TransReview Note: Sadly we have none of these comics in our possession, so we are presenting you with this summary from Rob's Transformers Page.



Produced by 3H Productions for BotCon 97


On the unnamed Beast Wars planet, the Predacon scientist Fractyl is haunted by visions of apocalyptic explosions as he works at an outdoor camp. With a newly-discovered element called "Furmanite," he hopes to create an armor coating that will protect the Predacons from the planet's harmful energon levels. He is soon successful, creating a sphere of "energon armor" that contains the energon inside.

But before Fractyl can conduct further experiments, his armor sample is stolen by the Maximal scavenger, Packrat. When Inferno opens fire, he knocks a shard of armor into an energon vein, causing a massive explosion. Fractyl then realizes that the "Furmanite" is really anti-energon, and explodes when exposed to large amounts of energon. The implications are disasterous: if the stolen armor sample is brought into an area with a large energon deposit, the resulting chain reaction could destroy the planet!

On a nearby plain, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Airazor are enjoying the peaceful morning. The quiet is shattered by the sounds of gunfire -- from Inferno's attack on Packrat -- and Airazor and Cheetor race ahead to investigate. As Inferno closes in, Packrat transforms to robot mode, becoming infused with the energon armor. When Cheetor arrives, he is shot by Inferno, who is then savagely gunned down by Packrat.

While Fractyl meets Rhinox and warns him of the danger, Airazor asks Packrat about his uncharacteristic aggression. Packrat curtly dismisses her; protected by the armor, he is finally the most glorious Transformer on the planet, able to go anywhere he pleases. He then tries to prove it by heading for the Badlands, a dangerous area rich in energon, but is intercepted by Rhinox. Rhinox argues that respect must be earned, and that endangering the planet with his arrogance won't help him gain it.

Before Packrat can reply, Fractyl approaches him from behind, ready to siphon off the armor. Packrat cuffs him, insulted that he didn't get a chance to respond, then reluctantly allows Fractyl to remove the armor anyway. As the other Predacons approach, Fractyl tells the Maximals to leave, and prepares himself for Megatron's wrath. Rhinox commends him for his altruism, and Packrat gets an idea...

By the time Megatron and the Predacons arrive, Fractyl is single-handedly driving away the Maximals, a sign of courage that Megatron appreciates. And even as Packrat scolds himself for helping Fractyl, he is unaware of Rhinox's newfound respect for him.


This is actually the 3rd issue in a multi-BotCon story. the first two issues can be read at BotCon Beyond

In order to protect his future, Shokaract has arrived on prehistoric Earth to preserve his past. His objective is simple: destroy Windrazor and the Maximals before they can capture or destroy Unicron's essence, which is the key to his power. While Shokaract battles the Maximals, Megatron watches from nearby and tries to figure out Shokaract's motives, though he is also being spied on by Apelinq, another future-time traveller.

The battle grows in pitch; Shokaract has defeated Optimus Primal and prepares to devour his spark. Suddenly, a dimensional portal opens, and the Covenant of Primus leaps into the fray. Though he is staggered at first, Shokaract quickly recovers, killing several of the Covenant in the process. From the shadows, Apelinq commits himself to the fight, and leads his own attack against Shokaract. Meanwhile, Megatron has tracked down Unicron's essence. And although reality is starting to break down from Megatron's and Shokaract's recent time/space manipulations, Megatron ignores the dangers and attacks the essence directly!

Suddenly put at risk, Shokaract resurrects Cataclysm and Antagony to fight by his side. As Windrazor watches, Sandstorm appears with bad news -- he's failed to convince the J'nwan "Legends" to help in their battle. Their only hope now is to delay Shokaract long enough for the timestream to reclaim Unicron's essence, so Shokaract will ceast to exist.

Shokaract, meanwhile, has found Megatron, and quickly stops his disruption. As time splinters further, Beast Warriors from alternate realities appear and join in the battle, but Shokaract blasts them away with the Decepticon Matrix of Conquest -- his housing for Unicron's essence, the Heart of Darkness. As Shokaract's victory frows near, Sandstorm blasts several Beast Warriors, then prostrates himself before Shokaract and reveals himself as one of his Heralds!

