IDW - Robots in Disguise #11

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: John Wycough (Pages 19-22)

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Omega Supreme has been asked by Starscream to come see him to elaborate further on what the Metrotitan told Starscream before, but he declines and says he needs to think about some things. At the Kimia base the Autobots worry that Starscream is becoming popular and might win the upcoming elections, but Prowl insists that he WON'T win. A little later Starscream is in his home with Metalhawk trying on crowns to wear after his "coronation" when suddenly outside Omega Supreme is caught in a massive explosion, which Starscream believes to be because of Shockwave and his loyal group.

Rescue teams begin work on Omega and Starscream arrives to try and help, but the crowd turn on him, because he's a Decepticon. Metalhawk points out that thye don't know the Decepticons are involved and that everyone KNOWS that Prowl was responisble for Ratbat and several other deaths, but everyone's afraid to say so. At the Decepticon base Swindle and Dirge watch this happening on the ICS and worry about what's going to happen next.

Starscream returns to the Decepticon base and confronts Shockwave about what happened to Omega, which Shockwave doesn't deny, and tells him to leave, as he's leaving though Dirge and Swindle appear and ask for him to protect them if they give them some very dangerous information that they already gave to Shockwave about the Autobots.

At Kimia Bumblebee is starting to question Prowl's motives as well, and decides to not use the Omega situation for political reasons, and to start working harder, including hunting down Ironhide and the other's who are missing in the wilds. Prowl leaves the room and runs into Starscream on the balcony. Starscream reveals that Dirge told him about how he watched him kill Bombshell and the others and all about Arcee as well. The two of them then agree to work together to get rid of Shockwave and the others.

At the Decepticon base the Decepticons are continuing their plans, including a plan to kill Dirge and Swindle, when suddenly Arcee attacks and kills several of them before setting off a bomb that disables the rest, including Shockwave and Soundwave. Prowl tells Arcee to take the Decepticons to "the Black Room" with the others and to set up the explosives.

A short time later Prowl leads a small team to investigate the Decepticon's base when it explodes in his face (explained away as being because of a faulty Decepticon booby-trap) And thus the main Decepticons are made to be thought of as dead, but are actually being held prisoner somewhere, just as Starscream and Prowl have planned.

Starscream watches the explosion and is happy that his plans are coming together, however Arcee appears behind him and reveals that she knows where Dirge and Swindle are and that she knows EVERYTHING. She leaves, but after she's gone Starscream looks into the wilds and sees the worst thing possible...Megatron's back.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Car

Prowl - Speeder

Arcee - Car

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base Heavily Damaged in Explosion

Circuit

Longtooth

Wheeljack - Car

Broadside

Sizzle

Streetwise - Car

Sideswipe - Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Warpath - Tank

Omega Spreem

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Metroplex - City/Ship (Mentioned)

Groove (Mentioned)

Hot Spot (Mentioned)

Ironhide - Van (Mentioned) Missing

Dinobots (Mentioned) Missing

Zeta Prime (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron - Stealth Jet Heavily Damaged by D-Void, but Mobile

Starscream - Jet

Shockwave Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Soundwave Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Astrotrain Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Blitzwing Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Ravage Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Rumble Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Frenzy Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Laserbeak Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Dirge - Jet

Swindle - Van

Triggerhappy Killed by Arcee

Blot Killed by Arcee

Bombshell (Mentioned) Dead

Constructicons (Mentioned) Dead

Ratbat (Mentioned) Dead

Turmoil (Mentioned)

DJD (Mentioned)

NAIL

Metalhawk - Jet

Tappet - Car

Hipotank - Tank

Sky-Byte - Shark (Mentioned)

NAIL Crowds

Other

Metrotitan - City/Ship (Mentioned) Dead

Crowds on Cybertron

A Sweep Head Dead

Notes

• Screamer's really an egomaniac, he has a model of his F15 Earth mode, and added wings from his Earth body to basically everything (his mirror, the tower he's in etc)
• After his explosion there seems to be a Cybertronian Candle-light vigil happening around him, most likely because he's so old and respected, despite being an Autobot
• Starscream really does actually seem to be trying to be a good leader now...pity his past record shows he'll probably be terrible at it!
• The Iacon Communication Service is back up, and is being used as a news feed of sorts
• Megatron still sports the heavy damage he received during the battle with D-Void
• It's mentioned here that most NAIL's are ex-Autobots, especially since most ex-Decepticons are killed by the DJD
• I guess Longtooth was released from Garrus-9 at some point before AHM then?

Conspiracy Theories

• Pretty sure Prowl and/or Arcee had something to do with the explosions from Omega Supreme
• Really..it's odd that Prowl just happened to be near the scene within seconds of him exploding huh?
• Since it's been a while since the Chaos event and Megatron is still heavily damaged,a nd was unheard of until now, it's likely that he was flung through time like Optimus was, albeit he was thrown much further than Optimus, but still!

IDW - More Than Meets the Eye #11

Written by: James Roberts

Pencils by: Alex Milne

Inks by: Juan Castro, Alex Milne and John Wycough

Colour by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: John  Barber

Plot

Before the war Chromedome and Roller have left for the Academy to get some recruits of their mission to steal the Matrix Bomb, Prowl isn't happy, and doesn't believe Pax's theory about the bomb, but tells him that if he keeps Chromedome out of the actual heist, then he won't tell anyone what's happening, and leaves.

Roller and Chromedome return with Skids, Windcharger and Glitch, all of whom have special weird powers (Superlearning, Magnetism and Mechanical Negation respectively) and they begin their plans.

In the present, on the Lost Light Swerve returns to the bar, having tried to get something from his room, but found it sealed, so he stole some Nightmare Fuel from "Trailcutter's" stash instead for them to drink. Swerve accidentally reveals to the group that they weren't Rewind's first choice in a storytelling group, and they had previous sessions to try and help Rung wake up.

In the past again, Pax notices a Matrix tattoo on Skids' face and gets an idea, so he sends Chromedome off to visit a friend of his, Ironfist, who has a replica of the Matrix, which he gets off of him in return for returning a statue of his that Prowl had confiscated before. Meanwhile Roller and Ratchet talk to Pax about his senator friend and tell him that he's found out that Orion wasn't the first guy he befriended or refitted to bear the Matrix if needed, and that he's made a lot of strange choices in the senate in the past. Pax doesn't care and still believes in his senator friend's intentions.

In the Medibay of the Lost Light Rodimus is told that Red Alert tried to commit suicide by removing his own head and wandering into the oil reservoir, Rodimus doesn't believe it, but is convinced to put Red into cold storage until after their quest, so he can be dealt with then, he does however promise to let him out as soon as he can.

Back int he past, the heist begins, Pax, Ratchet, Skids, Glitch and Windcharger sneak above the Primal Basilica (using Windcharger's magnetism to levitate a board over so it wont set off any sensors. Glitch nullifies the secuurity systems allowing Pax to be slowly lowered into the chamber by Skids' grappling hook. Pax opens the chest plate of Nominus Prime's corpse and discovers a problem.

Back at base, Chromedome has been left to guard the Senator (that's the official story anyway) whilst Roller is messing with the Sky Spies to give them false feedbacks. The team see a news report of the Academy on fire and realize that someone's after the Senator, just as the wall explodes and the Heavies arrive. for him.

