A probe from Cybertron nears the planet, the Maximals try to contact it, and Megatron tries to stop them.
Tropes:
- The Bad Guy Wins: Megatron succeeds in destroying the array and preventing the Maximals from contacting Cybertron.
- Big Damn Heroes: Rhinox makes one to prevent Megatron from killing Optimus, sending him flying with a Megaton Punch. Later Cheetor and Tigatron make one by destroying Megatron's weapon after he's destroyed the signal tower but before he can kill the beast-mode-locked Maximals, forcing him to beat a retreat.
- Big Dumb Object: Downplayed. Temporal probes are commonplace on 24th century Cybertron but the probes are looking for the transwarp signature of the missing ships as opposed to the life-signs of the crew.
- Big "NO!": Courtesy of Rhinox once he is forcefully turned into a rhinoceros, leaving him unable to send out the signal on the array because he lacks hands.
- Contrived Coincidence: The Axalon could be anywhere in time and space. The Maximal Probe comes within a hair's breath of detecting the crew.
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: When Dinobot points out him returning on Cybertron will most likely mean he'll be a war criminal along wirh his former crew, Optimus tries to reassure him by promising to make sure he's treated as a Maximal. Dinobot doesn't take it well."And what makes you think I want to be?"
- Downer Ending: With the array destroyed, the Maximals are unable to contact the probe and remain stuck on the planet.
- Failure Is the Only Option: It's only been 11 episodes- they're not getting home yet.
- Friendship Moment: Optimus offering to vouch for Dinobot back on Cybertron. Rattrap and Dinobot also share a couple of these.
- Heroic BSoD: While the other Maximals are overjoyed at the perspective of going back home, Dinobot is bitter and apprehensive about the whole thing; as he points out, he technically still is a Predacon who happens to be in an Enemy Mine with them, and returning on Cybertron likely means he will be treated as a war criminal like Megatron and his former crew. Optimus' attempt to reassure him by promising to make sure he'll be treated as a Maximal only makes things worse.
- "Hey, You!" Haymaker: Rhinox gives Megatron one.Megatron: [to Optimus] Very resourceful. [stomps him] But in the end, the result is the same! Yesss!
Rhinox: [taps his shoulder] Don't count on it, motorhead. [POW!] - Honor Before Reason: Dinobot helps build and defend the array, despite his own reluctance to return to Cybertron. He also refuses Optimus's offer to be treated as a Maximal back home as a matter of personal honor.
- Megaton Punch: Rhinox hits Megatron with a big punch that knocks him for a surprisingly long time.
- Mode Lock: Megatron's new weapon prevents its victims from entering Robot mode.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Cheetor mentions the probe to Megatron prompting the latter's assault on the array. The former lampshades he did this. Downplayed in that Megatron already knew the Maximals were up to something and would have tried to stop it regardless, which Tigatron points out.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Very subtle but Megatron does this when he learns a temporal probe is sniffing about the solar system.
- Tarantulas has a far more expressive one once he realizes his attempt to take out Optimus put him in point blank range of the Maximal's guns.
- No Bot Gets Left Behind: Cybertron sends out the temporal probes in hope of locating the missing Axalon crew when their search of normal space turns up empty.
- Pet the Dog: Dinobot is not excited about the idea of a rescue coming for the Maximals, as he fears he will be arrested along with the rest of the Predacons. Nonetheless, he still helps the Maximals defend the array.
- Rage Breaking Point:Rattrap: Ya act like you don't wanna get off of this dirtball. Afraid you'll miss your Pred-head friends?
Dinobot: You're what I'm afraid of! You're so eager to go home, but your home is not mine. I am Predacon, despite our alliance! And when your ship comes to rescue you, my fate will be the same as Megatron's... perhaps even worse. - "Ray of Hope" Ending: Though they failed this time, Optimus remains confident that the Maximals will get home someday.
- Shapeshifter Mode Lock: The Predacons' new weapon traps all the Maximals in their beast modes. Fortunately, Cheetor and Tigatron are able to escape capture and use the Predacons' own equipment to restore themselves to normal in time to rescue the others.
- Status Quo Is God: Of course nobody's gonna go home to Cybertron! It's barely halfway between the season!
- Token Enemy Minority: Both this trope and Token Evil Teammate are Deconstructed; this episode brings up the uncomfortable point that, despite his Heel–Face Turn, Dinobot still was part of Megatron's crew. He joined the Maximals solely because his goals aligned with them- while returning to Cybertron would be a great thing for them, this would very likely mean being treated as a war criminal for him.
- Villain Ball: Megatron sends the entire Predacon team out to destroy the signal tower, which gives the captured Cheetor and Tigatron time to escape their cages, repair themselves, and return to rescue their teammates from Megatron.
- Villain Has a Point: Cheetor boasts it's time for Megatron "to decorate a cage" when he and Tigatron arrive. Megatron rightly points out that is not happening before he retreats.