As the Beast Warriors watch, Sandstorm approaches Shokaract; then, once inside Shokaract's defenses, he attacks! Sandstorm stands revealed as Scorpius, one of the Covenant of Primus, who disappeared eons ago on a deep-cover mission. Pained, Shokaract reels, transforms, then smashes Scorpius; Apelinq rallies the remaining Beast Warriors back into the attack for one last time.

Regrouping, Leonicus and the three surviving members of the Covenant finally understand the Chronarchitect's prophecy -- Shokaract can only be stopped if they "return to the beginning," reverting back to their original states as the Energy of Primus. Turning into energy beams, the members of the Covenant lance into Shokaract's Matrix, even as Optimus Prime, Megatron (the original), Grimlock, and other Cybertronian Legends emerge from the timestream and join the fight against Shokaract.

In the astral plane, the souls of the Covenant rejoin to become Primus, who battles Unicron's essence in the Heart of Darkness. Bypassing Unicron's defenses, Primus slashes the black cord binding Unicron and Shokaract -- Unicron's essence snaps back into the timestream as Point Omega -- the end of everything -- flashes in a blinding light.

Shokaract the Overlord has ceased to exist, and the never-ending battle never occurred.

Epilogue: In a future reality, Shokaract, a lowly Predacon warrior, is separated from his squad on an unnamed planet. Following a mysterious instinct of power, he stumbles into a dark and ominous cave ... but finds nothing but echoes.




Produced by 3H Productions for BotCon 2001

"Departure" / "Primeval Dawn"

Departure

The story begins on Earth in the early part of the 21st century, where a crisis has just erupted in Dr. Fujiyama's lab. His new army of robotic ninjas (based on the original Nightbird prototype) has gone berserk, attacking the doctor and his guests -- Daniel Witwicky, and the Autobots Arcee and Wheelie. An Autobot rescue ship soon arrives and saves Arcee and Dr. Fujiyama, but Daniel and Wheelie are trapped and injured. Left with no choice, Daniel detonates a thermal grenade, sacrificing himself and Wheelie to defeat the swarm of Nightbirds.

Later on, after the Pax Cybertronia puts an end to the Autobot/Decepticon war, Arcee is still depressed over Daniel's death. Hot Rod attempts to engage her by talking about his plans to undergo the Maximal upgrade -- where Transformers are reduced in size in exchange for increased energon efficiency -- but she remains sulking.

Cut to much later in Transformers history, where Optimus Primal leads a small band of Maximals against Megatron's domination of the planet. Primal and Nightscream have just rescued three long-forgotten Deployers (Rav, Mol, and Drillbit), but are immediately pursued by the Vehicons. The Maximals are saved by the unexpected arrival of two newcomers, Ramulus and Primal Prime. Optimus Primal's confusion is quickly clarified by Apelinq, while Ramulus bears a grudge against Primal for abandoning him on prehistoric Earth during the Beast Wars.

Eventually, the three take the Maximals to see the Oracle, which reveals the existence of three other Maximal groups beside Optimus Primal's own: the Mutants (Razorclaw, Soundwave, Poison Bite, and Icebird), the Dinobots (Magmatron, Rapticon, Airraptor, Dinotron, Striker, Triceradon, and T-Wrecks), and the Wreckers (Primal Prime, Ramulus, Sonar, Spittor, Tigatron, Packrat, Fractyl, and Apelinq). The Oracle explains that it is orchestrating each group's activities in an attempt to end Megatron's domination of the planet. Then, after giving each group a set of assignments, the Oracle erases Optimus Primal's and Nightscream's memory of the meeting and sends them away.

Primal Prime, meanwhile, is ordered to lead the Wreckers away from Cybertron for a special mission. But before he leaves, the Wreckers visit Rodimus, the older and wiser version of Hot Rod. Rodimus is still vainly trying to convince Arcee (now reformed as a spider) to join them, but she is still depressed over Daniel's death and sends them away.

Fractyl, however, lags behind; he tries to approach Arcee, but they are suddenly attacked by Megatron's new Vehicon generals, Quake and Blastcharge. In the ensuing firefight, Fractyl is severely wounded, which jolts Arcee into action -- she has been honing her combat skills during her years of solitude, and uses them to quickly repel the Vehicons. She then saves Fractyl by reformatting him into a Transmetal design.

