IDW - Robots in Disguise #32

Title: Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Art pages 7,10,11,13 by: Brendan Cahill

Colours by: Josh Perez

Colours pages 7,10,11,13 by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Half a million years ago, Metroplex and Alpha Trion leave Cybertron to remove themselves as targets from the Decepticons, which Prowl agrees with, but realizes that this will most likely cause the Autobot's loss in the war, especially with Optimus being so willing to join the front line during the war.

Back in the near past, the Autobot's approach Earth, and Prowl seems happy, and Prowl reveals to Cosmos that he asled him along on the trip as he needed someone he trusts to help him out on this mission.

In the present, Prowl removes his gun from Jazz's head and points out that detaching Alpha Trion from his machine will set off an alarm, and also points out that the Humans have been making these weapons for a while now, and that Trion only came to Earth within the past few months, meaning there must be another Cybertronian on the premises. Outside, the Autobots are fighting against the Decepticons and their Worldburner ship.

Elsewhere in the base, Soundwave detects Prowl's presence on the base, but Sanjay says he detected him a while ago, they're unable to detect Jazz however, due to his camouflage. Prowl and Jazz appraoch a large door inside a corridor which is FAR too big for a human to need, meaning the Cybertronian must be inside it. Before anything can happen though, Sanjay activates the Mind Bomb and knocks Prowl unconscious.

Thundercracker approaches the island with Faireborn, but refuses to get too close due to the warzone, and Buster's safety, causing Faireborn to abandon him. Nearby, the Autobots are losing the battle with the Decepticons though.

Inside the base, Jazz is dragging Prowl's body out of the base, but is encountered by Soundwave, who is ready to kill him. However, Prowl's mind infiltrates the EDC computer system, as he planned all along, and tries to find out who the other Cybertronian is, but is unable to break through he Black Box of data. However he does find the controls for the Human's Cybertronian-killing missiles, and activates them, targeting them all at the Decepticon's ship, blasting it out of the sky. He also takes control of some internal weapons and takes down Soundwave, allowing Jazz to escape with his body.

Outside, Thundercracker is running away with Buster from the exploding Decepticon ship, when he falls into a cavern, and after a quick bout of fear of having crushed his dog (he didn't, don't worry!) he is suddenly afce to face with something terrifying....

Nearby, the Autobots prepare to enter the base, when they discover the doors are unlocked now, when suddenly Jazz and Prowl walk out. The Constructicons join the group, and admit to betraying information to the Decepicons, but only on Prowl's orders.

Before long, the Autobots recover Alpha Trion, and destroy a vast chunk of the EDC base. Inside, Witwicky is calling for an evactuation, when Galvatron approaches him, and kills him for using the Mind Bomb on him earlier.

The Autobots escape on board Sky Lynx, and Jetfire and D.O.C. begin work on repairing Alpha Trion. Optimus shouts at Prowl for his recent actions, but Prowl talks his way around the situation, by proving that every thing he has done has been justified in the end.

Back on the Island, Faireborn arrives and discovers Witwicky dead, Galvatron blames Prowl for the murder, which Faireborn believes, due to Prowl's history with Spike.

After these events, Thundercracker leaves the island with Buster, and carries on working on his screenplay, but uses the experience from the island to form a new plot, as he discovered an army of cloned Cybertronians in the shape of the long dead Thrust and Ramjet waiting to be launched under the EDC base, having been kept from him by Faireborn.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Alpha Trion

Jazz - Sports Car

Prowl - Police Car

Arcee - Sports Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Cosmos - Orbiter

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Bumblebee - Cybertronian Car (Flashback)

Metroplex - City/Space Ship (Flashback)

Bluestreak - Cybertronian Car (Flashback)

Ironhide - Cybertronian Van (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Tank

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Laserbeak - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Brawl - Tank

Blitzwing - Fighter Jet/Tank

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Hook - Crane

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Devastator - Constructicon and Prowl Gestalt

D.O.C.

Random Cybertronians (Flashback)

Human

General Daniel Witwicky Killed by Galvatron

Marissa Faireborn

Sanjay Bharwaney

Jones

EDC Guys

Spike Witwicky (Mentioned)

Other

Buster

Ramjet Drones - Fighter Jets

Thrust Drones - Fighter Jets

Notes

• It appears that Prowl considers Earth a "home" now, despite his bad experiences on his last visit
• The Decepticon's ship, which is based on the Revenge , introduced in the 80's Movie is identified as a Worldburner class ship.
• The scene with the Autobots attacking the Decepticon's Worldburner ship is a clear homage to the most commonly seen cover to the 80's Transformers Movie
• The effects of the stealth paint is shown here, when Jazz isn't clear on security footage, unlike Prowl.
• Thundercracker is shown at various points in different angles, and still no sign of an insignia. I think it's safe to assume he's officially neutral now!
• Galvatron, unfamiliar with human reproduction assumes Daniel is talking about THE "Sun" rather than his "son"
• Yeah, I think Optimus is going to punch Prowl before long....
• It seems weird that Galvatron implicated Prowl for General Witwicky's death, considering he knows about Jazz's past killing a Human, but seemingly not of Prowl's past with the Witwicky family.
• Thrust and Ramjet were both shown being killed off in past comics (a Spotlight each in fact) and have clearly had their bodies captured and studied to create the clones of them shown in the EDC basement.
• Prowl still sees Optimus as a "Hero Cop".
• Scavenger's (misnamed Scrapper here) betrayal to he Decepticons is revealed to have been Prowl's idea so he could create the Decepticon attack as a diversion for him to enter the base undetected.
• It looks like Buzzsaw may still be out of commission/dead after the battle with Devastator earlier