Transformers: Animated: Shadows of Redemption

Chapter 4: The Trial of Megatron

Somewhere in deep space, where an oil tanker-like cargo ship transports a shipment of Energon to the asteroid posts on the far edge of the galaxy. Beachcomber captains the ship, muttering to himself that this has to be the most boring job in the entire Cybertronian service. Except space bridge repair. "I'd have to delete my own code if I got stuck with that assignment. Space bridge repair, yuck." Beachcomber mutters to himself.

Suddenly, all the lights go out and the ship powers down. "Oh, no." Beachcomber chalks it up to a faulty fuse, but outside the ship, we see the true cause as the Decepticon, Blackout, clings to the side of the ship, punching his way through the hall and grabbing Beachcomber who reacts in typical laid-back style. "Dude! That is so not cool, I'm like totally alone, totally unarmed and totally not paid enough to put up a fight. So just take the Energon and it's totally causal, okay?"

But Blackout clearly has much more lethal intent, as he literally drains the life out of Beachcomber. The weakening Beachcomber asks, "Seriously, dude! What do you get by taking me offline?...."

"A message," replied Blackout, casting Beachcomber's limp body off into space. He transforms to ship mode and tows the cargo ship.

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On the Energon farm of Cybertron's moon, General Obsidian and her Decepticon Strike Team swooped down on Bulkhead and the farmer bots. "How'd they get past the planetary shields!?!" wonders Bulkhead. There was no doubt about it. The Decepticons have the intention to get revenge on the Autobots and to free their leader, Megatron, from Autobot custody.

"Decepticons! ATTACK!!!" Obsidian shouted.

"This doesn't look good," says Bulkhead. Bulkhead valiantly leads his fellow mud flaps to defend the crops. They managed to fashion the raw Energon crystals into makeshift grenades, slowing down the 'cons somewhat, but they're clearly outgunned. Bulkhead saves Tractor and the others from the wrath of Obsidian, but he gets badly damaged by the Decepticon general and the Strike Team scones with a big stash of raw Energon, ripping an entire Silo-complex free from the moon and blasting off with it.

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Back at the Omega Lab...

"I'm diverting all power to this project!" declares Sentinel to the Project Power Master team, who struggled to complete their still unfinished Power Master armor. Sentinel tells them to step it up for the Decepticons won't wait for them.

Later in the Cybertronian Central Infirmary, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Bumblebee, Jazz and Sari Sumdac visit the ailing Bulkhead. Ratchet grumbles that Bulkhead will pull through fine the old-fashioned way and rushes out to return to his mysterious top secret project. But Bulkhead turns up the volume in time to hear Bumblebee's endorsement of Sentinel Prime for Magnus. The room falls silent as all eyes glare at Bumblebee. "How could you?" asks Bulkhead. Just then, Sentinel barges in, handing Bumblebee his Elite Guard stripes.

"He's a big bot now!" says Sentinel Prime. "He makes his own choices." Ratchet stares daggers at Bumblebee, "You sold out Prime for some Elite Guard stripes?!!!" the medic shouted. Bumblebee insists it's not what it looks like, "Come on! This is what the Allspark wants!" he pleads to Sari and Optimus. "You saw it!" Bumblebee tries to smooth things over, insisting they're still all friends, right? "You chose your path, Bumblebee," says Optimus evenly but clearly hurt. "I suggest you follow it." Ashamed, Bumblebee skulks out of the room. Outside the room, Zeta Maxus eavesdrops while listening in on the whole thing. He was pleased to see that Sentinel Prime was able to convince Bumblebee to betray his team. "Well done, Sentinel. Well done." Zeta Maxus whispers to himself while hiding in the shadows. Sentinel Prime turns back to Bulkhead, promising the Decepticons will pay for what they did.