has been chosen by the Matrix to be the next Prime, but he's not sure if he can do it. The Autobots meet outside the Council Chambers and decide that if the new Prime isn't strong enough to lead in their forces, then they'll depose him. Optronix, on reflection about his new appointment, and considers just letting the Decepticons have Cybertron, and the Autobots leave.

Optronix is given the Matrix, and is transformed to Optimus Prime, within moments some Decepticons break into the chambers and try to assassinate him, but are easily defeated, after the battle, and impressing Grimlock and the others, Optimus announces his plan to evacuate the planet

At Kolkular, Megatron is holding a rally of Decepticons (whilst holding the head of former Emirate Xeon), Megatron continues his plotting for war, but Starscream points out that the Autobots are planning to leave, but Megatron assures them that they're going nowhere. In Iacon, Grimlock is having a strop about how Optimus is making them give up the planet and storms off.

In Kaon, Megatron and Soundwave head under the surface whilst Starscream and his seekers are off on a patrol, under Kaon the Constructicons are working on the turbines that used to make Cybertron mobile in the past, and they warn Megatron that this may damage the planet itself as well, but he doesn't care.

In Iacon Optimus and Prowl are arguing about the plan to evacuate when the Forum of Enlightenment nearby explodes from the energy build up caused by the Decepticons. In Kaon, Megatron prepares for Optimus' inevitable arrival after this attack, and has the Insecticons and Soundwave wait for him.

Optimus leads a rescue team to the ruins of the Forum of Enlightenment, but Optimus leaves to confront Megatron, as he know's he did this to get attention from him (somehow). Optimus arrives underground and is attacked by the waiting Decepticons, meanwhile up above Shockwave leads a full-on attack on Iacon.

Grimlock is wandering around Kaon after his strop when he encounters Strascream, Thundercracker and Skywarp, who try and convince him to join the Decepticons, following his involvement in the old gladiator games in the past, but Grimlock ends up tricking the trio by booby-trapping a room they enter and causing it to explode.

Skywarp manages to save himself and the others by teleporting, and he and Thundercracker are getting sick of Starscream and his "leadership" so they leave him. Megatron keeps a tab on Soundwave and his mission, as he wants the Matrix from Optimus.

Down below, Optimus is wandering around, when he encounters a magical being that resembles from from Cybertron itself, which tries to keep him to stay on Cybertron, when Ravage and the others find Optimus again and attacks. Optimus manages to defeat his stalkers, whilst Megatron explains to Starscream, who has returned, about how Cybertron was once a starship and that he needs the Matrix as a power source. Optimus tells Megatron to come get him himself, using Soundwave's communicator, and then breaks it. Megatron leaves for the confrontation.

Grimlock heads back to Iacon, but Prowl tells him to not return due to the battle, and he needs him and his team to do something for him. Optimus and Megatron meet underground, but before they can start the fight Starscream appears and attacks the bridge they were on, sending the two of them falling to their apparent deaths.

Optimus wakes up and finds Megatron already gone. Meanwhile in Kaon, Starscream has taken command of the Decepticons and now plans to remake Cybertron in his own image using the turbines. Down below, Optimus is looking for a way back above, when suddenly Megatron appears and begins to fight. Above, Grimlock meets up with his team, and leads them to their mission, as Prowl and the others are moving the base of operations elsewhere, and are going to let Iacon go.

Starscream next plans to use the turbines to destroy Iacon, whilst the main Decepticon forces are continuing their attack, down below Megatron manages to get the upper hand in the battle and grabs at the Matrix in Opitmus' chest, but it lets off a bright light that shows them a vision of a strange alien world. Grimlock arrives above with his team, ready to find and rescue Optimus on Prowl's orders.

Grimlock and his team start heading down below, whilst in Iacon the Autobots start planning a counterattack on the Decepticon invaders. Down below Grimlock's team find the turbines used by the Decepticons and decide to take them out. Meanwhile Megatron and Optimus are shown visions of their future, showing that their war will continue long into the future, and on other worlds too.

Grimlock goes off to find Optimus, whilst the rest of his team start attacking the Constructicons. Grimlock finds Optimus and pulls him out of the visions and tells him that he has to finish off Megatron, and gives him his sword to do so.