Meanwhile, the other Wreckers have arrived at their spaceship, but find that it is inhabited by Vehicon drones. Another fight quickly ensues, and the Wreckers receive air support from Cyclonus, Rotorbolt, and Skywarp against the Vehicons. They are soon joined by Arcee and Fractyl, while Tigatron uses his mystical "Nature's Fury" attack to destroy Quake.

As the Wreckers board the ship and lift off from Cybertron, they are attacked by a single mysterious warrior, Devcon. And in the depths of Cybertron, away from any observers, the Oracle creates another mechanoid to aid the Wreckers in their mission: Alpha Trion...

Primeval Dawn

The story begins on prehistoric Earth, after the end of the Beast Wars and the departure of Optimus Primal and his team of Maximals. The alien Vok, who had been previously running experiments on the planet, resurrect the dead Maximals Airrazor and Tigatron. Then, by combining the Autobot Maxtrix, the Transmetal Driver, and the Optimal Optimus control armor, the Vok create Primal Prime.

Unknown to the Vok, however, the Predacon spy Tarantulas (who survived their earlier attempt to kill him) watches the proceedings from afar. Along with the Tripredacus Agent and several decanted Predacons, Tarantulas begins to plot his revenge against the Vok and their servants...


Produced by 3H Productions for BotCon 2002

"Betrayal" / "Primeval Dawn part 2"

Betrayal

Prologue: After the destruction of Unicron, Autobot Leader Rodimus Prime initiates a program to send Autobots in space exploration, both to gain new knowledge and to give early warning against future dangers. The first ship is the "Sojourner's Passage," but it is soon shot down over the planet Archa-9...

Presently: Following the Oracle's orders (see last issue), Magmatron's team of Dinobots are searching a ruined alien city for a "sleeping giant"; as they prepare to leave, however, they are ambushed by hordes of zombie robots and a transorganic worm.

Elsewhere, Icebird and the Mutants visit a Quintesson Judge for help to cure their mutated forms, but are found in contempt and attacked by an army of Sharkticons. Watching the carnage from above are the Quintesson Derodomontatus and the Predacon trader Cryotek. Cryotek flares angrily at a perceived slight, but the Quintesson calms him to discuss business. Cryotek admits he had set traps for all of the Oracle's teams, and assures the judge that "the necessary acquisitions" will continue, even with the Wreckers' escape (last issue).

The scene then cuts to the Wreckers -- the last team sent by the Oracle -- who are being attacked by the invading Devcon. He beats off Spittor and Arcee, but stands down when he sees Rodimus and Apelinq. Devcon introduces himself as Cybertron's last surviving Peace Marshal and explainations are traded, even as Devcon has harsh words against Packrat and the Wreckers' Decepticon members.

Meanwhile, Fractyl's collapse in the fight with Devcon warrants a trip to sickbay. He is diagnosed with a severe laser core misalignment, but the medical computer cannot perform the repairs itself -- it merely reports. Apelinq uses his transfer interlink to combine its software with data from a "former research associate" to produce a medical drone called CatSCAN, who tends to Fractyl.

Suddenly, there is an explosion in the rear of the ship! Ignoring Primal Prime's orders, Packrat begins emergency separation; the Wreckers in the front save themselves while Spittor and Sonar die in the exploding rear. Primal Prime orders Cyclonus to escort Packrat to confinement, then checks up on Fractyl's repairs. After being introduced to CatSCAN, Primal Prime receives a vision from the Oracle, where Alpha Trion gives a directive to "recover the lost."

Approaching their destination planet, Archa-9, the Wreckers pick up a faint distress signal, and Rodimus explains his earlier plans for deep-space exploration. Skywarp notes that their damage might prevent them from taking off after a landing, but Primal Prime orders them to go down regardless. As the ship begins its descent, Ramulus fetches Tigatron, and Cyclonus and Devcon have a testy chat that fails to mend any fences.

Once planetside, the ship's damaged sensors force Primal Prime to dispatch some reconnaissance teams, while others work on repairing the ship. Eager to explore a nearby forest, CatSCAN runs ahead, but is quickly surrounded by primitive humanoids. Before CatSCAN can attack, Tap-Out jumps into the scene and declares the aliens to be under his protection. Wishing to minimize injury, CatSCAN knocks out Tap-Out, then is joined by the other Wreckers and Tap-Out's partner, Glyph.

