The Transformers: Redux, Issue 25: Shattered Glass, Chapter Two

     Date: 8/30/2012

MAYHEM AND DESTRUCTION

    BLUDGEON: At first, we were many. Now we are only six. At first, we were called Megatron's best. But now we are little more than a sub-group. At first, we were known as Squadron X. But now we are the Mayhem Attack Squad. With Megatron gone, I think it's by time that we retake the spotlight. And a certain warlord has given us that opportunity.

    (Cybertron, Polyhex. Straxus meets with Gigatron and Zardak, who are calling in via hologram)

    ZARDAK: You're leaving, Straxus?

    STRAXUS: I am afraid so, Zardak. With Megatron himself captured, I no longer feel sage in my house of cards...

    ZARDAK: But the opportunity on taking over is ripe! You can seize the throne and take over the Decepticon Empire!

    STRAXUS: And have warlords like you try to overthrow me? No, thank you.

    GIGATRON: Well then, who will be in charge of Polyhex while you are gone?

    STRAXUS: Well, Gigatron, you are certainly more than welcome to have it back... (Bludgeon enters and poses menacingly) if you want to fight for it.

    (In space, the Xantium travels through hyperspace)

    IRONFIST: Man, this ships is so cool! Look! Schematics from the Battle of Chaar! When Impactor kicked Team Chaar's butts! The X12 Scrapmaker! Roadbuster's favorite weapon! IMPACTOR'S HARPOON GUN!

    ROTORSTORM: You know this guy?

    SCATTORSHOT: Nope.

    ROADBUSTER: You sure do know a lot about the Wreckers, kid.

    IRONFIST: Er, yes, sir.

    ROADBUSTER: Please, just call me Roadbuster. Yup, the Battle of Chaar. First time I actually used the Scrapmaker. If I knew the 'bot who built that, I would definitely make him a Wrecker.

    IRONFIST: Well, actually--

    BULKHEAD: Hey, Roadbuster! Tell us how you guys won Archa Nine!

    ROADBUSTER: Oh, that's a classic! You should've seen the looks on those 'Cons faces!

    IRONFIST: *sigh*

    (Cybertron, Bludgeon continues to monologue)

    BLUDGEON: When anyone - whether they're Decepticon or Autobot - hear the name Thunderwing, they think of only one thing: Chaos. Everywhere he and Squadron X went, destruction followed. Planets fell behind us. Autobots fled in terror. The war was in our favor. Until Thunderwing fell at Pova. Over the following years, our success began to decline... and now our glorious leader is awaiting execution. This is our moment; to bring back Squadron X and bring back the destruction that gave us victory. So... who's with me?

    (The Xantium...)

    TOPSPIN: Springer? I think you should come see this. There's some disruption occurring in our hyperspace lanes. I think it's altering our--

    SFX: THWOOM!

    SPRINGER: What the--?!

    SFX: SHWOOM!

    TOPSPIN: Something pulled us out of hyperspace!

    SPRINGER: I think that's the reason...

    ???: Cybertron? What's going on?! And why are we stuck in a tractor beam?!

    IRONFIST: This is so Star Wars.

    TOPSPIN: I've lost control of the ship! We're being pulled in!

    ???: Thank you, Captain Obvious...

    SPRINGER: Alright Wreckers, gear up. I highly doubt this is the Cybertron we know.

    ???: Well, it certainly looks like Cybertron...

    SPRINGER: Arcee, scout out.

    ARCEE: Right.

    (She transforms and drives around, until she encounters someone looking like Starscream, only in his Shattered Glass colors...)

    STARSCREAM (SG): Wait!

    ARCEE: Huh?! Starscream?!

    STARSCREAM (SG): No, wait! It's me! Jet--! (He gets zapped in the back) AGGH!

    NIGHTBEAT (SG): Good job there, partner.

    ARCEE: Nightbeat?

    NIGHTBEAT (SG): N'yeah. C'mon, let's get him locked up.