In Iacon, Shockwave and his troops have won the battle, but suddenly the city starts to explode, thanks to Starscream.

Down below Optimus contemplates doing as Grimlock suggested and killing Megatron, whilst Iacon is exploding above. The turbine systems start to overload during the battle with Girmlock's team, whilst in Iacon Shockwave calls for a retreat due to the explosions and the Autobots start their own evacuation.

Optimus encounters Megatron again and the two fight once more, but this time with Optimus winning and then prepares to swing down the sword.

In the turbine room the battle continues and Optimus returns and joins in with the battle. Wheeljack destroys the turbine to stop the process, whilst all the Decepticons evacuate. The Autobots leave and return to the surface, whilst below, Megatron reunites with Soundwave and his team, all badly injured, and reveals that he can't remember what he was doing. Up above Optimus says that he's slowly forgetting what happened in the visions, but decides it doesn't matter as he now knows that Cybertron is important and won't evacuate the planet afterall, and even throws the golden disk given to him by the Council upon his appointment as Prime into space, as he wants to do things his way.

Characters

Autobot

Optronix/Optimus Prime - Truck (Earth Truck in Flash Forward)

Prowl - Speeder

Jazz - Speeder

Grimlock - Armoured Vehicle

Kup - Car

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Speeder Van

Skids - Speeder Van

Tracks - Speeder

Bluestreak - Speeder

Bumblebee - Winged Speeder (VW Beetle in Flash Forward)

Trailbreaker - Van

Hound - Speeder Jeep (Military Jeep in Flash Forward)

Grapple - Crane

Powerglide - Jet

Outback

Hoist

Huffer - Truck

Brawn

Ratchet - Van

Red Alert - Speeder

Springer - Helicopter

Broadside - Jet

Cliffjumper - Car

Vibes - Car

Topspin - Jet

Mirage

Overhaul Killed by Decepticons

Sentinel Prime Killed by Megatron

Guts Blocker Killed in Explosion

Highbrow - Helicopter (Flash Forward)

Fortress Maximus - Battle Station (Flash Forward)

Hot Rod - Sports Car (Flash Forward)

Firebolt - Gun (Flash Forward)

Guardian Robots

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank (Gun in Flash Forward)

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Starscream - Tetrajet (Fighter Jet in Flash Forward)

Thundercracker - Tetrajet (Fighter Jet in Flash Forward)

Skywarp - Tetrajet

Soundwave

Ravage

Laserbeak

Frenzy

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Astrotrain - Jet

Octane - Jet

Shrapnel - Jet

Bombshell

Kickback

Venom

Chop Shop - Six-Wheeled Vehicle

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Hook - Crane

Ramjet - Jet

Dirge - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Onslaught - Tank

Brawl - Tank

Vortex - Jet

Blast Off - Jet

Swindle - Van

Runamuck

Runabout

Motormaster - Truck

Quake - Tank

Headstrong - Armoured Vehicle

Darklight Killed by Umbra

Umbra - Gun Suicide

Backbite Killed by Kup and Hound

Trypticon - Battle Platform (On Screen)

Enemy

Fortress X Killed in Battle

Kagirobo

Cy-Kill

"Autobot Watch"

"Binoculars"

Dark Eggbot

Marlboor

"Jet-Helicopter"

"Dia Battles"

Other Decepticons

Other

The Voice of Cybertron

Emirate Xeon Killed by Megatron

Gravitas Killed by Decepticons

Kudon Killed by Decepticons

Vraz Killed by Decepticons

High Council Killed by Decepticons

Maul - Tank Killed by Grimlock (Flashback)

Diagnostic Drones

Civilians

Gladiators (Flashback)

Gladiator Crowds (Flashback)

Neutrals Killed by Seekers

Notes

• Optimus' pre-Prime name isn't mentioned in the comic, but it was Optronix...this is the only continuity (that I can remember) where his pre-Prime name (if not Optimus) wasn't Orion Pax
• Why does Optimus' body change when he gets the Matrix? MAGIC!
• There's so many cameos in this comic, especially during the scenes in Kolkular...sorry if I missed anyone
• The flash-forwards are showing scenes reminiscent of the G1 cartoon...implying that some events in the G1 Dreamwave comics would have followed those as well.
• There's some continuity hiccups in this story, like how Blitzwing is a triple changer here already....