At the Basilica Pax explains that the Matrix is strapped in with an extensive security system, forcing Ratchet to swap places with him and hook it out. Skids starts hauling Ratchet back up again, when Glitch taps his arm in congratulations, seizing it up, and making Ratchet jutter a bit, and he drops the Matrix Bomb. Everyone gets ready for the worst when Windcharger arrives and uses his powers to levitate it.

On the way back home Pax is worried because he hasn't heard from Roller in a while, so Windcharger jokingly suggests that he jumps off the platform and drives to base for more speed (which Pax actually does do though)

At the base, the Senator is being gripped by the Heavies, ready to be taken away, Pax however arrives just in time, kills the Heavy holding him, and rescues his friend, however Kroma threatens to kill Roller, which the Senator cannot allow, and allows himself to be taken away freely. Kroma has the other Heavy, Anvil cause the rest of the building to collapse to stop anyone from following, and Pax throws the Matrix Bomb (which he'd hidden in his chest cavity), killing Anvil.

Chromedome is freed from the rubble by Pax and they race towards the Institutes, but when they get there, they realize too late that the Institute isn't just one place, it's several, all across Cybertron, and they have no way to reach the Senator before he is changed forever.

The story ends and Tailgate is told that Orion Pax and Optimus Prime are the same guy, which blows his mind. Just then the ship's alert system goes off and everyone starts to run to their stations. Skids tries to wake up Rung one last time by calling him several wrong names (which he learned before is something he hates), but it succeeds, and Rung wakes up, telling him that "it's Rung. Forever"

Back in the past, in the aftermath of the explosion Pax is looking through some rubble when he is approached by Zeta, another of the people the Senator upgraded in the past.

Elsewhere in an Institute facility, Senator SHOCKWAVE is put under Shadowplay (his mind is completely inverted, leaving him emotionless and purely logical) and Empurata, which replaces one of his hands with a cannon and his head with an emotionless new cyclopic one....

Characters

Autobot/Future Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Drift - Car

Rewind - Giant Memory Stick

Ratchet - Ambulance

Chromedome - Car

Skids - Van

Swerve - Van

Whirl - Osprey helicopter

First Aid - Ambulance

Red Alert Coma, Placed in Cold Storage

Rung - Communications Buggy (Out of Coma now)

Orion Pax - Truck (Flashback Only)

Roller (Flashback Only)Badly Injured by Heavies

Windcharger (Flashback Only)

Ironfist (Flashback Only)

Slamedance (Flashback Only)

Prowl (Flashback Only)

Zeta (Prime) (Flashback Only)

Nominus Prime (Flashback Only) Dead

Perceptor (Recent Flashback Only)

Blaster (Recent Flashback Only)

Siren (Recent Flashback Only)

Gears (Recent Flashback Only)

Sunstreaker (Recent Flashback Only)

Atomizer (Recent Flashback Only)

Slapdash (Recent Flashback Only)

Sprocket (Recent Flashback Only)

Xaaron (Recent Flashback Only)

Dipstick (Recent Flashback Only)

Optimus Prime (Image Only)

Trailbreaker/Trailcutter - Truck (Mentioned)

Sentinel - Truck (Mentioned)

Springarm (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon/Future Decepticon

Senator Shockwave (Flashback Only)

Megatron (Mentioned)

Blitzwing (Flashback Only)

Macabre (Flashback Only)

Other

Tailgate - Car

Glitch (Flashback Only)

Kroma (Flashback Only)

Heavy 1 (Hammer?) Killed by Orion Pax (Flashback Only)

Anvil Killed by Matrix Bomb (Flashback Only)

Bob (Recent Flashback Only)

Amputee Support Group Spokesbot (Flashback Only)

Institute's Red Guy (Flashback Only)

Institute's Blue Face (Flashback Only)

Lobe (Flashback Only)

Lobe's Assistant (Flashback Only)

Crosscut (Image Only)

Cyclonus - Space Jet (Mentioned)

Delta Magnus (Mentioned)

Ambit (Mentioned)

Borebit (Mentioned)

Flatfoot (Mentioned)

Nova Prime (Mentioned)

Omega Guardians (Mentioned)

Functionists (Mentioned)

Primal Vanguard (Mentioned)

Nebulans (Mentioned)

Neuroparasite (Mentioned)

Senate (Mentioned)

Triorian Guard (Partially Seen)

Pyrobots (Mentioned)

Jhiaxus (Mentioned)

Senator Proteus (Mentioned)

Amputee Support Groups (Mentioned)

Notes

• The introduction of the Outliners is very similar in format to stereotypical super-powered teams being introduced (ie X-Men, Avengers, Justice League etc)
• Swerve refers to Trailbreaker as Trailcutter, it was shown in the annual that that is one of his aliases in this continuity...maybe different people know him by different names?
• Skids ability is to basically be able to learn anything, which explains his expert fighting style
• This story about Shadowplay is actually AT LEAST Rewind's third attempt to use a story to wake up Rung
• Ironfist was obsessed with the Primal Vanguard before the Wreckers were formed! (What a busy little fanboy)
• Look how friendly Zeta is! I bet he'd make a great Prime! ....wait.....
• Empurate is revealed to not be the name of the guy with the Heavies (Kroma) but the name of a process where a criminal's hands and head are replaced with claws or something similar and a cyclopic head.
• The Triorian Guard are made up of almost 100 triple changers!!
• The facility that Senator Shockwave ran was the Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology (J.A.A.T.) which explains why Shockwave is in the future referred to as Jhiaxus' student.
• HOLY CRAP! The Senator was SHOCKWAVE!!!!!

Conspiracy Theories

• Delta Magnus' catchphrase was "Glorious"? Sort of reminds me of Lugnut (whom we know to exist in this universe as well)
• It's not clear who "tipped off" Kroma, but...well Prowl seems to be the only one who'd know he was there! (unless it was Glitch, the only unaccounted for Outliner)
• Crosscut is shown to be green in this comic's image of him...now with the theory that Skids and Crosscut (ie the mentioned member of the DJD) being the same guy, this made me remember both his movie counterpart, and a Japanese exclusive repaint of G1 Skids, both being green...could this be more proof of Skids' "other life"?
• On that same note, Glitch in this comic is orange, as was Mudflap from the movies, and Screech from the same set as that Green G1 Skids as well, and since Glitch seems to have been put under Empurata at some time it's unclear what he originally looked like, PLUS it's said that Glitch isn't his real name either!
• During First Aid's explanation of Red Alert's "suicide" on page 8, look at Magnus' face...he's smiling very evilly....he also gets a bit rough with Rodimus as well...maybe he's hiding something? Also he briefly slips and says he was "disturbed" rather than upset
• On that note, Rodimus doesn't seem to trust Magnus quite as much now, as he insisted on hearing Drift's thoughts on what to do with Red as well...
• Also, last issue we saw him tinkering with the diagnostic drone who spied on Red, but he never mentions it here...maybe there's a big Overlord conspiracy on the Lost Light?
• Roller was last seen injured just before Pax threw the Matrix bomb, in the epilogue we see Pax rummaging through some rubble, most likely the same place. My theory is that Roller was taken to one of the Institutes as well, and underwent Shadowplay, turning him into who would eventually become Tarn (they have very similar body shapes, and Roller's head does look like it could fit that mask Tarn wears as well...) Plus Roller's love of TV could have become a love of fine music thanks to the procedure. And with Tarn being the head of the DJD, which are basically the Decepticon's police, it's not such a different job in theory from what he was doing with Pax!!!

