Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger



The Autobots attempt to stop a Decepticon plot to destruction the entire planet Mars.


 * English/Malay dub name: Mars Explodes! Watch Out, Fortress Maximus!

Detailed synopsis
Scorponok unveils his latest plan to the gathered Decepticons; by planting a series of plasma energy bombs beneath the surface of Mars, and then triggering key explosions at the north and south poles, they can create a chain reaction that will destroy the planet, releasing more plasma energy for their devilish purposes.

As coincidence would have it, Spike, Daniel, Wheelie and the Trainbots are currently conducting a geological survery on Mars, when unusual seismic activity on the planet attracts their attention. Separating to investigate, Daniel, Wheelie and Shouki watch as Hun-Gurrr and Rippersnapper emerge from a smoking crater, and they immediately radio a report to Athenia for help. The Headmasters depart for Mars in Broadside - Fortress, however, is still concerned with the mysterious Decepticon activity on planet Zarak.

On Earth, Ultra Magnus orders the Technobots to join the fight on Mars, but as they depart, they are intercepted by Trypticon and Sixshot. Although Metroplex come to their aid, they are not able to make it to Mars.

Back on Mars, the Headmasters arrive on Mars in the midst of a firefight between the Trainbots and Predacons. As the battle rages, Wheelie and Daniel are captured by the Terrorcons and taken to the Decepticons' base in the tunnels beneath the planet's surface, where they are imprisoned behind energy bars and learn of the villains' intent for Mars. Daniel has an emergency beacon hidden in the Autobot symbol on his exo-suit, and to hide its activation, he and Wheelie stage a fight between themselves - much to the amusement of the Terrorcons - that allows Wheelie to grab it and alert Spike. The Headmasters rescue the two youths, and Fortress arrives as they attempt to force the bombing co-ordinates from the Decepticon Headmasters. When Hardhead is able to trick Skullcruncher into becoming hypnotised by Mindwipe, the co-ordinates that he gives the Headmasters turn out to be a trap - jumping into the crater that they pinpoint, the four Autobots are trapped into a series of explosive energy coils. Chromedome calls out to Fortress to use the Master Sword, but the commander is not mentally and physically prepared for the task, and the sword will not draw. As the explosions wrack the Headmasters below, a scream from Chromedome galvanizes Fortress, bringing the energies of his mind and body into harmony, and the Master Sword is unsheathed. However, as Fortress leaps from Battleship Maximus to initiate his transformation into Fortress Maximus, the Decepticon Headmasters launch a plasma energy bomb directly at him. A huge explosion follows, with the power of the Master Sword and the power of the plasma energy cancelling each other out. Drained of all his power, Fortress plummets back to the surface of Mars as the Headmasters watch in horror...!

Stats
Original airdate: 9th October 1987

Featured Characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Transformers references

 * Plasma energy, and Scorponok's plan for it, was introduced in The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts.
 * The mysterious Decepticon activity on planet Zarak was introduced back in The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok. This plot thread culminates in the second installment of this two-parter.

Miscellaneous trivia

 * Beginning with this episode and continuing throughout the series, all of the Decepticons in the opening sequence consistently flicker white. Why? Who knows.