    ARCEE: But... the Wreckers and I--

    NIGHTBEAT (SG): I ain't buyin' none of your excuses.

    ARCEE: Springer... we have a problem.

    SPRINGER: Crud.

    (Meanwhile)

    FLATLINE: Your shuttle awaits, Lord Straxus.

    STRAXUS: Excellent, Flatline. Is Shockblast onboard?

    FLATLINE: Yes, my lord... Don't worry. He won't be going anywhere.

    STRAXUS: Excellent work. Let's go.

    (As the ship takes off, Flatline spots an explosion outside)

    FLATLINE: L-Lord Straxus! I saw--

    STRAXUS: Ignore it. It's just your imagination.

    (As he says this, Bludgeon and his forces move in...)

    TO BE CONTINUED

CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Arcee, Bulkhead, Ironfist, Roadbuster, Rotorstorm, Scattorshot, Springer, Topspin, Whirl

    Decepticons: Battletrap, Bludgeon, Carnivac, Flatline, Flywheels, Gigatron, Megatron, Needlenose, Octopunch, Quake, Skullgrin (flashbacks), Spinister, Stranglehold, Straxus, Thunderwing (flashbacks), Zardak

    SG Autobots: Nightbeat

    SG Decepticons: Starscream

    Others: Shockblast

The Transformers: Redux, Issue 24: Shattered Glass, Chapter One

    Date: 8/28/2012

 WRECK AND RULE

    IRONFIST: (Narration) Hundreds of years - or a hundred, I can never remember - a few months after the Great War began, an Autobot once said, "The only reason we are losing, is because we're barely even fighting." We were supposed to be a peaceful race, never intended for military purposes. We weren't prepared to fight. That is why Impactor founded the Wreckers, a group made for one sole purpose: to fight back!

    For the next few years, the Wreckers served as the Autobots' driving force, and replaced the Elite Guard as head of the Autobot military. It all ended however, when the Wreckers faced off against Squadron X on Pova. No one knows what happened there, but Squadron X's leader, Thunderwing, was brutally destroyed. And a devastating explosion saw to Impactor's death.

    Without a leader, the Wreckers disbanded.... The hope we once had was lost... and will probably never have again.

    SKYFALL: ...Right.

    IRONFIST: What?

    RAD: You do know, Ironfist, that Megatron's been captured, right?

    IRONFIST: Yeah, so?

    RAD: So, there's no reason to be hopeless.

    IRONFIST: I know, but--

    SKYFALL: Dude, Megatron is captured and will likely be executed. His other 'Cons are locked up, and the rest are probably scattered. The war will be over soon!

    IRONFIST: You said that when Megatron vanished, five years ago. That went well.

    SKYFALL: Yeah, well, I've been wrong in the past. Now hurry up. Crosshairs isn't patient, y'know.

    (Meanwhile)

    IRONHIDE: You feelin' all right, Prime?

    OPTIMUS PRIME: I'm not sure, Ironhide. It just feels so surreal that we've finally captured Megatron. But I'm also uneasy about it, since he was a bit too easily captured.

    IRONHIDE: Well, we've got very high security watchin' over him.

    OPTIMUS PRIME: Let's just hope it's enough, Ironhide. Let's hope it's enough.

    (Maccadam's Old Oil House)

    BRAWN: And then boom! Bulkhead shot a rocket right in his kisser! Man! You guys should have seen it!

    SIDEWAYS: We did see it, Brawn.

    JOLT: We were there! Well, 'cept for Overhaul here. He was too busy retreating.

    OVERHAUL: Hey! It's not my fault that those Sentinels were tearin' us apart! I had to retreat 'cause I didn't wanna get--

    SPRINGER: So, I hear you guys brought down those Omega Sentinels.

    BRAWN: It was all him, Springer!

    BULKHEAD: Oh, come on! It's not that big of a deal!

    SPRINGER: Even so, I'd say you've got what it takes.

    BULKHEAD: What do you mean?

    SPRINGER: Ultra Magnus is working on rebuilding the Elite Guard, and he's instructed me to reestablish a special ops team.

