Transport to Oblivion



After months in hiding the Decepticons return and have a new method for moving Energon cubes to Cybertron.

Detailed synopsis
Act One: The Decepticons have not been seen in months and are presumed dead by the Autobots. That doesn't stop a twitchy Cliffjumper from blasting a rock that vaguely resembles a Decepticon. Optimus Prime is also not completely convinced of the Decepticons' demise. Unknown to the Autobots, the Decepticons are in fact still alive and have constructed a fortress out of their crashed ship under the ocean.

Meanwhile, in the depths of space, an energy-depleted Shockwave attempts to make contact with Megatron. Shockwave succeeds in his attempt and informs Megatron that the Energon reserves on Cybertron are almost depleted. He also tells him of the newly constructed Space Bridge.

The Decepticons head out again to collect more energy. Their first target is a solar power plant. Soundwave and Laserbeak scare off the workers and secure the generators for Energon creation.

While cruising the city Jazz and Spike Witwicky encounter a traffic jam. The cause of which is a city wide blackout. Both decide they need to head back to base to check in. Teletraan 1 shows that the blackout has spread across the city. Optimus has Teletraan survey the surrounding power stations. At the solar plant Optimus sees Megatron.

Optimus puts together a small strike team to take care of the Decepticon raid consisting of Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl, Cliffjumper, Gears, and Bumblebee (the rest of the force are out on patrol). The Autobots arrive and drive off the Decepticons but not before they manage to steal a large amount of energy. During the battle, Ironhide is injured saving Optimus from an attack.

Back at base Ironhide is worked on by Ratchet and Sparkplug Witwicky. His pride is more wounded then he is. Wanting to know how they plan to get the Energon to Cybertron, Optimus sends Bumblebee out on recon to search for signs of the Decepticons in the surrounding area, Spike offers to go with him.

The two stumble upon the location of the Space Bridge and witness the Decepticons' first failed attempt to transport a small vehicle across space. Bumblebee and Spike attempt to leave, but are captured before they can report back. Megatron decides to use his two captives as pilots for the shuttle to help keep it on its course to Cybertron.

Act Two: Bumblebee and Spike are placed in the second test vehicle and sent toward the Space Bridge portal, but the Decepticons run out of time and the alignment between Cybertron and Earth passes. The Bridge can't be reactivated for 3,000 astro-seconds. While the Decepticons grouse about the delay, Bumblebee transforms into his car mode and smashes free of the transport vehicle. Spike is recaptured immediately. Bumblebee manages to evade them for a short time but is also recaptured. Megatron alters Bumblebee’s memory chips so he can lead the Autobots into a trap.

Bumblebee returns to the Ark and tells the gathered Autobots that Spike has been captured. They head for the Space Bridge, but Bumblebee has given them an incorrect location. The false location leads them to a cave where the Decepticons, tipped off by Laserbeak, have been waiting in ambush.

Act Three: The battle is cut short as the dimensional alignment between Cybertron and Earth recurs, allowing for Space Bridge transport. The Decepticons leave, but not before Megatron blasts the cave, sealing the Autobots within. During the battle Bumblebee is injured. Ratchet discovers that a bank of Bumblebee's memory chips have been altered. The Autobots soon learn the true location of the Space Bridge and once free of the cave, roll out.

The Autobots engage the Decepticons once more at the true location of the Space Bridge, managing to rescue Spike and destroy the shipment of Energon. As the battle nears its conclusion, Megatron is knocked into the active Space Bridge and sent to Cybertron. Starscream assumes command and orders a retreat.

Stats
Original airdate: October 6, 1984

Written by: Bryce Malek and Dick Robbins

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

Notable quotes
"You're late again." -- Gears to Bumblebee during assembly.

"No more backtalk, or I'll short your mouth circuit." -- Ratchet's bedside-manner to Ironhide.

"I didn't know human teeth had skin!" -- Bumblebee, reacting to Spike's comment about escaping by the skin of their teeth.

"The Autobots have robbed me of my victory, but they have not seen the last of Megatron. I shall be avenged!" -- Megatron, for the zillionth time.

Animation and/or technical glitches

 * In the establishing shot meant to convey the transition of an Earth-bound scene to one set on Cybertron, Saturn is inexplicably near the planet Earth.
 * The animated glow behind Shockwave when he is communicating to Megatron is mis-aligned with his body.
 * Ed, a solar power plant worker, has his skin change color from one shot to the next. He's first seen as an African-American, and in the next shot, he's white, and the following shot, he's black again. We experts at Teletraan I suspect he was suffering from Michael Jackson Disorder
 * As the Decepticons start filling Energon cubes, the background cubes filled by Skywarp are mistakenly in front of the foreground cubes filled by Starscream.
 * Teletraan's readout screen have a number of lost-in-translation typographical errors. It reads: SOLOR POWE STATION #001; CAPACITY: 80 %; PURRENT PRODUCTION: 0%.
 * When Shockwave says, "test run number two aborted," the animation is of Megatron speaking.
 * In several shots involving the Space Bridge, particularly those showing the entrance closing, the outlines and edges of the Bridge ring do not line up correctly, resulting in impossible shapes.
 * When the Autobots jump through the skylight Cliffjumper is colored like Bumblebee.
 * In the scene after Megatron alters Bumblebee's memory chips, the Autobots are shown waiting for Bumblebee and Spike's return home. In the shot in which Sparkplug comments that they must have been captured, Cliffjumper is colored as Bumblebee.
 * Additionaly, in the same scene Bumblebee says,"Pike was taken by the Dacepticons!"
 * As the Decepticons prepare to retreat from the space bridge, Skywarp is shown in Starscream's color scheme, resulting in two Starscreams appearing on screen at once.

Continuity errors

 * At the end of the previous episode the Ark was being refueled and repaired in preparation for the imminent return of the Autobots to Cybertron. At the beginning of this episode, their journey home seems to have been all but forgotten.  Apparently they left the lights on and the battery died, and there wasn't another interstellar spaceship available for a jump start.
 * This is the only time the Ark is ever depicted as being near a cliffside overlooking the ocean.
 * When the Decepticons are leaving the power station Skywarp is seen flying away twice.
 * Brawn, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Trailbreaker -- who are never shown heading to the cave -- are present once the battle erupts inside.

Transformers references

 * References

Real-world references

 * References

Miscellaneous trivia

 * Given that Starscream is a highly sophisticated living machine, it seems unlikely that he would have to look at his wrist to accurately count down five seconds.
 * Jazz is somehow able to use a stalagmite as a bat to knock back a null ray blast at Starscream.
 * When Cliffjumper appears at the start of the episode, he is carrying Jazz's gun.
 * The signage in the city includes odd phrases that look suspiciously like Engrish: Par, Led Bulue, SpuRashu, Fee, Mascot, IOU, April, AGF, Bell.
 * When Optimus Prime is using Teletraan 1 to survey nearby power stations, the map on the screen is labeled "EVE ISLAND."
 * A number of Transformers are depicted with unique built-in weapons and features, such as Megatron's chest-mounted hose-like memory scrambler, Ratchet's wrist-based net launcher, and Megatron's gauntlet-launched sawblade and wrist laser.
 * Optimus Prime's laser rifle has a variable focus barrel that allows him to shoot a needle-beam blast.

Keywords
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