IDW - Transformers Galaxies #11

Title: Storm Horizon, Part 2

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Ultra Magnus and the remains of the crew of the Fist of Iacon head into the Black Sphere system to look for Alpha Trion on Spinister's orders (as he still has some of his crew hostage). Chromedome detects a Cybertronian ship on a planet in the system that is made from diamonds (due to the high pressure from the black hole) so Magnus heads down alone to investigate.

On the planet, Obsidar, he encounters the natives who try to chase him off, but run off after he easily defeats them in battle, and finds the cloaked Cybertronian ship.

Inside, he discovers that the ship is from Kaon, not somewhere Alpha Trion would hang around in, and sends the ships information back to his ship.

Whilst in the ship, he is attacked by its occupant, Octane, whom he easily takes down and discovers that he is a Splice Trader who is carrying corpses from the Tether fall, but insists that Alpha Trion isn't amongst the corpses.

When the ship is shot at from outside, Magnus drags Octane out with him, and finds Spinister and his crew. Spinister intends to kill Octane for hoarding bodies from his boss, but Magnus insists that he be brought back to Cybertron to face trial for his crimes. Spinister's bored if his heroic speech, so decided to end their arrangement and execute him and his captured crew.

Unfortunately for Spinister, Magnus gas backup, his mission is being escorted by Colonial Security Officer Victory Leo, who comes in to save the day.

Now having the upper hand, Magnus pins down Spinister to demand to know where Trion is, and Spinister admits to having net him, but only to give him maps of the uncharted space in the Black Sphere system and a Kworian shuttle in exchange for Alpha Trion's Energon supply. 

Magnus isn't sure if he can really trust Spinister, due to his profession, but is forced to believe him when Alpha Trion himself appears to corroborate his story, albeit through a hologram.

Trion explains that he left clues to his location in case something happened to him, but they signalled too early when he entered the Black Sphere system due to the systems odd nature. Magnus wants to know why he's working with Splicers and why he is being escorted by someone who looks like Soundwave. Trion says he wasn't aware if the former, but doesn't have time to explain the later, as his shuttle is being attacked by an alien fleet right now, and they need help....

Characters

Cybertronian Expeditionary Force/Colonial Security

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromedome - Car

Victory Leo - Space Shuttle/Winged Lion

Blue Erector - Truck

The Fist of Iacon Crew

Decepticon

Octane - Truck/Jet

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Flashback)

Slipstream - Jet (Flashback)

Sixshot - Gun/Car/Jet/Tank/Winged Wolf (Flashback)

Other Cybertronian

Alpha Trion

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Spinister - Helicopter

Cybertronian Splicers

Tether Victims (Corpses Seen)

The Cybertronian Founders (Mentioned)

Other

Obsidar Natives

Organic Splicers

Kworians (Flashback)

Splicer boss (Mentioned)

Notes

• In the opening panel Alpha Trion mentions the Tabernacle of Tarn-Hauser Gate, which is a reference to the Netflix cartoon series. The subsequent discussion about erasing the losers of war's histories is a reference to Blade Runner.
• Octanes ship is decorated with a Decepticon/Ascenticon insignia, but since this issue is presumably set around the time of issue 23, where they are going by the Decepticon name exclusively now. So we can assume that he is at least related to the group.
• Spinister's scythe weapon appears to be made from his alternate mode propellers...which I'm pretty sure the toy cannot do...
• Victory Leo FINALLY makes his western media debut here, his partner Star Saber has appeared a few times in recent years, do it's about time!
• Ultra Magnus mentions how Soundblaster looks a lot like Senator Soundwave, marking one if the only times a repaint has been pointed out in universe. We also see Soundblaster in the shadows when Magnus thinks about Kaon, so he's possibly a Decepticon, and has a relationship with his mould-mate.
• The Splicer Boss mentioned this issue isn't identified here, but it could be Soundblaster, due to his prominence and proximity to Alpha Trion here.