Glyph explains that she and Tap-Out crash-landed on Archa-9 three hundred years ago, and have been stranded since. The primitive Akalouthans sustain them with an artifact called the "Divine Light," which generates enormous amounts of energy. Primal Prime wonders if that is the object of their quest, and Glyph tells of the Akalouthan prophecy that a protector will guard it from being taken by "five-faced demons." The Wreckers then go see the Divine Light, which turns out to be a jagged piece of crystal. As they return to Glyph's library for further research, Packrat sneaks away from the group, and Cyclonus orders Rotorbolt to silently follow him.

Analyzing the energy from the Divine Light, Apelinq determines that it's a battery of some kind with an unfamiliar energy. When Packrat and Rotorbolt's absences are noted, Devcon volunteers to find them. He soon finds Rotorbolt pinned to a wall, and Rotorbolt warns of a traitor before falling into stasis lock. Alerting the others, Devcon rushes to check on the Divine Light -- only to find Cyclonus leaving with it! Gloating how his mission has been accomplished over Packrat's dead body, Cyclonus shields himself with the Light and flies off, even as Devcon swears to hunt him down.

Later, CatSCAN uses a retrofit procedure to restore Devcon to his original body, restoring the peace marshall's spaceflight capabilities. Devcon then sets off to pursue Cyclonus, leaving the other Wreckers to finish repairs. Cryotek, meanwhile, is pleased to hear that Cyclonus has the Divine Light, and muses at how he's outsmarted the Oracle and is now poised to conquer time itself...

Primeval Dawn part 2

On prehistoric Earth, after the "Beast Wars" era, Primal Prime, Airazor, and Tigatron search the planet for downed stasis pods. Finding one, Tigatron activates its initiation program to produce Ramulus, even as Primal Prime admits to apocalyptic visions of being responsible for the destruction of all reality. Ramulus has a fit when he believes they've been abandoned by Optimus Primal, but Primal Prime orders him to save his strength, even as Tigatron detects a second stasis pod nearby.

They quickly find the pod and discover that it's empty -- just as they're attacked by the Predacons! Airazor saves Tigatron from being infected by Spittor's cyber-venom, but gets shot down by Ravage in return. Before Primal Prime can join the fight, he gets blasted in the back by Tarantulas! Despite a valiant return from Prime, Tarantulas uses his Vok-augmented power to take him down. And as the other Maximals remain pinned down, Tarantulus triumphantly tears the Matrix from Prime's body!


Produced by 3H Productions for Official Transformers Collectors' Convention 2004

"Disclosure" / "Primeval Dawn part 3"

Disclosure

The Wreckers struggle to cope in the wake of Cyclonus' theft of the Divine Light (last issue). Tigatron and Ramulus feel they must soldier on, but Apelinq is crushed by fear that they're on a futile quest. When Rodimus jokes about the Akalouthans' rapid recovery, Glyph reminds him that this is a black mark for them all. Arcee wonders why she didn't forsee any of this, and why her precognitive visions have stopped, while CatSCAN reports that Fractyl and Rotorbolt still need extensive repairs. And to himself, Primal Prime fears these failures are a sign of his unworthiness to lead.

That evening in the ship, Primal Prime insists they leave at dawn. When Apelinq and Rodimus argue to help the Akalouthans rebuild, Prime tells them about his vision from the Oracle from last issue, and how they must rush to fulfil it. The next morning, Glyph declares over Tap-Out's protests that she's staying behind, and CatSCAN vows to remain as well. With a quick farewell, the others leave for a small system nearby.

Meanwhile, on the temporary homeworld of the Quintessons, Cryotec chats with them about Cybertron's new trans-organic nature. The Quintessons dismiss this, along with the loss of the Oracle, and suggest their business transactions are at an end. Cryotec agrees to escort them to their new home as promised, and reassures them that loose ends will be tied up.