DW - Energon #25-30

Plot

The Auotbots have started to settle on Earth now, and have set up Ocean City, however the humans aren't happy about them, especially after the Omnicons caused chaos in a city when they detected an Energy source below, so Optimus gives them to Hot Shot for training in the Yukon.

At the Yukon, Ironhide and Kicker are waiting for the arrival of the base approaching from Cybertron to be positioned there when a Space Bridge opens and the Omnicons and Hot Shot exit, but the Omnicons skid out of control and damage the site for the new base. Hot Shot gets angry and tells the Omnicons to get lost, which they do.

Later Hot Shot and Kicker go looking for them, but are unable to find them. The Omnicons arrive at a deserted town where theyare attacked by some strange weapons, and are knocked out, and taken into a building by Snow Cat.

Later Snow Cat has the Omnicons hooked up to a machine that's designed to turn them into Decepticons and plans to use them to hunt down Energon. He contacts Scorponok to tell him about this and he's glad. Snow Cat reveals after he turns off the communicator that he believes Megatron will be back one day, and is doing this all for him, not Scorponok.

The Omnicons connect inside their minds, where they are contacted by their mentor Over-Run who helps them break free of the machines. The Omnicons break free fully and attack Snow Cat and manage to defeat him. Later, Hot Shot finds the Omnicons and knows that they've improved their skills etc and should be fine now.

Later, Optimus enters a Space Bridge to Cybertron to get reinforcements to deal with the Decepticon threat, but ends up inside Unicron instead, where he is face-to-face with the disembodied Megatron.

The Autobots are worried about Optimus going missing, and Jetfire goes to ask the Council for reinforcements in his place. Inside Unicron's body Megatron asks Optimus to help him gain a new body, hwich he's already built, but needs help transferring his Spark inside it, Optimus of course refuses.

On Earth Kicker and the Omnicons are at the Black Sea in Turkey to look into an Energon source there, and Signal Flare surrounds Kicker with an Energon field, allowing him to go underwater and investigate, however once he's underwater Mirage (a reformatted Tidal Wave) attacks the Omnicons with Slugslinger causing the connection to break, and makes Kicker start to drown underwater.

In Los Angeles Alexis says goodbye to Rad as she needs to catch a plane to her next destination, and to get away from the protesters against the Autobots, Rad's annoyed and walks off, leaving Alexis to enter a cab.

The Council are unwilling to help Jetfire out by giving him reinforcements for Earth, but start to reconsider. Inside Unicron again Megatron still tries to get Optimus to help, and shows him what's happening on Earth to help to skew his decision, the planet is under attack by swarms of Terrorcons.

In Los Angerles Rad runs back to Alexis' cab to keep her safe from the Terrorcons, but sees it destroyed instead.

The Decepticons in Turkey continue to pummel the Omnicons, as Sharkticon picks up the unconscious Kicker underwater and begins to take him away. Optimus is still unwilling to help Megatron, as he's worried that by doing so he'd be unleashing an even bigger danger on the Universe.

Rad feels ill after watching Alexis' cab explode, but is relieved when he finds her alive, having left when the traffic wasn't moving due to the protests.

On Cybertron Jetfire has managed to get the Council's permission for reinforcements, just as Prowl arrives and tells him that Earth is under attack by the Terrorcons. Optimus agrees to help Megatron at long last, as he cant stand seeing Earth destroyed, Megatron leads him further into Unicron to look for a specific node to transfer the spark into it's new body

On Cybertron Jetfire has gathered up quite a large army to send to Earth and they all transport there through the Space Bridge, arriving at the hot spots and immediately start their attacks. Optimus finds the node, but is attacked by Unicron's internal defenses, which restrain him.

On Cybertron Avalon contacts someone to say that everything is going as planned, which his co-conspirator Alpha Quintesson is glad about.

Demolishor is walking around the Energon Ore Processor when it starts to go haywire and Starscream's ghost jumps out and attacks Demolishor. On Earth the Autobots fight off the swarms of Terrorcons, but aren't really making a dent in their numbers. Rad and Alexis get in Rad's car to head back to Alterenergy's West Coast HQ to do something to help the Autobots out, Rad calls Carlos to get the EVA ready.

In the Yukon the new base is arriving, but unknown to Ironhide, Overload and Dropshot, Scorponok has hitched a ride on top of it.

Inside Unicron Optimus breaks free and grabs the node. At the Black Sea the Decepticons have won, and Sharkticon returns to the shore, but topples over and Kicker rises out of him, powered up by Energon from the source they were investigating.

On Cybertron the conspirators have split up Cybertron's defenses, but still need the Conduit's power source (Kicker) before they start their true plan, but they're sure nothing can stop them now. On Earth the battle is going bad for the Autobot armyuntil Megatron suddenly appears in the sky and joins the battle against the Terrorcons.

On Cybertron Starscream has drained Demolishor of all his energy and now wants something else to do.

Megatron tears through the Terrorcons and bemoans being left to rot for ten years. With Megatron's aid and the arrival of Rad's EVA the battle is going in favor of the Autobots. In Turkey, Kicker uses the Energon he's gathered to repower the Omnicons and they chase off the Decepticons.

The Terrorcons start to pull out of their attacks and return through the Space Bridges. Megatron tells Jetfire that he's only just started on this revenge against these new Decepticons and that Optimus sends his regards from Unicron and leaves.

In the Yukon the base is planted into the dock, when suddenly Scorponok attacks the Autobots and takes them all down, intending on taking the base for himself, when suddenly Megatron arrives, saying they have unfinished business.

In the distant past Megatron is monitoring a battle when Starscream warns Megatron that one day Scorponok will turn on him as it's in his nature.

In the present Megatron confronts Scorponok about letting him stay trapped inside Unicron for years (as he knew he was there), and the two Decepticons fight it out. Ironhide wakes up during the fight and watches the two powerful Decepticons going at it, whilst also taking care of his still injured teammates.

Scorponok believes he's won the battle, but suddenly Megtaron skewers him with his sword and destroys his spark, leaving the Terrorcon commander as a dead smoking husk. Megatron turns towards Ironhide who has erected as force field, and tells him to send a message to the Autobots "Megatron's back".

Jetfire contacts the Council about this and everyone is worried, Avalon contacts Alpha Quintesson and asks whether Optimus has been found inside Unicron yet, but he says no, the two decide to wait and see how Megatron's revival will change things.

Inside Unicron Optimus has armed himself and prepares to come after Unicron.