    BULKHEAD: You mean...?

    SPRINGER: That's right. The Wreckers are back in town. So, what do you say?

    BULKHEAD: I'm in.

    SPRINGER: Good to have you, er...

    BULKHEAD: Bulkhead.

    BRAWN: What 'bout me?

    SPRINGER: What about you?

    BRAWN: Can I be a Wrecker?

    SPRINGER: No.

    (Meanwhile)

    RED ALERT: Garrus-Nine was attacked? [Issue 14]

    SECURITY BOT: Yes... I got the info from Over-Run, the only one who escaped.

    RED ALERT: Who attacked it?

    SECURITY BOT: The Mayhem Attack Squad. They captured Fort Max and all of the guards.

    RED ALERT: Take this to Ultra Magnus, immediately. If the only planet with our best security has been overtaken... then we may be in more danger than we thought...

    (Meanwhile)

    CROSSHAIRS: What's this supposed to be?

    SKYFALL: An X2-class ion blaster.

    CROSSHAIRS: Isn't this what you gave Optimus Prime?

    SKYFALL: Yeah, but I modified it.

    IRONFIST: Um, actually...

    CROSSHAIRS: You were the one who gave Prime his gun, right?

    IRONFIST: Actually, I--

    SKYFALL: Oh, yeah, totally.

    IRONFIST: *Sigh*

    CROSSHAIRS: So what do you have this time, Ironfist?

    IRONFIST: Well, I, uh...

    SPRINGER: Hello, Crosshairs.

    CROSSHAIRS: Springer? What brings you here?

    SPRINGER: Recruiting. Are you the one they call Skyfall?

    SKYFALL: Er, yes, sir.

    SPRINGER: You designed Optimus Prime's blaster.

    SKYFALL: Yes, sir!

    SPRINGER: Well then, welcome to--

    IRONFIST: Oh no, he didn't! That was me! All me! I designed Optimus Prime's blaster! I gave it to him in person! He just took the credit because Optimus thought he made it when it was me!

    (Beat)

    SPRINGER: Skyfall, is this true?

    SKYFALL: Y-yes, sir.

    SPRINGER: What's your name?

    IRONFIST: Ironfist, sir.

    SPRINGER: Welcome to the Wreckers, Ironfist.

    IRONFIST: Wr-wr-Wreckers?? (He faints)

    SPRINGER: Does he always do that?

    "X-BOT": Only when Roadbuster visits here.

    (Autobot HQ)

    ULTRA MAGNUS: Garrus-Nine overtaken, huh? As if that isn't the worst of it....

    RED ALERT: What do you mean, sir?

    ULTRA MAGNUS: I've just received reports of several Autobots missing. The only trace we have of them is this.

    MESSAGE: If you want your Autobots back, go to where all hope was lost.

    RED ALERT: What's that supposed to mean?

    ULTRA MAGNUS: My guess is that our missing comrades are being held where we've lost hope... or, my guessing, a battle. Hmm... I'll look into it more. Meanwhile, notify Springer. I think I have a mission for him.

    (Meanwhile)

    SPRINGER: (Narration) It may have seemed random to the others, but each 'bot I recruited for the Wreckers was for a reason. Bulkhead is a demolitions expert and good with handling big weapons. Ironfist is good with making big weapons. Arcee is a skilled warrior, partly as a result of my training her in the Cyber-Ninja arts. Rotorstorm claims to be a great flier and strategist. Since it was Whirl who suggested him to me, I'm a bit unsure. And lastly is the small scout and technician, Scattorshot. Only fate will decide whether they are worthy of the Wrecker brand... or not.

    SPRINGER: Wreckers... it is time for our first mission. We are to go to the planet Pova, and free a group of Autobots from Decepticon hands. It will be a daring task, but that's what you're prepared for anyway.

    IRONFIST: Uh, sir? Isn't Pova where Squadron X was defeated?

    SPRINGER: Yes... yes, it was. Well then, might as well set off. This is our ship, the Xantium. And these will be your tutors.

