The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

After being beaten by the Autobots once again, Megatron hatches a plan to create a team of Decepticons that will give him supremacy over the roads.

Detailed synopsis
The Autobots are escorting a convoy of tankers which carry a new superfuel which the government has given to the Autobots. Megatron sends the Coneheads to attack, but they are unable to follow them into the tunnels and canyons on the road. Megatron himself decides to destroy the superfuel, but Smokescreen manages to distract him, while Optimus Prime and Prowl drive Megatron off. Megatron is furious that the Autobots beat them, and decides to rectify the situation. Rumble is sent to steal cars of various models, which Megatron alters into the Stunticons.

Learning that the Decepticons are making new soldiers, Prime realizes they'll need Cybernetic personalities to truly live, and there is only one way to do that. Omega Supreme takes a group of Autobots to Cybertron, where Megatron is informed by Shockwave that he has located Vector Sigma, but they will require the Key to Vector Sigma to activate it. The Key is in the possession of Alpha Trion, and Decepticons take the Key from him. Ratchet and Hoist are able to save his life, and the Autobots head for Vector Sigma.

In the tunnels, the Decepticons encounter Centurion droids, which Megatron can control with the Key, and instructs them to attack the Autobots. The Autobots encounter the drones, but are able to lead them after maintenance drones. Heading to Vector Sigma, Megatron activates the super computer, which gives life to the Stunticons. Returning to Earth, Megatron lets the Stunticons loose on a human city. Meanwhile, the Autobots reach Vector Sigma, learning that it gave the Stunticons life. Optimus plans to use a series of ancient rockets and have them rebuilt as Earth style jets, planning to fight the Decepticons in the air. At a human base, the Stunticons arrive attempting to resteal the superfuel, and the soldiers believe they're being attacked by the Autobots.

To be continued...

Stats
Original airdate: November 25, 1985

Written by:

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

Notable quotes
"So much for your security Prowl." -- Smokescreen commenting on Prowl's security procedures as the Decepticons attack.

"I knew I would never make it." -- Dirge after crashing into a mountain while pursuing the Autobots.

"Ramjet's down!" "He's looked better." -- Thrust and Dirge as they take their fallen comrade Ramjet back to base for repairs.

"I don't believe it. Those motorized morons are getting away!" "Well, it's not like we can drive after them." "Bah!" -- Megatron and Rumble as the Decepticon leader comments on the Autobots escape.

"No, Megatron, you'll have to blow us all up, and frankly, I don't think you have the guts." "DIE, YOU MISERABLE..." -- Optimus Prime goading Megatron to shoot at the super fuel which would destroy all of them.

"Eat my smoke!" -- Smokescreen, as he shoots out a lot of smoke that blinds Megatron.

"What are you going to do? They practically rule the roads." "That's something I am going to have to change." -- Rumble and Megatron after the recent failure to steal the super fuel.

"We're going to get some wheels." -- Megatron, as he decides to do something about the Autobots "ruling the road".

"You mean Rumble takes it!" -- Rumble as he steals a sports car.

"Wow! Not even the Autobots can pull that kind of stunt driving." "Stunt driving...yes...behold...the Stunticons!" -- Rumble commenting on Decepticon car group's driving, which gives Megatron an inspiration for the group's name.

"This can't be the way those Deceptigoons came." "On the contrary, it certainly is." "How can you be so sure?" "After all...who would send THEM to kill us?" -- Ratchet and Alpha Trion as the Centurion droids come to attack the Autobots.

"Vector Sigma? That's Vector Sigma?!" "Yes, the megacomputer that gave us all life!" "You're putting me on!" "Silence, you ignorant dolt!" -- Rumble and Megatron as they enter the chamber that houses Vector Sigma.

"I am Vector Sigma. Before Cybertron was, I was. Who reactivates me?" -- Vector Sigma after being reactivated.

"I am Megatron, your leader. Declare yourselves to me." "I am Motormaster. I swear loyalty to you!" "I am Dead End. I guess I will have to do as you say." "I'm Breakdown. I'll obey too." "I'm Dragstrip. I live to obey!" "And I'm Wildrider, and I want to bust something up!" -- Megatron gets an introduction to the Stunticons after their personality programming is completed by Vector Sigma.

"Big and stupid." -- Blaster commenting on the Centurion droids who, in their zealousness, ran off a cliff to chase the maintenance robots.

"Nobody is driving those cars...which can only mean one thing...they must be the Autobots!" -- Human general who thinks the Stunticons are Autobots.

Transformers references

 * Soundwave actually uses that gun on his shoulder while fighting the Centurion drones.

Real-world references

 * References

Miscellaneous trivia

 * Rumble is shown capturing a Tyrrell P34 during a Formula 1 race, the year presumably being 1986. In actuality, the six-wheeler Tyrrell P34 was retired after the 1977 season, and did not appear again on any race circuit until 1999.
 * The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the G.I. Joe animated series.
 * At the script stage, this episode had the uninspired sub-title "Creation of the Stunticons."
 * The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode:
 * "That blast" mentioned by Prime in the finished episode actually happens.
 * While the other Autobots are busy down in the tunnels, Omega Supreme battles Shockwave on the planet's surface throughout the second act of the episode. Shockwave refers to Omega as his "old enemy," and is on the losing end of the fight until he gets his hands on a "cyberbomb," which he uses to defeat Omega, leaving him very badly damaged. There is a vestigal reference to this battle in Part 2, and further scenes relating to its consequences are removed from that episode, altering the nature of its turning point quite a bit.