And then Pat Lee devoured the Universe...NOM!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Vehicle Transport Lost inside Unicron

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Inferno - Fire Engine

Ironhide - Van

Jetfire - Space Shuttle

Prowl - F1 Police Car

Arcee - Motorcycle

Strongarm - Jeep

Skyblast - Jet

Signal Flare - Satellite Truck

Overload - Truck Badly Injured by Scorponok

Dropshot - Jet Badly Injured by Scorponok

Downshift - Race Car

Blurr - Race Car

Hoist - Excavator

Beachcomber - Buggy

Cliffjumper - Buggy

Tow-Line - Van

Quickstrike - Helicopter

Bulkhead - Helicopter

Red Alert - Emergency SUV

Landmine - Armoured Tow-Plough

Landquake - Armoured Tow-Plough

Scavenger - Bulldozer

Rodimus - Truck Cab

Avalon

Levitacus

High Council

Autobots in Flashback Killed by Scorponok

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet (Tank in Flashback)

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank/Jet Killed by Megatron

Mirage - Attack Boat

Slugslinger - Dual Nosed Jet

Sharkticon - Submarine Badly Injured by Kicker

Divebomb Drones - Falcons

Cruellock Drones - Raptors

Insecticon Drones - Beetles

Battle Ravage Drones - Jaguars

Snow Cat - Snow Mobile

Thrust - Fighter Jet

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Energon Ghost)

Demolishor - Battle Tank Killed by Starscream

Cyclonus - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon (Flashback Only)

Predacon - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Flashback Only)

Wheeljack - Sports Car (Flashback Only)

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet (Flashback Only)

Skywarp - Fighter Jet (Flashback Only)

Tidal Wave - Battleship (Mentioned) Reformatted into Mirage

Mini-Con

Perceptor - Street Action Team Gestalt

High Wire - Dirt Bike

Grindor - Hovercraft

Sureshock - ATV

Over-Run - Jet

Human

Kicker

Rad

Alexis

Carlos

UN Secretary General

BBS Newscaster

Jules Winfield

Cab Driver Killed by Insecticon Drones

Other Humans

Other

Alpha Quintesson

Unicron - Ringed Planet Dead Body

Notes

• The bases being built by Ironhide's team last volume have been completed by before the start of this story (if the arrival of Ocean City means anything)
• It's unclear if Snow Cat is an upgraded Cyclonus like he is in the cartoon
• So it seems that Snow Cat set up the trap for the Omnibots....how did he know they would wander into that deserted town???
• Unicron's body features some familiar looking bodies in it, like G1 Scourge and Cyclonus
• It's not clear exactly WHY Tidal Wave was reformatted into Mirage...
• Jetfire seems to be in charge in Optimus' absence
• It's likely that the Terrorcon clones were created thanks to some of the Energon gathered by them before...though it's unclear
• Awww Alexis and Rad wuv eachother
• This story shows the Street Action Team (in their Energon bodies) combining, which wasn't seen in the Armada comics
• Alpha Quintesson's over-arcing plan is never revealed, but in recent interviews it's been shown that it was to connect to the Quintessons in the Dreamwave G1 Universe too and have a mass-invasion (it would have failed of course)
• Also the reason Alpha Quintesson want's Kicker so much is because he is the power source to the Conduit needed to do the crossover
• Rad's vehicle looks like Cybertron Reverb...only giant!
• Starscream's resurrection isn't explained, but most likely it was magic
• Demolishor would have been revived in his Energon body later under Alpha Quintesson's control
• Wheeljack was shown in the distant past as a Decepticon with his slashed Autobot insignia...just how long ago did he defect?!
• Dropshot keeps almost dying on these missions...why do the Autobots even let him out of the base nowadays?
• Optimus' declaration of "Here I come!" is somewhat funny considering that Dreamwave collapsed right after this issue was released!
• A spider inside Unicron looks sort of like Transmetal Tarantulas from Beast Wars....coincidence? (probably)
• The story shown in the 20th Anniversary comic comes after this comic (after a time jump)

DW - Energon #19-24

Plot

Ten years have passed since the battle with Unicron and Cybertron has been rebuilt as a peaceful world, however Optimus has a bad feeling about something and asks the High Council to develop an army again, just in case of war returning, however they refuse as they believe that since Megatron and Unicron are gone there are no more threats to the Transformers out there.

Elsewhere at an Energon Processing plant some Decepticons are working, but also seem to be agitated with the peace as well. Scorponok arrives and as his first point of business shoots Starscream into a processor, Tidal Wave, seeing the Decepticon is still alive goes to finish him off, but Starscream pulls him in with him, badly damaging him. Scorponok takes the remaining Decepticons with him through a Space Bridge whilst Starscream's body to crushed and processed.

Elsewhere Optimus goes to see Over-Run at one of the Mini-Con villages but is stopped by the Omnicons, who don't recognize him. Over-Run however agrees to see him, and tells Optimus about how he's been tapping into the planet itself, and Optimus can do so as well to find out the answers he needs about his concerns.

Scorponok and his Decepticons arrive inside Unicron's husk of a body where they meet with Alpha Quintesson who conscripts them into helping him collect Energon to help revive Unicron's body, in exchange he'll give them new "hyper modes", which gives them greater power and strength, which they agree to.

Optimus, Hot Shot and Ironhide arrive at one of the hub nodules Over-Run told Optimus about and he manages to connect with the planet and he witnesses the Decepticons on Unicron's body leaving through a Space Bridge to Earth, but also hears Megatron's voice warning him about what's happening. Optimus disconnects just before Alpha Quintesson sends out the Horsemen of Unicron into space.

In Australia, Earth, the Decepticons (Terrorcons) under Scorponok's command are attacking facilities and people, looking for Energon, and Kicker is caught in the middle of it. Carlos, in a satellite above the planet monitors the situation and tells Rad and Dr Jones at Alterenergy Mobile Command and they realize that the animal Transformers must be Decepticons. The Military are called in to attack the robots and pass over a protest group led by Alexis. Suddenly Kicker rides into the protestors on his bike, being chased by Battle Ravage.

Elsewhere, Dr Jones sends Rad out to look for Kicker, who he knows was in the area of the attack. The Terrorcons easily beat the Military, whilst Battle Ravage is blinded by Alexis' flare gun, whilst she and Kicker ride away.

On Cybertron Optimus talks to the Council again to tell them about what he saw about Earth, but they don't want to start a war again, but they permit him to go to Earth alone to check it out. Just as he's telling his team about it though, explosions start occuring outside as the Horsemen have arrived and are causing chaos.

During the battle with the Horsemen, Optimus recognizes them as some of the Transformers captured during the battle with Unicron, and evidently they have been brainwashed by Unicron into following him, and are now slaughtering the Cybertronians, and badly injure most of Optimus' team.

The Terrorcons continue their search for Energon and wonder where Battle Ravage is (he's still chasing Kicker and Alexis). On Cybertron the Autobots are saved from death by the Omnicons, who tell Optimus to uplink to Cybertron again, upon doing so he is upgraded into a new body and spreads the upgrade to his team, giving them the Spark of Combination, allowing them to combine in pairs and fight off the Horsemen.

The Horsemen receive word from Alpha Quintesson to return to Unicron, so they leave, after the battle Councillor Levitacus arrives and gives Optimus and his whole team permission to investigate Earth, given the recent attack here.

Battle Ravage returns to Scorponok and delivers Kicker and Alexis to him, where Scorponok scans them, and sees why the Terrorcon chased them for so long, Kicker has a strange Energon-like signature around him.

Scorponok explains that Kicker seems to be able to detect Energon, from the looks of his body signatures and tries to find out how he does it. Rad arrives nearby and notices Alexis is with Kicker. The Autobots Space Bridge over to Earth, and on the way Optimus hears Megatron again.

The Terrorcons start to tap into an Energon seam and power themselves up, and realize that Earth is teeming with Energon. The Autobots start to approach the site and are attacked by the Terrorcons, Rad meanwhile runs to save Alexis and Kicker, but is blocked by Battle Ravage, Rad contacts Carlos on the satellite and has him take remote control of his vehicle and ram it into the Energon siphon, causing it to explode.

Scorponok sees the explosion and has his team stop the attack and return to the site to try and scavenge any that's left.

The weakened Optimus lays there and hears Megatron calling for him to come to him.

The Terrorcons attack the Alterenergy Command to make Kicker work with them to locate another Energon seam. Rad and Alexis are running back towards the Command when they run into the Autobots, reuniting with their old friends.