The Wreckers land on a barren planet of ice; a lone life-signal is detected, and Primal Prime pushes the team to quickly investigate. The Wreckers soon find a sole Quintesson, who identifies himself as Al-Badur, Special Projects Researcher. He explains that the Quintessons were originally dispatched by Unicron to find Primus for him. But upon finding Primus dormant within Cybertron, they realized that controlling their own god was a unique opportunity, and decided to exploit Cybertron themselves. Though their early efforts to control Primus' power -- like the Plasma Energy Chamber -- were failures, they finally succeeded by creating a "wrapper" computer program around Vector Sigma to blunt Primus' influence over his creations. When researchers like Al-Badur warned against exerting more control, they were banished, and the Transformers' subsequent rebellion against the Quintessons proved them right.

Apelinq concludes that the Quintesson's "wrapper" was the Oracle, and that Primal Prime's vision was a breakthrough warning from Primus to secure the Divine Light while the other teams were sent on false errands. Al-Badur offers to reveal the secret of the Divine Light to the Wreckers in exchange for a ride off the planet; Prime agrees, but insists he stay with them until the artifact is recovered.

Just after the Quintesson agrees, the Wreckers are attacked by a swarm of Sharkticons! The Wreckers fight back fiercely while guarding Al-Badur, quickly decimating the mindless horde. They then check in with the ship, where a similar attack was repelled by Tigatron, Tap-Out, and Skywarp.

When the Wreckers board the ship, Al-Badur notes the presence of the Vok on Tigatron, and declares them to be enemies of both Transformers and Quintessons. As Skywarp prepares the ship for lift-off, Al-Badur explains that the Divine Light is a direct conduct to Primus itself -- and can grant its powers to whoever wields it!

Elsewhere, at a disreputable spaceport CSSB-16, Devcon is talking to a number of mechs in deep shadow, wanting to recruit them to help him destroy Cyclonus. The four agree, and stand revealed as the scarred survivors of Magmatron's Dinobots...

Primeval Dawn part 3

Inside the Ark on prehistoric Earth, Primal Prime hangs in unconscious limbo. While Airazor and Tigatron ponder their next move, Ramulus testily insists on preparing for another attack from the Predacons. Airazor and Tigatron awkwardly leave the room to confer, and Ramulus huffs that he won't be waiting idly...

Primal Prime, meanwhile, is receiving a vision from the Vok. He learns that the Vok were once voracious destroyers of all reality; they eventually were enlightened with understanding of a grand scheme for a unified multiverse, then dedicated themselves to guarding and nurturing that plan.

Meanwhile, at the Predacon base, Tarantulus oversees the construction of a transwarp portal. Spittor gripes about leaving their earlier fight with the Maximals (last issue), which provokes Ravage to threaten him for dissent. Tatantulas calls them off, and promises Spittor a fight very soon.

In his vision, Primal Prime talks with the Vok about how they can recover from the loss of the Matrix to Tarantulus. The Vok declare that the solution is to become pure energy to rival the Matrix, then suddenly suffuse themselves into Prime's body...!

Back in real-time, Airazor and Tigatron wonder about their failure to contact the Vok when the Ark is suddenly under Predacon attack! While Airazor activates the defense systems, Tigatron tries to get Ramulus -- only to find that he's disappeared!

As the Predacons begin breaking through, Tigatron laments their abandonment ...and Primal Prime steps forward, announcing himself as the vessel of the Vok, ready for battle!




Produced by 3H Productions for Official Transformers Collectors' Convention 2003

Abduction

Following the events of the Beast Machines television show, Cybertron is a techno-organic paradise. At the memorial spaceport, a crowd has gathered for the landing of an Autobot ship, carrying a number of veterans from the Great Wars -- Trailbreaker, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Roulette and Shadow Striker. While Silverbolt greets them, Sideswipe is confused by Cybertron's new look, and Cheetor demonstrates organic transformations to Trailbreaker. But before the veterans can be welcomed, balls of lightning strike the arena -- and when the light clears, several Transformers have disappeared!

Elsewhere, beyond the bounds of space and time, the Autobots and Maximals are transported into a cage. Blackarachnia is immediately uneasy, feeling evil creeping into her spark. The cage suddenly slams shut, and an ominous voice welcomes them to The Pit...

Meanwhile, on Cybertron, the spirit of Alpha Trion confers with Primus, creator of the Transformers. Primus realizes that the Autobots have been captured by his eternal foe, who is launching a new, multi-reality struggle against the forces of light. Despite this threat, Primus believes they can prevail.

