A stasis pod falls in the Northern Sector of the planet and the Maximals and Predacons race to obtain it.
Tropes
- Artistic License – Biology: Tigatron's beast mode is based off a white tiger that was near his crashed stasis pod. However, white tigers are not a distinct species and are not known to survive into adulthood in the wild. In fact, all white tigers are genetically Bengal Tigers, which live in tropical climates as opposed to the polar regions seen here. Perhaps you can handwave it by assuming that since this takes place four million years in the past and aliens have been mucking around with the planet, the tigers might represent a subspecies that has since died off.
- Due to the Dead: Thinking Optimus is as good as dead, Dinobot promises to give him a funeral befitting a great warrior. Pesky details like Optimus clearly being in good enough shape to pull through don't quite dissuade him of how glorious it would be.
- Establishing Character Moment: Tigatron's data tracks were damaged in the crash, causing him to not know who he was when both sides showed up. Watching as Megatron threatened the local wildlife to get the Maximals to back off, he saw that they obeyed. He then knew where he belonged.
- "Hell, Yes!" Moment: Rattrap after Tigatron reveals himself and shoots Megatron.
- Hostage for MacGuffin: Megatron threatens to shoot two tigers unless the Maximals hand over the stasis pod with the protoform inside. What Megatron didn't realize was that one of the tigers was the protoform he was looking for.
- I Warned You: Optimus is certain that the Predacons will focus on claiming the stasis pod, but Dinobot cautions him that Megatron is capable of doing the unexpected. Sure enough, Megatron prioritizes having Waspinator and Terrorsaur taking out the Maximals' lone flier before heading for the pod.
- Oh, Crap!: After seeing the Maximal autoguns react to movement, Scorponok tries to remain still, but he gets progressively nervous and starts shaking before finally setting them off.
- Opportunistic Bastard: Rattrap isn't eager to leave the recuperating Optimus in Dinobot's care, and the defected Predacon appears to be up to another ignoble trick when he summons Optimus's core consciousness... simply to seek its counsel on how best to proceed. Then, when Megatron points out that Dinobot is primed to assure the Predacons their victory if only he subverts the Axalon on their behalf, Dinobot answers with his Eye Beams.
- Properly Paranoid: Dinobot suspects a Predacon ambush close to the base, and as such repeatedly delays Optimus' retrieval of the stasis pod. He's proven correct when the impatient Optimus ignores his warnings and is shot down seconds after leaving the Axalon.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: With five separate Maximals firing on them all at once, Megatron orders a retreat.
- This Is Gonna Suck: With the others delayed by a destroyed land bridge, Dinobot uses base systems to talk to Optimus while he's in the CR chamber.Optimus: Let me guess. Problems already?
- Scorponok is visibly terrified right before Dinobot turns the base's autogun turrets on him.
- Traveling at the Speed of Plot: Everyone arrives in the nick of time. The Maximals arrive at the stasis pod just as the Predacon flyers are about to crack open the pod, despite the tremendous speed advantage being able to fly is and the forced detour they had to go through. Megatron arrives less than a minute after the Maximals do despite the 100 kilometer trek he'd have to undertake and the massive head start everyone else had. And Optimus got there to help back up his side just as the shooting started, despite the fact that he'd have to fly just as long as the Predacon flyers.
- Villainous Friendship: The first real suggestion that Waspinator and Terrorsaur have one of these. When Waspinator gets crushed by a boulder, Terrorsaur takes the time to blast apart the rock and carry the bug back to base.
- We Can Rule Together: As part of a diversion, Megatron offers Dinobot his old role as second-in-command back in exchange for the Axalon. Dinobot refuses, but he's distracted long enough for the Predacons to launch a sneak attack.
- Wham Line: When Megatron opens the stasis pod and finds it empty.Megatron: Where is the Maximal!?
Beat. An unfamiliar, new voice speaks from off-screen
Tigatron: Right here. - What You Are in the Dark: Dinobot, alone, and surrounded by the Preds, is offered his old job back in exchange for betraying the Maximals. He tells Megatron to eat slag and blasts him.
- You Are Too Late: The two sides make it to the stasis pod but discover the protoform inside has already scanned a lifeform and reformatted itself into a Maximal, who's been covertly observing the situation.