The Terrorcons have been taken to another seam and start to siphon it off when the Autobots arrive again and a full-out battle ensues, during the battle Tidal Wave is guarding Kicker in his cage when Hot Shot and Strongarm arrive, attack Tidal Wave and free Kicker, who then warns the Autobots to leave the area now, as it's going to get hot around here soon. They leave and Tidal Wave starts to attack them, when suddenly the Energon, which turns out to be impure explodes.

The battle between the Terrorcons and Autobots ends abruptly when the Horsemen pull them out of the battle through Space Bridges, as Alpha Quintesson is displeased with their failure at securing the Energon. Everyone reunites and the Autobots announce that they plan on staying on Earth for the meanwhile.

Later, on Cybertron, Ironhide is overseeing the construction of some base units for transport to Earth, but is being stalked by Tidal Wave, who attacks him and Cliffjumper, threatening to kill his friend if he doesn't do something for him.

Jetfire wonders where Ironhide has gone and goes to look for him, finding Cliffjumper injured and off the road, but alive still. Tidal Wave has Ironhide get him some Seismic Shock Warheads that were stockpiled by Megatron in the past, to use on Earth now, but Ironhide reneges on him and turns on the warhead now, threatening to kill them both. Tidal Wave gets pummeled by Ironhide, but runs away in a Space Bridge to safety before Jetfire arrives, and Ironhide reveals that it was a dud warhead, impressing Jetfire with his quick thinking.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Vehicle Transport (Formerly Truck)

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Inferno - Fire Engine

Ironhide - Van

Jetfire - Space Shuttle
Arcee - Motorcycle
Strongarm - Jeep
Signal Flare - Satellite Truck
Skyblast - Jet

Rodimus - Truck Cab

Landmine - Armoured Tow-Plough

Cliffjumper - Buggy
Prowl - F1 Police Car
Red Alert - Emergency SUV
Hoist - Excavator
Scavenger - Bulldozer
Alpha Trion
Councillor Levitacus
Councillor Avalon
High Council

Decepticon
Megatron - Tank Body Destroyed, trapped inside Unicron
Scorponok - Scorpion Tank/Jet
Tidal Wave - Battleship
Battle Ravage - Jaguar
Divebomb - Falcon
Cruellock - Raptor
Insecticon - Beetle
Thrust - Fighter Jet
Demolishor - Battle Tank
Cyclonus - Helicopter
Starscream - Fighter Jet Killed by Scorponok

Horsemen of Unicron

Rhinox/War - Rhino

Airazor/Death - Eagle

Cheetor/Pestilence - Cheetah

Terrorsaur/Famine - Pteranodon

Mini-Con

Over-Run - Jet

Human

Chad "Kicker" Jones

Rad

Alexis

Carlos

Dr Jones
Other Humans

Other

Alpha Quintesson

Unicron - Ringed Planet Body Dead

Other Cybertronians

Notes

• One of the civilians on Cybertron looks like Cybertron series Shortround's alternate mode
• Optimus is still in his Armada body at the start of this story, as well as the Decepticons, but none of the other characters who return are (if they have new bodies that is, like Hot Shot or Jetfire)
• The Omnicons were created by Over-Run, who has been tapping into Cybertron itself to manipulate the Cybertronian evolutionary process
• This story shows that after Megatron was blasted into the depths of Unicron he was torn apart by Unicron's internal systems and had his consciousness split from his now useless body, but when Unicron was killed, Megatron started building himself a new body, but is unable to enter it alone...

DW - Armada Volume 3

Plot

One of the escape pods from the Mini-Con city crashes into Northern Alaska and is trapped under the ice, meanwhile in Death Valley Smokescreen and Scavenger are spying on some Decepticons working on a rocket. At Autobase the Autobots are in contact with the Death Valley team when they learn from the Mini-Cons about the missing Mini-Cons in the crashed pod and also learn that some of the newcomer Mini-Cons are a bit uneasy around the Autobots still.

At Silver Ridge Megatron is experimenting with the Destruction Team and find their combined power boost to be invigorating, but the team don't give the power for free as they cause pain in the user, but agree to help out if they get a say in what happens around here.

The Adventure Team are in Alaska looking for the missing Mini-Cons and find the impact site, whilst working on how to free them theyare attacked by Thrust. At Autobase Rook is trying to start a revolution against the Autobots when Optimus walks in and says that he'll help to look for the missing Mini-Cons.

In Alaska the Adventure Team are taken down by Thrust and a newly arrived Cyclonus, who has been given the Destruction Team as a power boost (as a test driver). Thrust starts insulting the Mini-Cons, who manage to take over Cyclonus' body and he pummels Thrust.

In Death Valley the 2 Autobots are worried when Laserbeak arrives and tells them that Optimus is busy and they can deal with the Decepticons as they see fit, but the two of them say it's too late, as the rocket's already been launched.

In orbit the rocket deploys a satellite which begins to target the crashed Mini-Con pod's impact site....ready to fire

Cyclonus continues his attack on Thrust and starts to overheat, which starts causing the ice to melt around him. The Autobots and some Mini-Cons arrive on their ship and start the search for the missing Mini-Cons when suddenly the Decepticons use their satellite weapon on the Autobot ship and destroy it, narrowly missing the team. The Autobots attack Cyclonus whilst Thrust flies off to safety, during the battle the Autobots learn that the Mini-Cons have more power than they've revealed before, Optimus asks Sparkplug to powerlink with him and to give him it all, which he then uses on Cyclonus and defeats him.

Skyblast goes into orbit and destroys the satellite. A short while later the Autobots rescue the Mini-Con pod and Sparkplug apologizes for not being fully open with Optimus before, but before he can get a response Optimus has vanished

Optimus reappears on Cybertron, but not his one, this one is being slowly destroyed around him.

A strange pod appears in Big Sur National Park in California and Over-Run escapes in a panic, carrying the Mini-Con Matrix talking about warning Optimus Prime that Chaos is coming.

Hot Shot and the rest of the team in Alaska return to Autobase through the Space Bridge, and wonder why the others pulled them out, especially since it's only for emergencies. Smokescreen and Scavengers reveal that Optimus Prime is there, and everyone's glad that he's okay, until the two Autobots show them that it's not THEIR Optimus who they've found, and this one is very near death.

Over-Run arrives in Downtown San Francisco and tries to uplink to a communications array to contact Optimus before it's too late. At the same time however five evil guys appear though a strange Space Bridge over Cybertron and start their mission.

At Autobase Astroscope explains that this Optimus is an alternate version of their one from another universe, Red Alert starts to check on him when he wakes up and warns them that chaos is coming and then dies.

At Silver Ridge the Decepticons can't get the Space Bridge to work, the Decepticons think it's because the Autobots are planning to attack by cutting them off from their troops, especially with Cyclonus out of commission thanks to the recent mission, and they start to prepare for battle.

Elsewhere Hot Shot contacts Jetfire to tell him what's happening, and he reports that the Decepticon base on Cybertron has some strange readings around it, so his team are going to investigate it. Astroscope and Sparkplug report to Hot Shot that they detected some strange readings at Big Sur and they head out to investigate it. Over-Run starts his message and hopes the Autobots receive it before anyone else, unknown to him though one of the new-comers starts to come through another Space Bridge.

Hot Shot and the Mini-Cons find Over-Run's pod and examine it, they know now that it means there's a "visitor" from another Universe and head out to investigate.