    ROADBUSTER: These are the recruits, huh?

    WHIRL: Let's hope they have what it takes.

CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Arcee, Autotroopers, Brawn, Bulkhead, Crosshairs, Impactor (flashbacks), Ironfist, Ironhide, Jolt, Optimus Prime, Overhaul, Rad, Red Alert, Roadbuster, Rotorstorm, Scattorshot, Sideways, Skyfall, Springer, Topspin, Twin Twist, Ultra Magnus, Whirl

    Decepticons: Megatron, Thunderwing (flashbacks)

The Transformers: Redux, Issue 23: Decepticons Rising, Chapter Eleven

     Date: 7/25/2012

THE DECEPTION UNVEILED

    (Several years ago)

    SHOCKWAVE: This war has been going on for far too long. Nearly a hundred years have passed, and yet we still persist. This violence is illogical.

    MEGATRON: Is it now? You were one of my first followers, Shockwave. Why now, all of a sudden, have you decided to rethink your stance?

    SHOCKWAVE: I am simply suggesting that we may be taking this war too far.

    MEGATRON: How so?

    SHOCKWAVE: With each battle a city is left in ruins. The longer this war goes on, the more desolate Cybertron becomes. If or when we win, what will we have left to rule over?

    MEGATRON: An interesting sight, Shockwave. But a flawed one. You see, whatever happens to Cybertron... will be rebuilt! Soon, Cybertron will be made in my image! You don't have a problem with that now, do you?

    SHOCKWAVE: No... my lord. Not at all.

    (Some time later)

    FISTFIGHT: Things are going well ,master.

    SHOCKWAVE: Indeed, Fistfight. Now that Shockblast's mission is underway... I can make use of these drones. Do you have the memory cores?

    FISTFIGHT: Yes, master.

    SHOCKWAVE: Excellent. With these, I can recreate the Autobots I've killed... except they are now loyal only to me. Longarm, Camshaft, and Blowpipe, you are to be the first of my spies. You will each be given a task... and you will report your progress to me. If any of you fail in your task, then you will be destroyed via remote. Is that clear?

    DRONES: Yes, master.

    SHOCKWAVE: Then proceed.

    (Present)

    ULTRA MAGNUS: One of Longarm's bots is the spy? Why didn't I think of that!

    NIGHTBEAT: I know, it's so obvious. Cybertron Intel is the most useful place to put a spy! In fact, maybe Longarm's the spy!

    BULKHEAD: You mean we've been working for a 'Con?!

    SIDEWAYS: Crazy.

    NIGHTBEAT: I know. But at least now we-- (BIG EXPLOSION!) WHOA!

    BULKHEAD: Great Matrix!

    JOLT: What the spark just--?!

    (Longarm's head lands at their feet)

    NIGHTBEAT: Okay, I'm gonna guess Longarm knew we were on to him, so he committed suicide.

    JOLT: Can't blame him... Sideways, check for survivors!

    SIDEWAYS: Right.

    COSMOS: Oogh...

    SIDEWAYS: Cosmos! What happened?!

    COSMOS: Huh? Sideways? Man, you should have seen it! Longarm was acting all weird and stuff and I asked him what was wrong. And then... BOOM!

    SIDEWAYS: Guess you were right.

    NIGHTBEAT: Seems so. The only thing is... why?

    (Three months ago, the planet Chaar...)

    SHOCKWAVE: You know the plan, correct?

    LONGARM: Yes, master.

    SHOCKWAVE: Repeat it to me.

    LONGARM: I have sent the distress signal for an Autobot squad to retrieve me. When they arrive, they find me facing a group of Decepticon drones. After they save me, I will board their ship and plant the bomb. The bomb should detonate once I return to Cybertron. If it is accidentally delayed, then I will be punished.

    SHOCKWAVE: Excellent, Longarm. Proceed with the plan.

    COMMANDER: Er... may I ask why you're planting this bomb?

