Triple Takeover

Astrotrain and Blitzwing depose Megatron and Starscream, then proceed to wreak havoc.

Detailed synopsis
Starscream, Blitzwing and Astrotrain begin using their weapons to create some statues on a mountain of their faces along with Megatrons. They decide one of the faces don't belong at which point they decide to band together and overthrow Megatron. Flying back to base, Blitzwing and Astrotrain decide who should lead Megatron into the trap with one of them suggesting Starscream while the other states how he has been constantly been attempting to become Decepticon leader and failed. Starscream retorts, as usual, and says he will do it while the other two gloat about manipulating him.

Starscream leads Megatron into the sewers stating that a secret Autobot energy base is present there until the doors close around them. Megatron says its a trap and gets frozen while Starscream gloats and tries to escape through a hatch but finds out that its been locked by his "allies", jeez what a surprise. This leaves Astrotrain and Blitzwing as the only joint Decepticon leaders.

Heading for a stadium, Blitzwing, in a display of great intelligence, drafts a football coach to be his second-in-command, and give tactical advice. Blitzwing misinterprets his suggestions of "zone defense" and "long bomb", having the Constructicons build a massive highway maze and begins firing from inside the stadium. Prowl leads a group of Autobots to investigate, but they end up crashing into each other in the Constructicons maze. Meanwhile, Astrotrain heads to a train station, where he "conscripts" the Astroforce, human trains which are to be his army. He sends them into a tunnel to collect energy lines and convert them into Energon. It goes well for Astrotrain. The Astroforce? Not so much.

Meanwhile, Powerglide flies over the maze, where Scrapper has built a throne...made of Prowl, Tracks, Skids, and Bluestreak. Being guided by Powerglide from the air, Hoist and Smokescreen manage to rescue the Autobots, causing Blitzwing and Scrapper to crash into each other. At the train station, the Seekers come to see how Astrotrain is doing. To his credit, he has gotten a lot of Energon cubes, but his Astroforce has gotten off their tracks and gotten the into a knot (somehow). Astrotrain urges one of the trains to gather some energy from a gas mane, but it turns out to be a water mane, which floods the tunnel. Worse, it heads into the tunnel Megs and Screamer are in. Online again, Megatron accuses Starscream of treason again. Starscream maintains that he was tricked. Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Spike Witwicky see the two Decepticons, only to be distracted by the water mane that floods the city. Trailbreaker uses his force field to push back the water, while Optimus and Ironhide seal the mane. Heading for the station, Megatron and Starscream encounter Prime, who claims that he's looking for the leaders of the Decepticons...which are not Megatron and Starscream. This royally pisses off Megatron, who tries to kill the Autobot leader, but he escapes. Megatron leaves to put Astrotrain and Blitzwing into their place, with the Seekers following, betting on who will win. Optimus, however, is content to sit back and watch what happens.

At the stadium, the Constructicons demand a share of the power Blitzwing promised, but he refuses and tells them to go jump off a bridge. Bad idea, for the Constructicons form Devastator. The flood from the water mane finally dies out at the stadium, depositing Astrotrain, who decides to scrap Blitzwing as well. Megatron and Starscream arrive, and Megs beats his would be usurpers senseless, but Devastator knocks out Megatron, then turns his sights on the Air Commander. Starscream manages to dodge Devastator, when Megatron offlines Devastator. Megatron, Blitzwing, Astrotrain, Starscream, and Devastator then engage in a battle royal which sees Megatron emerge victorious. He decides to spare the traitors, saying the Decepticon cause is too important, but warns them never to betray him again.

As the Autobots look on, they're impressed that Prime knew that Megatron would handle the Decepticons for them. The previously injured Autobots form a throne for their commander to sit on, but Optimus Prime declares that he'd rather roll.

Stats
Original airdate:

Written by:

Featured Characters
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notable quotes
"You are either lying or stupid!" "I'm stupid! I'm stupid!"
 * -- Megatron and Starscream as the latter attempts to blame the Triplechangers for the takeover.

"Megatron is a wimp!" "So is Starscream!" "Yes, but I'm fast!"
 * -- Starscream and Devastator after Megatron is defeated by the giant robot and Starscream decides to run away rather then suffer a similar defeat.

"I guess Prime was right. Megatron took care of the Decepticons for us." "Yeah, but there is only one great leader in the universe. Have a seat, boss." "Thrones are for Decepticons. Besides, I'd rather roll."
 * -- Ironhide, Prowl, and Optimus Prime, during which the Autobots form a horrifying throne.

Animation and/or technical glitches

 * At several points, the colours of Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet get mixed up.

Continuity errors

 * Starscream can be seen together with the other seekers inspecting Astrotrain's new troops, even though he and Megatron are supposed to be frozen in a room elsewhere under the city.
 * At some point Blitzwing can be seen flying togheter with Ramjet and Thrust, heading for... Blitzwing?

Transformers references

 * References

Real-world references

 * References

Miscellaneous trivia

 * Devastator makes his first willing attempt at usurping control of the Decepticons from Megatron and actually attacking his former leader something that goes against previous character portrayals where Devastator was shown as the loyal follower.
 * Where the hell is Soundwave while this coup attempt is going on?

Keywords
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