Starscream has been watching this and sends Demolishor to retrieve the pod whilst he follows the Autobot, who is then also followed by Thrust himself. Hot Shot soon finds Over-Run and starts to approach when suddenly Starscream attacks and goes to deal with the Mini-Con, but is himself attacked by the new visitor, Galvatron. Hot Shot starts to attack the Galvatron as well, but is easily defeated as well, next Thrust joins in the battle and distracts Galvatron enough for Over-Run to disappear. Galvatron warps away to his next target as Mirage rematerializes holding Over-Run, who warns that this fight isn't over.

On the other Cybertron Opitmus starts exploring and finds it devoid of life, except for one Decepticon, Spinister, who is freaking out about something eating his world.

On Cybertron, the Decepticon Command HQ has been attacked and all the Decepticons inside slaughtered, and the Heralds of Unicron (Dirge, Bludgeon, Thunderwing and Scourge) have taken control of the Space Bridge network and have turned it into a giant hub for their master to use later.

Over-Run has been taken to Autobase where he explains about what happened to his world, but he doesn't know where Optimus is. They decide to use Over-Run's Null-Reality Pod to locate Over-Run's home universe and thus Optimus, however Red Alert reports that it's gone already.

Megatron is annoyed with Starscream for taking the pod as he has no idea what it is, when Leader-1 comes in and says that the Autobots are using their Space Bridge to hunt down Optimus Prime.

On the other Cybertron Optimus is trying to calm down Spinister and to find out what's happening when Unicron starts to descend on the planet again. The Autobots on Cybertron head out to Decepticon HQ, at the HQ the Heralds head to Earth to kill this universe's Megatron whilst Bludgeon stays behind to defend the hub nexus against any interlopers.

Some Mini-Cons head off to Silver Ridge to get the pod, once they're gone however the Decepticons attack the Autobase on mass and start blasting through the Autobots in their weakened state. The Mini-Cons arrive at the Decepticon base and find it deserted until the Heralds arrive in a Space Bridge.

At Autobase the Decepticons have won the battle, however Megatron starts getting messages form his troops asking for help, Megatron goes to investigate and comes face-to-face with Galvatron.

Megatron and Galvatron fight it out in the Autobase with Galvatron seeming to be the stronger robot, all whilst the Space Team  continue their search for Optimus. On Cybertron Jetfire's team arrives at the Decepticon base and finds them all dead and are all worried by the strange electrical storm above them, and are unaware that Bludgeon is stalking them.

At Silver Ridge the Mini-Cons are hiding from the Heralds when they detect Thrust in the vicinity, so they go out to interrogate him for Megatron's location. The Mini-Cons, now alone, access the pod. On the other Cybertron Sprinister explains that this is the end of everything and all will die by Unicron's hand.

On Earth Megatron is augmented by the Air Defense Team, who combine into the Star Saber to help him in this battle. On Cybertron Jetfire's team are investigating the Decepticon HQ and Bludgeon attacks, badly injuring Dropshot in the process. The Autobots however work together and use their vehicle mode headlights to blind the Herald and then Jetfire blasts him, causing him to explode...unfortunately when examining the wreckage they find just his outer shell.

Back on Earth Megatron uses the Star Saber to even the playing field, the Land Military Team arrive on the scene and report to Payload and his team that the battle is over, and that Megatron won the fight by skewering the Galvatron with the Star Saber.

The Mini-Cons at Silver Ridge contact Payload and his team at Lincoln, but the latter have still not located Optimus in the Multiverse yet. On the other Cybertron the planet is falling apart, and Spinister gives up and allows himself to be devoured, however Unicron detects Optimus on the planet and is confused as he'd already almost killed this universe's Optimus and sent him to his next target as a calling card of sorts, this Optimus being transported here was an accident.

At the Decepticon HQ on Cybertron Jetfire's team break into the Space Bridge control and see the bridges are connected to alternate realities and they cant shut them down. Jetfire briefly thinks he sees Optimus in one window, but is replaced by Big Convoy.

On Earth the Heralds have beaten up Thrust, but he has no information, they seem confident that Galvatron would have killed the local Megatron, so they decide to return to the hub, unaware that the local Megatron in fact killed Galvatron instead. Megatron intends to keep the Star Saber now, but the Land Military Team attack the sword and forces it to split again freeing them as they escape.

The Space Team locate Optimus' signal and tells Over-Run, who uses his pod to transport there with Sparkplug, Comettor and his Mini-Con Matrix as well. The Heralds return to Cybertron from Earth and Bludgeon reappears as well in the hub, so Jetfire gets an idea, he tells his team to leave as he sets off the self-destruct on the base, causing it to explode as he jumps through one of the bridges, killing the Heralds.

Jetfire arrives on the doomed Cybertron at the same time as Over-Run and the others arrive. The Mini-Cons power up the Autobots and Over-Run uses the Mini-Con Matrix to power them up further (and giving them their repaint colours) and the two Autobots combine. They use their sudden power boost to shoot Unicron and injure him, then with Over-Run's help they transport back to their home universe.

Back home, Optimus and Jetfire warn the others about Unicron and notice that the rift created by the space bridges is widening still. The team on Cybertron receive word from Earth about their battle, and how most of them are badly hurt, especially Smokescreen who is dying. Optimus asks Red Alert to get Longarm to contact all the Mini-Cons for an emergency meeting now.

Optimus meets with all the Mini-Cons and asks them to help with the upcoming battle, they agree, but when the Decepticons arrive too they prepare to fight them, however Optimus reveals that he invited the Decepticons to this meeting, and trip to Cybertron as they need to be united against Unicron. Megatron releases all the Mini-Cons he has in his custody to Optimus as a token of good will, except for the Destruction Team, as they are too much trouble. All the Transformers leave Earth through a Space Bridge and bid farewell to their human friends.

Now back on Cybertron the Transformers prepare for battle, when Unicron comes through the rift and beckons at the Transformers, but is unprepared when the planet is immediately ready for battle, as usually his Heralds have caused enough chaos by now to make this easier. Concerned by this he abducts Rhinox, Airazor, Cheetor and Terrorsaur to learn why this has happened during the massive battle.

At Cyber City the Mini-Cons combine their powers, as well as those of the Mini-Con Matrix to release a blast of energy at Unicron, skewering him. The monster starts to explode and Optimus has everyone leave the vicinity. Megatron decides to quickly infiltrate the monster and find some powerful weapons inside when Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scavenger appear behind him and shoot him at point blank range and leave him to perish with Unicron, as revenge for what he did to Smokescreen.

