Autobots' Lightning Strike



Autobots' Lightning Strike is the first in the Ladybird Books series of Transformers storybooks.

Written by: John Grant Illustrated by: Mike Collins and Mark Farmer


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Spike Witwicky, Optimus Prime, Hound, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Sparkplug Witwicky, Huffer, Gears, Laserbeak, Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Rumble, Bluestreak, Jazz, Skywarp, Ravage

Summary
When the Autobots witness the incredible power of a lightning storm, Optimus Prime puts Huffer to work on finding a way to harness its energy, in hopes that they can use it in the rebuilding of their spaceship. After a week of work, with a little help and lots of complaining from Gears, Huffer succeeds in erecting a massive lightning rod in some nearby mountains, connected to an energy convertor in a cavern beneath.

Unfortunately for the Autobots, Laserbeak has been observing the construction, and reports back to Megatron, only for Soundwave to mistakenly believe that the Autobots have built a radio mast. The lack of a detectable signal from the tower only convinces Megatron that the Autobots have developed a highly-advanced communications technology, but Starscream believes that it should be destroyed, and conspires with Rumble to go against Megatron’s orders and do just that. Further observations by Laserbeak allow the Decepticons to learn of the existence of the cavern, and Starscream and Rumble sneak off to carry out their plan, with Megatron and the other Decepticons on their tails.

Meanwhile, with a thunderstorm having been forecast for that evening, the Autobots converge on the lightning rod to test the equipment. Keeping their distance for safety’s sake, the Autobots conduct the test from afar, and fail to notice Starscream and Rumble make their way into the cavern. Upon discovering the inactive machinery, however, Starscream believes that it doesn’t work, and pauses to mock Megatron – just long enough for Megatron himself to enter the scene with the other Decepticons. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning strikes the tower, and the machinery in the cavern surges to life, scattering the Decepticons and overloading their mechanisms. Skywarp is caught between modes, Ravage automatically ejects and attacks Megatron, and Starscream’s null ray projectors are mangled when he attempt to turn them on the convertor. Battling through the arcs of electricity surrounding them, the badly damaged Decepticons manage to escape into the night sky, as the amazed Autobots watch them go, unaware there had ever been a threat.

Errors



 * In the illustrations for page 10 and 11, Huffer and Gears are colored incorrectly. Huffer’s orange parts are blue, while his purple parts are orange, while Gears is… purple and cream? Whuh?
 * Ravage is described as a “mechanical hound,” when he’s actually a feline.

Items of note

 * The Ladybird series picks up from the end of the original TV pilot, More Than Meets The Eye, as evidenced by a passing reference to the Autobots’ continuing repairs on their crashed spacecraft. The pilot also inspires a few other aspects of the books – Spike keeping a journal is lifted right out of the miniseries, as is the Decepticon battle cry of “Scramble!” Additionally, Starscream and Rumble conspiring against Megatron would seem to be inspired by their discussion on treachery from the first episode.