Dreadwing Down!

The Autobots go undersea to salvage a vital component stolen by Dreadwing.

=Marvel UK Annual 1989=

Writer: Simon Furman Pencillers: Dan Reed Lettering: GLIB Colouring: Euan Peters


 * ''Characters: Dreadwing, Fireflight, Skydive, Silverbolt, Optimus Prime, Getaway, Joyride, Slapdash, Hi-Q, Quake, Throttle, Rev, Slingshot, Air Raid, Snaptrap, Skalor, Tentakil, Overbite, Seawing, Nautilator, Hotwire, Lube, Hi-Test.
 * Originally published: December 1989

Synopsis
The Aerialbots shoot down Dreadwing over an ocean... which is unfortunate, since he's carrying a power cell needed to power life support machines for a human that the Autobots injured while chasing Decepticons. Optimus Prime and the other Powermasters go undersea to salvage the component, only to run into the Seacons.

The Autobots are outnumbered and disadvantaged, as the Seacons are in their native territory underwater. To make matters worse, the Autobots' Nebulan partners only have a 30 minute air supply, and time is running out. Prime sends the Nebulans to salvage the component, even though this will leave the Autobots underpowered, easy pickings for the Seacons. The four Nebulans quickly overpower Hi-Test and Throttle and head for the surface, fretting that they've left their Autobot allies to die. But Prime and the others soon surface -- with the component gone, the Seacons decided that saving Dreadwing and the two Nebulans was a much higher priority.

Errors

 * Is it a "component", a "power cell", or an "isotope"?

Items of note

 * Placing this story within the main UK comic continuity is tricky, mainly due to the presence of both Quake and Dreadwing on Earth. Outside of this story, neither was ever shown working with Earth's Decepticons.
 * Apart from that quibble, the story occurs somewhere between Enemy Action! (the Seacons' first appearance) and Cold War!, whose storyline concludes with the Underbase Saga slaughter.