Unicron collapses in on himself and disappears and all of Cybertron celebrates, even Optimus, who hopes Cybertron can stay united, should evil ever return again.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Jetfire - Space Shuttle

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Red Alert - Emergency SUV

Scavenger - Bulldozer

Smokescreen - Tow-Truck Crane Badly Injured by Megatron

Laserbeak - Camcorder

Blurr - Race Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Overload - Truck

Dropshot - Jet Injured by Bludgeon

Rhinox - Rhino Abducted by Unicron

Cheetor - Cheetah Abducted by Unicron

Airazor - Falcon Abducted by Unicron

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Left to die inside Unicron by Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scavenger

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Thrust - Fighter Jet

Cyclonus - Helicopter

Demolishor - Battle Tank

Tidal Wave - Battle Ship

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Sideways - Motorcycle

Wheeljack - Sports Car

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon Abducted by Unicron

Cy-Kill - Motorcycle Killed by Heralds

Cop-Tur - Helicopter Killed by Heralds

Other Decepticons

Unicron

Unicron - Ringed Planet Destroyed by the Mini-Con Matrix

Galvatron - Laser Cannon Killed by Megatron

Bludgeon - Tank Killed in Space Bridge Nexus Explosion

Scourge Killed in Space Bridge Nexus Explosion

Thunderwing Killed in Space Bridge Nexus Explosion

Dirge Killed in Space Bridge Nexus Explosion

Mini-Con

Sparkplug - Sports Car

Over-Run - Jet

Comettor - Moon Buggy

Leader-1 - Gun Mounted Buggy

Astroscope - Satellite

Skyblast - Rocket

Payload - Rocket Carrier

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Downshift - Race Car

Dirt Boss - Stock Car

High Wire - BMX

Sureshock - Scooter

Grindor - Skateboard

Drill Bit - Drill Tank Probably Killed by Megatron

Dualor - Dual Barrel Tank Probably Killed by Megatron

Buzzsaw - Buzzsaw Tank Probably Killed by Megatron

Ransack - Pick Up Truck

Dune Runner - Assault Buggy

Iceberg - Snow Tracker

Sonar - Shuttle

Runway - Sonic Jet

Jetstorm - Concorde

Wreckage - Dual Barrel Tank

Bonecrusher - Missile-Crane Truck

Knock Out - Rocket Mounted Personnel Carrier

Oval - Sports Car

Spiral - Sports Car

Backtrack - Sports Car

Longarm - Crane

Jolt - Helicopter

Inferno - Rocket Mounted Truck

Incinerator - Dragster

Rook

Crosswise

Makeshift - Osprey Helicopter

Firebot - Fire Engine

Prowl - Police Car

Nightbeat - Motorcycle

Rollbar - Jeep

Windsheer - Stealth Jet

Liftor - Fork Lift Truck

Refute - Clamping Truck

Crumplezone -Tank

Swindle - F1 Race Car

Blackout - Radar Truck

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Human

Rad

Alexis

Carlos

Alternates

G1 Optimus Prime Killed by Unicron

G1 Spinister Killed by Unicron

BW Rattrap

BW Tigatron

BW Big Convoy

BM Tankor

RiD Prowl

RiD Optimus Prime

Notes

• This Volume concludes the Armada portion of this continuity, and lead onto the ill-fated Energon series
• Several Decepticons are seen as being on Earth doing things at the start of this story, implying that they've been on the planet for a while (as this begins about the same time as the end of the previous volume)...why didn't they help out in some way?
• Though this also explains why Smokescreen and Scavenger were missing in the previous story!
• Mini-Cons are revealed to have an untapped unlimited power reservoir within them
• It's not clear if the Mini-Cons are connected to Unicron here like they are in the cartoon
• It's implied that Over-Run's universe was the one where Optimus was warped to as well...meaning that the G1 Universe he was shipped to includes Mini-Cons as well
• It can't be a coincidence that Unicron's heralds feature characters who don't share names with any characters in the Armada storyline so far (guess it's lucky that Megatron didn't turn into Galvatron huh?)
• This story features one of those rare moments where Megatron fights with Galvatron. I think the only other time that's happened in Transformers other than here is in the G1 Marvel comics
• Here's something confusing to mess with your head. Optimus' partner is Sparkplug, which is consistent with the toyline, but here he is also partnered with Over-Run, which also happens in the toyline too, however when with Over-Run he is in his Powerlinx repaint colours, but Over-Run's Optimus was in the normal colours....AHHHH!!!!
• So....they had fireworks ready to go on Cybertron for some reason?
• The Autobot past of Wheeljack or whether Sideways, Rook and Crosswise have any connection to Unicron isn't shown here...or anywhere else!
• The Destruction Team's fate isn't clear, they were last mentioned as being in a Punishment Cube and seemed to be still there at the end, and then Megatron goes missing....YIKES! (Though due to the end of Dreamwave and Megatron's malicious smile when talking about them makes me think he probably killed them)
• This is the only true non-exclusive (ie Botcon, Club Comics etc) multi-generation crossover for Transformers
• Dropshot is based on an unused Triple Changer design from G1 (and oddly he becomes a sort of recurring character in this continuity as he also appears in Energon...weird)
• The Mini-Con Matrix contains the power of all the Mini-Cons from his reality combined, which as established earlier means they also include the unlimited untapped power they possess as well.
• Oddly despite him being quite close with Optimus through this series (more than other Mini-Cons seem to be with their partners) Sparkplug is nowhere to be seen after this story (or most other Mini-Cons for that matter, but Sparkplug is of particular note I think)
• The Space Bridge from Earth to Cybertron was set to Self Destruct after the Transformers leave, because they want Earth to stay separate from the Cybertronian wars, and in case they fail they don't want Unicron to attack the planet straight away
• Unicron never transforms into robot mode (even in Energon either)

DW - Armada Volume 2

Plot

At the Decepticon's new base in Silver Ridge, Nebraska Megatron is trying to force Leader-1 to give him more power, but the little guy is unable to, so Megatron decides to hunt down MORE Mini-Cons to make himself even stronger.

Outside of Lincoln, South Dakota the kids are playing around and the Autobots appear to say goodbye to them, whilst outside Radio City, S. Dakota the Air Defense team are working out what to do next when their make-shift base is attacked by the Decepticons. Optimus tells the kids that he doesn't want to put them in any more danger when suddenly Sparkplug recieves a distress signal from the Mini-Cons under attack (which Leader-1 was supposed to be jamming, showing his rebellion).

Later Laserbeak spies on the Decepticons and relays their location to the Autobase (also outside Lincoln) and reports that three Mini-Cons have been captured. The Mini-Cons with the Autobots want to mount a rescue mission to rescue the others, but Optimus denies their plan as it's too dangerous.

In Silver Ridge, Megatron rewires the Mini-Cons and starts on a plan to work with them. Later, the Autobot allied Mini-Cons and the humans have made their way to Silver Ridge and plan to rescue the others themselves. Sparkplug gives Rad a device to activate if they don't return in 30 minutes, and the Mini-Cons head into the base. Inside, the Mini-Cons are soon detected by the Decepticons and have to hide from them, whilst Megatron has completed turning the Air Defnse Team into the Star Saber.

The Mini-Cons are trapped under rubble in the Decepticon base, and the kids activate the signal, soon the Land Military Team arrive, having detected the signal and wonder why some humans have a Mini-Con panic pager.

The Decepticons have shipped out and look for the Auotbot base in Lincoln, and soon find it, attacking it with the Star Saber as well, the Autobots are in trouble as they now have no Mini-Cons to help them even the score. The Land Military Team are initially unwilling to help the humans with rescuing their friends from the Decepticon base, but agree after seeing the humans planning to enter there themselves. The Mini-Cons help their friends get free, whilst the Autobots and Decepticons fight it out in Lincoln.

Soon the Mini-Cons return to Lincoln and help out the Autobots, and the Star Saber is forcibly separated into it's 3 parts again. The Auotbots win the fight, but the Land Military decide to go off on their own for now. Optimus also decides to allow the kids to stay on their team for now as well.