    SHOCKWAVE: To create fear and distrust among the Autobots. It started with the disappearance of Highbrow, and once Team Magnus is eliminated... the Autobots won't know who to trust!

    (Present; the Autobots present Longarm's head to the High Council)

    NIGHTBEAT: There you go, Councilors. Proof of a Decepticon spy in our ranks.

    OMICRON: Is this...?

    NIGHTBEAT: Longarm's private datafiles. They show that he's been in touch with the 'Cons. It's all there, if you wanna check.

    OMICRON: I... I don't believe it. This... this is bad. If Longarm's been sending data to the Decepticons all along, then...

    XAARON: Ratbat, are you all right?

    RATBAT: ALL RIGHT! I CONFESS! I DID IT! I knew Longarm was the spy! Him and two others, but they're likely dead now! Shockwave had me induct Longarm into the Academy! I made sure he got a job in Intelligence! I made sure he would replace Highbrow as leader! He repeated his progress to me! I'm the true spy! He was simply a sleeper agent!

    (Beat)

    NIGHTBEAT: Darn it! I could've sworn it was Longarm!

    XAARON: Guards, arrest him. There is much to sort out...

    (On Earth, Omega Supreme exchanges fire with the Nemesis)

    OMEGA SUPREME: Damage: Critical! Not sure how much... I can take!

    PROWL: He's right, Prime. Megatron's pounding heavy on us. Any more and we'll be destroyed!

    OPTIMUS PRIME: *sigh* Autobots... abandon ship. Omega, do whatever you can to retreat.

    OMEGA SUPREME: Order: Acknowledged. Commencing: Retreat.

    (Omega transforms while the Autobots abandon ship)

    SOUNDWAVE: My lord, Autobots are retreating.

    MEGATRON: Keep firing! We're not leaving until every single Autobot is--

    (He is interrupted by a ticking sound)

    BARRICADE: What the...?

    KNOCK OUT: It's coming from our prisoner's room!

    BARRICADE: Hey! What's going-- on?

    WHEELJACK: Hey, thanks for leaving enough materials in this room to create a bomb. And thanks for forgetting that I'm an awesome inventor. Here. Hold this. Open the window, and... bon voyage!

    (The bomb goes off, blasting a hole through the Nemesis as Wheeljack jumps out)

    WHEELJACK: Whee!

    IRONHIDE: Is that Wheeljack?

    WHEELJACK: Oof! Hey, guys! Wasn't that the biggest explosion ever?!

    OPTIMUS PRIME: Does that answer your question?

    IRONHIDE: It sure does.

    WHEELJACK: So... what did I miss?

    IRONHIDE: Ya' missed a whole lot!

    (Optimus watches the Nemesis as it crashes)

    OPTIMUS PRIME: Can it be? Are the Decepticons finished? For over a hundred years, the Decepticons have had the upper hand, even during the five years Megatron was gone. Even if Megatron and his crew survived that crash, the ship has been destroyed. They have no means of communication or transportation. Once Omega Supreme can be repaired, then we can capture Megatron and bring him to justice. And maybe then, this was can end.

    (Elsewhere, a mysterious figure contacts Straxus)

    STRANGER: Straxus, report.

    STRAXUS: The spies have failed and are in Autobot custody. Much to Gigatron's disappointment.

    STRANGER: Predictable. What of Megatron?

    STRAXUS: Buzzsaw reported that he is either dead or weakened. Of course, I know better.

    STRANGER: Quite right.

    STRAXUS: So is it time?

    STRANGER: Indeed. Proceed with our next operation!

    (On the viewscreen, a purple Autobot symbol appears)

    THE END...? ('Course Not)

CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Blowpipe, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Camshaft, Cosmos, Ironhide, Jolt, Longarm, Nightbeat, Omega Supreme, Omicron, Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ratbat, Ratchet, Sideways, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack, Xaaron

    Decepticons: Barricade, Fistfight (flashbacks), Knock Out, Megatron, Shockwave (flashbacks), Soundwave, Starscream (flashbacks), Straxus