IDW - Transformers #26

Title: War World: Awakenings

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Some time ago, Termagax witnesses the Tether collapse, and is infuriated, she orders her workshop "House" to construct something for her...

Now, Pyra Magna has been freed from her prison by the newly appointed Optimus Prime. 

Ironhide is unsure if people will be happy with Pyras release, and questions Sentinel's final orders to kill Starscream, which Optimus has no intention of doing, as he hopes to not kill anyone, and end this uprising peacefully.

At the prison, Pyra sends out a signal to one if her loyal Companions, Jumpstream, who uses her teleportation abilities to get to her nearly instantly, informs her about what's been happening recently, and agrees that this may be a worthy cause for them to fight for, and heads out to find the rest of their team for Pyra.

Andromeda speeds towards Tarn to get away from the problems happening in Iacon, but gets ordered by Soundwave to report to the Decepticon's Headquarters so they can control what news is being spread.

Elsewhere, some Decepticons are patrolling the streets in Iacon, when they discuss that Sizshit us going to be leading their forces soon, which a hiding Cyclonus overhears, and, along with the ghosts of his former allies, gets to work...

The Decepticon Senators are angered about the Rainmakers killing Sentinel Prime, but Megatron insists that they know he is infuriated with them too, but they need to move on from this problem for now, and heads off to meet with Starscream at the Arena, whilst the other Senators are to isolate their captured fellow Senators until they agree to join them.

Starscream tries to manipulate Megatron into needing him, and offers two pieces if information, one did now, and one for when he has some sense if power. Soundwave however, not liking Starscream already simply attacks the Intelligence Head, and Megatron proceeds to join him in thewtenibg the bot's life, until Starscream reveals that he has information on the Enigma of Combination and Titan Sparks, peaking Megatron's interest.

Before anything else can be said however, Skytread interrupts with news that Termagax is in the Arena...

Termagax is publicly denouncing Megatron's actions to the other Decepticons, and asks them to explain their terrorist actions, whuc Megatron defends thatvhevus doing what she couldn't.

Termagax realizes that Megatron was not who she thought he was, he just wanted to have a war so he could be in charge, and doesn't care about Cybertron"s future like he claims. 

Megatron swufkt shoots Termagax, seemingly killing her before everyone assembled. He begins to announce that anyone who defies him will be treated as a traitor, and killed like her...except Ratbat reveals that this isn't Termagax, but a drone made to look like her...

Elsewhere, Termagax is inside "House" and orders her workshop to relocate somewhere else, as she is now a target if Megatron's anger...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Optimus Prime - Truck

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Froid - Jet

Blaster

Crosshairs - Van

Hound - Jeep

Nautica - Submarine

Ratchet - Ambulance

Red Alert - Emergency Vehicle

Streetwise - Police Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Inferno - Fire Truck

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Hoist - Tow Truck

Grapple - Crane

Kup - Pick-up Truck

Highjump - Van

Zetar - Drill Tank

An Infiltration Trooper - Cassette

Other Assembled Autobots

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Corpse) Dead

Roulette - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Chainclaw - Bear (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon/Ascenticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Strika - Battle Tank

Ratbat - Cassette

Acid Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Nova Storm - Jet

Swift - Helicopter

Roadtrap - Van

Battleslash - Helicopter

Crasher - Car

Termagax - Armoured Van

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Gutcruncher

Obsidian - Helicopter

Lugnut - Jet

Scatterspike - Van

Runabout - Car

Runamuck - Car

Laserbeak - Cassette

Nautilator - Lobster

Other Assembled Decepticons

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

Other Cybertronian

Pyra Magna - Truck

Jumpstream - Car

Roadmaster

Starscream - Jet

Andromeda - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

"House"

Far-off Building Team

Highfire (Ghost Only)

Gridlock (Ghost Only)

Provoke (Ghost Only)

Grudge (Ghost Only)

Nominus Prime - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

The Captured Senators (Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Pyra Magna's Other Companions (Mentioned)

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Notes

• Termagax's home base is revealed to be called "House". It's unclear yet if it is just an A.I. controlling a structure, if perhaps a repurposed Titan/larger bot yet.
• Pyra Magna is confirmed as the prisoner that Froid was banned from visiting, here explained as him getting too sympathetic towards her.
• Amongst the Autobots under Optimus Prime is an Infiltration Trooper, so it's most likely either Rewind or Eject, but it could be a more obscure character like Rosanna or Flip Sides. I like to think it's Eject though, since Rewind got all the love last time around.
• Inferno looks more of less like his normal character model here, even though last time we say him, his alternate mode was based on his Energon series toy.
• The odd colourings on the group shot of the Autobots is most likely due to the Matrix shining over them, causing a yellowish light to hit some, and darker shadows to be cast over others.
• Megatron has acquired his Fusion Cannon since the last issue. It goes unmentioned here (but is used, so it's not an art mistake) so I'm assuming we'll get a backstory issue explaining it before long.
• The Rainmakers are mentioned as being mute, whether this is by choice or inability has yet to be revealed.
• Roadmaster finally gets a speaking role, following her cameos in the old IDW.
• Jumpstream is shown to have a teleporting ability
• Pyra Magna and Jumpstream's character models are slightly modified versions of their Combined Wars toys, we can also assumed that the other "Companions" are the same.
• Andromeda's alternate mode shares quite a few similarities to Cybertron series Override.
• The Enigma of Combination mentioned by Starscream here was found in the flashbacks of the first Galaxies plotline, which combines the Constructions. Considering he's the head of Cybertronian Intelligence it makes sense he would have learned about it.
• Sentinel's order to kill Starscream is probably due to him knowing about the Enigma and the Titan Sparks, so that Megatron can't get them for his needs.