 A strange monolith lands in Kansas from space and starts sending out a signal. At Autobase the Mini-Cons are frustrated about everything and still think of themselves as slaves to the Autobots, whilst the kids and the Street Action Team are hanging out in the town. At Silver Ridge Cyclonus goes to check on the Mini-Cons in their cages, but finds them all gone. Whilst riding around in the town the Street Action Team all start acting odd and all start heading to a new location, with the kids still riding them.

Megatron learns of the Mini-Con's escape and locates them thanks to the tags he attached to them all, the Autobot's Mini-Cons have also all left as well and Optimus and the others wonder why, when Optimus sees reports of strange lights in the sky recently nearby.

The Mini-Cons (including the Air Dedense and Land Military Teams) all arrive at the monolith and start to approach it, the Autobots and Decepticons arrive at the site, but are unable to penetrate the forcefield around it. The Mini-Cons all go through a door on the monolith and Rad follows them, trying to make his friends wake up when the door closes and the monolith takes off

On Earth. the two factions work out that the Mini-Cons have been sent to the Moon by the rest of their kind, who escaped with them. On the Moon, the captured Mini-Cons are in a holding cell and are greeted by the Destruction Team who welcomes them home.

The Autobots need to get a vessel to take them to the Moon, but need to return to Cybertron to get it, but opening a Space Bridge to do so will give the Decepticons the location of their Cybertron base. At Silver Ridge Thrust arrives on Earth with some rocket boosters for Megatron to use, and all of them, bar Demolishor who is guarding the base head towards the Moon.

On the Moon the Mini-Cons are shown around the city the others have built over the years, but the new-comers aren't so happy with leaving their friends. The Decepticons arrive outside the Moon, and begin their attack, but are unable to get through the Mini-Con defenses 

On Earth, the Autobots are infiltrating Silver Ridge so they can delete the location of the Cybertron base personally on site whilst Optimus prepares to go to Cybertron for help. On the Moon the Decepticons are forced to retreat, and the Destruction team work on their plan for if the Autobots arrive as well...they have Rad inside a mine!

The Autobots infiltrate the Decepticon base to delete the data as Optimus activates the Space Bridge and heads to his home world. On the Moon Rad tries to convince the Destruction Team to let him go, but they refuse as they need him in case the Autobots try to take back their Mini-Cons.

Elsewhere on the Moon Megatron sets up a drill to help them infiltrate the Mini-Con's city. Inside their holding cell the Mini-Cons wonder whether they should give up and join their brothers, but Sparkplug argues that they would, if they were asked to join them, but they were kidnapped, unknown to them though Mirage is hiding nearby and listens in.

Starscream and Thrust return to Earth and find Demolishor knocked out,a nd realize there are Autobots in the base. On Cybertron Optimus meets with Jetfire, who is unwilling to help out as the situation on Cybertron is bad right now, but Optimus orders him to assist him anyway he can. The Decepticons look for the Autobots, but the latter are hiding, however they notice the space bridge is opening again.

On the Moon Mirage lies to Dualor about how the newcomers feel when suddenly the city starts to shake and Megatron breaks in. The Mini-Cons scatter and fight back, but Leader-1 rejoins his master, Sparkplug tries to stop him from leaving, but Mirage appears and turns him invisible with him to hide instead.

At Silver Ridge the Autobots attack the Decepticons and destroy the computer, deleting the data as well (why didn't they do that from the start?). Optimus returns to the base and kids kids expect to see an army of Autobots, but instead they find Optimus has brought back a space ship instead.

On the Moon the control room is attacked by Megatron, who is being helped by Leader-1!

Back on Earth Rad's parents discuss how Rad wants to be involved in Aernautics when he grows up, and they wonder what it'd be like for him to be in space one day, not knowing that he's up there right now.

On the Moon Mirage tells Sparkplug that Dualor and the others put Rad into a mine just in case the Autobots arrived and they try to find him before they are launched. Meanwhile Megatron rampages through the city with Leader-1 directing him around and helping him with the defenses. Optimus and the kids (via holograms) head to the Moon on the ship and approach a mine field. Inside the Space Team's lab Sparkplug and Mirage ask them to help to locate Rad and to help them escape as this place is just a prison now, not a sanctuary.

Elsewhere Leader-1 leads Megatron into a room which turns out to be a trap as he reveals that he's turned against his master. Optimus begins to navigate through the minefield carefully, not knowing Rad is inside it, when Sky Blast of the Space Team heads into the field to retrive his mine and tows it to the Autobot ship. On the Moon Leader-1 is attacked by the Destruction Team, which allows Megatron to free himself and he goes after the traitor.

The Mini-Con city is evacuated and the evacuation pods head towards Earth, where the Autobots offer sanctuary to all the Mini-Cons on Sky Blast's request. Megatron however has managed to capture the Destruction Team as well, as the Mini-Con city is left in ruins.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Red Alert - Emergency SUV

Jetfire - Space Shuttle

Laserbeak - Camera

Sideswipe - Sports Car (Mentioned)

Blurr - Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Cyclonus - Helicopter

Demolishor - Battle Tank

Thrust - Fighter Jet

Mini-Con

Sparkplug - Sports Car

Jolt - Helicopter

Longarm - Crane

Leader-1 - Gun Mounted Buggy

Swindle - F1 Race Car

Crumplezone - Tank

Blackout - Radar Truck

High Wire - BMX

Sureshock - Scooter

Grindor - Skateboard

Jetstorm - Concorde

Runway - Sonic Jet

Sonar - Shuttle

Wreckage - Double Barrel Tank

Bonecrusher - Missile-Crane Truck

Knock out - Rocket Mounted Personnel Carrier

Dualor - Dual Barrel Tank

Drill Bit - Drill Tank

Buzzsaw - Buzzsaw Tank

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Downshift - Race Car

Dirt Boss - Stock Car

Skyblast - Rocket

Astroscope - Satellite

Payload - Rocket Transport

Iceberg - Snow Tracker

Ransack - Pick Up Truck

Dune Runner - Assault Buggy

Oval - Sports Car

Spiral - Sports Car

Backtrack - Sports Car

Comettor - Moon Buggy

Rook

Crosswise

Inferno - Rocket Mounted Truck

Human

Rad

Alexis

Carlos

Fred

Billy

Kelly

Rad's Parents

Notes

• The Star Saber is only ever shown in the Dark Saber colourscheme here...this is not explained
• A statue in the Autobot base is of G1 Metroplex holding up Cybertron
• It's odd that the Mini-Con's force field is strong enough to withstand a massive attack here, but in the previous volume it wasn't able to keep out Cyclonus...
• The Mini-Cons on the Moon have been awake for some time, but the reactivation beacon from Earth just alerted them to the Earth bound guy's being alive still, but didn't send for them until some time passed due to the war starting up again there
• This also explains why they have Earth modes, as they had time to watch the planet below
• Mirage has the same abilities of Mirage from the G1 cartoon, invisibility, and can spread that ability on others he touches (which is important in the next volume)
• Something weird...Alexis and Carlos are shown in space-suit like outfits...so they can be transmitted as holograms onto the Autobot ship....
• Optimus manages to bring an Autobot Transport Gunship from Cybertron to help out on Earth...this thing looks like the front sections of the Autobot shuttles from the 80's G1 Movie.
• It's not shown here how Starscream, Demolishor and Cyclonus retrieved their Mini-Cons as they were shown to have left with the others on the monolith, and presumably were on the escape pods who returned to Earth, but are later shown to be in Deceptico custody next volume still....
• Oddly Smokescreen and Scavenger aren't even mentioned in this story