The Enemy Within!

Brawn and Starscream both fall foul of their friends.

=Marvel UK issues #13-17=

Writer: Simon Furman Art: John Ridgway (13), Collins (14-17) Lettering: Richard Starkings Colors: Gina Hart Editor: Sheila Cranna


 * Characters: Megatron, Starscream, Rumble, Skywarp, Ravage, Brawn, Mirage, Windcharger, Prowl, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Huffer, Jazz, Optimus Prime, Red Alert, Ratchet, Thundercracker, Tornado, Earthquake
 * Originally published: 9th March 1985 –4th May 1985

Synopsis
After challenging Megatron’s authority and being savagely reprimanded, Starscream plots Megatron’s downfall. He plans to attack humans indiscriminately until the Autobots come to their defence. This will force the other Decepticons to come to his aid and together they will destroy the Autobots proving that Starscream’s methods are superior to Megatron’s. Unfortunately Ravage overhears Starscream’s plotting and rushes to tell Megatron but he his spotted and Starscream attacks him and leaves him for dead.

At the same time in the Ark the Autobots are moving a heavy piece of machinery when it slips and a short circuit causes Brawn to be electrocuted, knocking him unconscious. After his recovers he begins to act strangely before eventually violently attacking Sideswipe and then abandoning the Ark.

Some time later as Starscream attacks the US Air Force Base: Oregon Four-Alpha the other Decepticons discover the badly damaged Ravage who reveals Starscream’s treachery. Enraged the Decepticons race off and capture Starscream during his attack. Starscream demands his right to trial by combat.

Brawn meanwhile has gone on a rampage in a small town, believing their cars to be enslaved robots. The Autobots are forced to subdue him. Megatron, unwilling to let Starscream off so easily, plans to take advantage of the situation and suggests to Optimus Prime that they allow Starscream and Brawn to fight each other. Desperate to regain his honour, the now repaired Brawn agrees.

The two battle, unaware that Megatron has stationed Ravage nearby with orders to blast Starscream if he wins the battle. The battle goes against Brawn and it appears that he has been destroyed. Following his orders Ravage blows Starscream out of the sky, gaining his revenge on him. He then lets the other Decepticons believe that it was the Autobots who attacked him, motivating them to get behind Megatron and attack them.

Unknown to the Decepticons, Brawn was not destroyed, instead Mirage projected a hologram showing his death, while the real Brawn was taken to safety.

Back at the Decepticon Fortress, Megatron is preparing to launch an all out attack on the Autobots.

Errors

 * Red Alert is shown to be among the Autobots but is never seen again until he appears alongside Rodimus Prime and the other post-Movie characters.

Items of note

 * Reprinted in the Transformers Special 1986 (Collected Comics #4).
 * This story leads directly into Raiders of the Last Ark.
 * This was the first Transformers to be written by Simon Furman. He has gone on record to say that he does not think much of this early work and does not wish to see it reprinted which may explain the story’s absence from the recent Titan Books reprints.
 * Like Man of Iron! and Raiders of the Last Ark, it is unclear where this story fits in the Marvel UK continuity. It was originally printed between The Last Stand and The New Order when the Autobots and Decepticons were deactivated after Shockwave’s arrival. It is generally assumed to take place somewhere in US Issue 3 or 4.