Back in The Pit, Silverbolt is being painfully torn apart and rebuilt by dark forces. After his reformatting, he is returned with the others; all of them have been changed as well, except for Trailbreaker. Surveying their surroundings, they find themselves in a strange but oddly familiar landscape. Roulette and Shadow Striker suggest going to a nearby building and get under some cover.

Before they can do so, they are attacked by bizarre constructs crawling out of nearby pits! The heroes struggle to fight them off, but are quickly overwhelmed, and the mysterious beings begin to transform into various shapes, even as two dark figures watch from overhead in obvious glee. Unable to win the battle, the Autobots and Maximals surrender, whereupon their foes stop attacking and allow them to enter a nearby building.

Inside is a massive stadium, filled with numerous caged Transformers of all factions and types. The constructs try to cage Blackarachnia, but she struggles against them; she is immediately knocked unconscious by Tankor, even as Striker, Reptilion, Obsidian and Razorclaw appear as well. Silverbolt names a few Transformers for Trailbreaker, but misidentifies Razorclaw for Tigerhawk, who tersely corrects him. Obsidian explains that all the Transformers here are from different realities, and they have been gathered here -- the Cauldron -- to fight!

To demonstrate how the Cauldron corrupts all within, Obsidian orders Armada Smokescreen and the original Smokescreen to battle each other to the death. The two fight ferociously, without regard for each other, and Armada Smokescreen soon destroys his namesake. Obviously pleased, Obsidian identifies his master, the Dark God Unicron! Obsidian explains that while Unicron is currently damaged, the fights in the Cauldron will renew his strength, enabling him to be reborn once more...

On Cybertron, Primus realizes the situation has become truly desperate, and summons from the depths of reality a new leader for the Autobots -- Optimus Primal.


Produced by 3H Productions for Official Transformers Collectors' Convention 2004

Escape

In The Cauldron deep within Unicron, the dark generals Tankor and Obsidian have pitted Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to fight each other. Though Sunstreaker has already succumbed to bloodlust, Sideswipe attacks Obsidian instead, only to be shocked into submission by Reptillion.

As the two Autobots slowly begin their fight, the newly-revived Optimus Primal spies on them from above. In flashback, Primal recalls how he was resurrected by Primus and directed by Alpha Trion to free the Transformers trapped here. As he neared the arena, Primal was attacked by Striker, but defeated him with the arrival of Grimlock and Megatron. Primal used his Spark telepathy to free Striker from Unicron's influence, then directed the three to guard the gates as he infiltrated it.

Back in present time, Obsidian, Tankor, and Reptillion have left the arena to investigate Striker's absence, and quickly clash with Grimlock and Megatron. Optimus Primal seizes this opportunity to explore the prisoners' cages, but is immediately attacked by Razorclaw! Their battle spills into the seats around the Cauldron, and Razorclaw becomes enraged when Primal mistakenly calls him "Tigerhawk." Primal taunts him with the name, then leaps onto the Arena floor, where he commandeers Sunstreaker and Sideswipe's weapons. And at the cages, Trailbreaker and Silverbolt devise a plan to swap bodies and enable them to escape.

By now, Primal and Razorclaw are grappling in midair over the Cauldron; their fight is interrupted by the sight of the hordes of escaping prisoners. United in their opposition to Unicron and his forces, the cross-dimensional collection of Transformers charge forward to exact some retribution and make their escape. Primal then informs Razorclaw that he has been absorbing the latter's electrical attacks to enhance his own power, and demonstrates it with a thunderous punch that blasts Razorclaw.

The freed Transformers escape from the arena, easily overwhelming Unicron's generals. Silverbolt finds Blackarachnia and forcibly drags her away, following the others towards an escaping bridge -- which is destroyed by Shadow Striker! The escapees come to a sudden halt to avoid falling into a pool of lava below, and Shadow Striker pledges herself to the forces of chaos from the other side. As Unicron's dark generals advance from behind the crowd, Optimus Primal uses Snarl's powers as a "Matrix Templar" to ask Primus for help.

In response, a beam of energy erupts from the sky, striking the lava itself. Though the others are skeptical, Primal takes a leap of faith into the lava -- and through a dimensional hole, where a beam of light carries Primal to safety! As the others follow, Silverbolt begs Blackarachnia to follow; she sadly refuses him, embracing her dark nature, and pushes him into the breach.

