Divide and Conquer!

Starscream and Soundwave experiment in ways to avoid treading on each other's toes.

=Marvel UK issue #279=

Writer: Simon Furman Pencils: Stazl Inks: Michael Eve Letters: Glib


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Soundwave, Prowl, Wheeljack, Grimlock, Jazz, Starscream, Oil tanker skipper, Oil tanker radio man, Springer, Inferno, Skids, Carnivac,


 * Minor characters (in order of appearance): Mixmaster, Dead End, Bombshell, Dirge, Headstrong, Breakdown, Kickback, Octane, Long Haul, Rampage, Thrust, Tantrum, Blitzwing, Scrapper, Astrotrain, Drag Strip, Snarl, Swoop, Slag, Rumble, Ravage, possibly Broadside (see below), Hook and Divebomb.


 * Originally published: 14th July 1990. Cover date ("off sale") 21st July 1990.

Synopsis
Soundwave leads a huge assault on the new Autobot Earthbase, which is vulnerable after the problems encountered with the defence system, and an early strike prevents Wheeljack reactivating them. Grimlock leads the Dinobots in a counter-attack that holds the line but the Autobots are still pinned down. Prowl wonders if this is the plan.

Soundwave is unhappy. Starscream had devised a divide & conquer strategy, but whilst the Decepticons are risking their necks, Starscream has an easy task.

Near the Gulf of Mexico Starscream has captured an oil tanker. The ship's skipper wants to sink the vessel rather than surrender the fuel, but his radio operator points out the environmental damage a huge oil slick will cause. A distress call is made and they hope someone hears it.

Springer has. Prowl had foreseen the potential for a two-pronged attack and so sent the Survivors on patrol. Springer flies towards the tanker, followed by Inferno, Skids and Carnivac aboard an aircraft carrier. They rapidly overpower Starscream who flees, frustrated that his own tactic is being used against him. He radios the other Decepticons to retreat.

As the Decepticons flee, Soundwave comments on how flawed Starscream's plan was and suggests that perhaps he should lead alone. Some Decepticons express support for this idea and Soundwave thinks how a divide & conquer strategy can work after all...

Errors

 * Four Decepticon cars, presumably intended to be Stunticons appear in the opening panel but Drag Strip is present in robot mode and Wildrider was killed in "Secrets".

Items of note

 * The Survivors travel aboard an aircraft carrier which is one of the alternate modes of the toy of Broadside. However this mode has never been previously seen in the comic and the carrier is not identified as a Transformer at all, let alone as Broadside. Given his status as the forgotten Autobot Triple Changer it's kind of appropriate.

Reprints

 * This story was reprinted in the Titan Books trade paperback "Earthforce".