Transform and Roll Out

'''Optimus Prime and his small crew of maintenance Autobots come into possession of the All Spark. This powerful Cybertronian artifact attracts the attention of the Autobots' long-forgotten enemies, the Decepticons, and sends them all crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as...Earth.'''

Part 1
In deep deep space, Optimus Prime watches some old history videos, prompting Ratchet to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing space bridges. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.

Outside, Bulkhead, dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by Bumblebee, who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by Prowl's throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at Cybertron's military academy. Bumblebee's query as to what the hell he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.

Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from Teletraan-1 announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost Decepticons. Ratchet then announces they take the object and just out of there post-haste.

Onboard the Ark, Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the All Spark, the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the Cybertron Elite Guard for help. After taking a bit of snark from Sentinel Prime, Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. He then puts the crew through to Ultra Magnus, who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.

This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship, a command ship, in fact, carrying the Decepticons' leader Megatron and his most dangerous minions. Onboard, Starscream, Lugnut, Blackarachnia and Blitzwing bicker at each other until Megatron arrives, shutting them all up. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.

Megatron makes his way to the Ark and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...

An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship re-appears above a small blue-green planet. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong. Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the All Spark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.

On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud, and runs to find something has landed in their field, and is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.

Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below, and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into Lake Erie...

Stats

 * Written by: Marty Isenberg
 * Directed by: Matt Youngberg, Yutaka Kagawa, Minoru Yamaoka, Makoto Fuchigami
 * Original airdate: December 26, 2007

Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for more than just repairing space bridges?" "I got a diagnostic program that will delete that feeling like a bad line of code."
 * Optimus Prime's hopes and dreams, crushed by Ratchet

Starscream: Megatron is a fool who's been chasing a ghost for centuries! I seriously doubt we'll find this All Spark on board such an insignificant vessel. Lugnut: Traitor! Megatron is wise! Megatron is bold! Megatron will return the Decepticons to Cyberton and... Blackarachnia: ...And wipe our homeland clean of the stench of Autobot tyranny, blah-dee blah blah blah! Did you memorize that speech, Lugnut? Or is it just hardwired into that thick one-track processor of yours? Blitzwing: As usual, Blackarachnia, your demeanor is as unpleasant as that accursed organic mode of yours. Blackarachnia: Blow it out your actuator, three-face. Blitzwing:[changes to angry face] Die name is Blitzving, insect! Remember it! 'Cause it's die ding you're gonna hear before I [changes to weird face] express my feelings in song! Die itzy bitzy spider. [Decepticons begin bickering]

"What do you want now, Starscream?" [Starscream attaches an explosive onto Megatron's back.] "Only to wish you luck, my liege." "I do not believe... in luck". [Megatron transforms and leaves.] "Neither... do I..."
 * —Megatron is arrogant, Starscream is treacherous

"Yes!...Right then. Solemn face, solemn face."
 * —Starscream watches Megatron explode, then composes himself before going to tell the Decepticons he's their new leader.

Bulkhead: Hi there, little creature. My name's Bulkhead. Did you loose your owner bot? Sari:...AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Bumblebee: AAAAHHH! That thing must be armed with some sort of high frequency sonic weapon. [Sari runs off screaming] Bulkhead: I think it's scared. Don't worry, little creature! I'm not gonna hurt you! [Sari is grabbed by the robot-slug] Bumblebee: But that thing might!

"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!" "I'm Sari." "Oh, don't be, I like my name."
 * —Bumblebee and Sari introduce themselves

"Uh... am I going to be able to breathe down there?" "Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"
 * —Sari takes a trip underwater with Bumblebee

Optimus Prime [to Sari]: How did you get aboard this ship? Bumblebee: It followed me home... can I keep it? Sari: Hey, I'm not a "it", I'm a "she"! Optimus: So, I suppose you have an explanation? Bumblebee: Actually, I'm narrowing it down to my top five.

"It's okay, they're friendly! Well, except for the red and white one, he's kinda grumpy! But other than that..."
 * —Sari plays ambassador

Transformers references



 * Footage from the G1 cartoon episodes "War Dawn" and "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first Great War, millions of years prior. R BE CANON?


 * Sari's robotic dog Sparkplug is likely named after either Sparkplug Witwicky from G1, the Armada Mini-Con Sparkplug, or both.


 * Characters resembling Spike Witwicky, Carly, and Daniel Witwicky are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick.


 * The Animated Autobots are not the first to use a starship parked at the bottom of one of the Great Lakes as their headquarters.


 * When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as Generation 1 Optimus Prime did in The Transformers: The Movie.

Miscellaneous trivia

 * A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned for decades) was featured in the 2007 live-action movie.