Afterwards, Blackarachnia is taken to Unicron's core where she is greeted by Tarantulas, who tells her that this is the beginning of a new battle. And on Cybertron, while the other Transformers celebrate their escape, Optimus Primal is left with a puzzle: since he and Megatron previously sacrificed themselves to reformat Cybertron, what effect does his subsequent resurrection have for them all?


Produced by 3H Productions for Official Transformers Collectors' Convention 2004

Homecoming

Even as the Maximal High Council on cybertron reflects on the events surrounding Optimus Primal's resurrection, he bursts into the room, bluntly summarizing recent events -- the return of Unicron, his attempts to abduct and corrupt Transformers from across the multiverse, and Primal's resurrection by Primus and subsequent rescue (see last issue). Primal closes by urging the High Council to rally all of Cybertron in anticipation of Unicron's next attack. The High Council responds with shock and disbelief; Magnaboss, the senior member, cautiously urges further investigation, and reminds Primal that Primus is merely an abstraction. Magnaboss then declares Primal's claims of resurrection to be tasteless and has him arrested, leaving Primal to be dragged away screaming disbelief.

Within the dormant Unicron, Blackarachnia admits to Tarantulas that being a hero didn't suit her. Tarantulas informs her that, because Primus is now aware of their efforts to revive Unicron, their counterattack is to cut off the Transformers' tie to Primus by killing Alpha Trion -- with the help of a pack of Piranacons...

In a Cybertronian med lab, Ratchet and Striker are trying to purge Sideswipe of a virus he picked up from his time in Unicron, while Cheetor, Silverbolt, and Rattrap discuss Primal's death and resurrection. Ratchet snaps at them in frustration; aside from the rapid mutation rate of the virus, he's also anxious at being out of his own reality. Trailbreaker sympathises, then leads the Maximals outside. Their chat continues with Cheetor and Silverbolt doubting Primal's resurrection story and motives, while Rattrap and Trailbreaker voice their support.

Elsewhere within Cybertron, a warp portal opens, releasing Blackarachnia and her team. She directs them to Primus' chamber via a sealed utility tunnel under the Rust Sea, whose corrosive gasses make the Piranacons wary. And within his chamber, Primus and Alpha Trion talk about how Unicron has shielded himself, and the danger of a surprise attack. Alpha Trion then tells Primus that Optimus Primal has been arrested; Primus notes that he has sent Snarl to rescue him.

In his cell, Optimus Primal is surprised at Snarl's arrival. A warp gate opens in the cell, and the two step through to emerge in Primus' chambers. Alpha Trion teases Primal about his tactless delivery, and Primus offers some words of encouragement. Alpha Trion tells them that work has begun on a cloaked orbital defense base, and proposes a secret force to infiltrate Unicron and rescue any other Transformers trapped within. Displaying a viewscreen of prominent Transformers past and present, Alpha Trion asks Primal to pick leaders for those endeavors.

After confirming that Primus can resurrect dead Transformers, Primal picks his candidates -- Rhinox and Depth Charge. Rhinox is confused at his returned, but Depth Charge is angry; he had grown tired in his crusade against Protoform X, and had gladly embraced death. Alpha Trion intervenes and gives Depth Charge his leave to live as he pleases; Depth Charge thanks him and departs, while Rhinox pledges to help Primal as atonement for his crimes as Tankor.

After ascending to the surface, Depth Charge's study of the new techno-organic Cybertron is interrupted by a loud noise nearby. It's Rattrap, who was out wandering around when he was ambushed by Blackarachnia! She shoots him with a tranquilizer dart, only to get attacked by Depth Charge in return! Despite his own reluctance to fight again, Depth Charge quickly knocks out Blackarachnia and frees Rattrap. Rattrap mentions that Blackarachnia had said something about having troops near the Rust Sea, but Depth Charge doesn't want to get involved. Rattrap accuses him of always being selfish, then falls unconscious as the tranqulizers take effect.

Back in Primus' chambers, Alpha Trion assuages Optimus Primal that Depth Charge's refusal was a personal decision and not a reflection on his leadership. Changing the subject, Alpha Trion introduces another candidate Primus has summoned... And at the edge of the Rust Sea, Depth Charge dives in to investigate -- only to be confronted by a pack of Piranacons!