Back then, he didn't have his face plate yet.
The Aerialbots are in trouble when they become trapped in the distant past of Cybertron via a time machine. There, they end up 9 million years in the past, where they befriend and save the life of a gentle robot named Orion Pax. Back in the present, the Autobots are battling the Decepticons who have reactivated a headless Guardian robot. But will the Aerialbots be able to return to their own time and stop Megatron from destroying the Autobots?- Admiring the Abomination: The Aerialbots didn't hesitate to express their respect towards the Decepticons, much to the disgust of their comrades. This naivety leads to them falling into Megatron's trap.
- Orion Pax also admired The Decepticons until they attacked him, Ariel, and Dion.
- Big Damn Heroes: Just as the Autobots are to be defeated, the Aerialbots arrive to form Superion and fight off the reprogrammed Sentinel.
- Bystander Syndrome: While Orion doesn't suspect the worst of the Decepticons, he stated that the Guardian Sentinels were built to deal with things like that.
- Create Your Own Hero: Megatron gunning down Orion Pax and his friends put Orion on the path to become Optimus Prime, Megatron's greatest nemesis.
- Dramatic Irony: After Alpha Trion rebuilds Orion, he tells the Aerialbots they "may not recognize him". Orion's new form is then revealed to be Optimus Prime, which unbeknownst to the past Alpha Trion, is someone extremely recognizable to both the Aerialbots and the audience.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Optimus Prime has one at the end when he realizes that it was the Aerialbots who helped Optimus survive his first encounter with Megatron nine million years prior.
- Horrible Judge of Character:
- After chasing the Seekers, the Aerialbots, minus Silverbolt, begin to admire the Decepticons and believe they're not evil, just misunderstood. However, this changes after being sent to the past and witnessing Megatron gun down Orion Pax and his friends.
- Orion Pax was no different. He was a huge fan of Megatron and his band of flying robots. Naturally, he was honored when Megatron stopped by and gave his hero a tour of the storehouse where he worked. The moment Orion mentioned they only stored energy there, Megatron showed his true colors and had his Decepticons attack. Orion and his friends, Ariel and Dion, are all mercilessly gunned down by Megatron in their attempt to stop him. Later, the naïve Orion Pax is rebuilt as the wiser Optimus Prime and becomes a better judge of character.Optimus Prime: I was wrong, my friends. I admired Megatron merely because he was powerful. I failed to see how he used that power.
Slingshot: Ha ha, it's okay. We've all made the same mistake.
- I'm Your Worst Nightmare: This line is used when Megatron meets Optimus Prime (the rebuilt Orion Pax) for the first time.Optimus Prime: You've caused enough destruction for one day, Megatron!
Megatron: I haven't even started!
(Megatron takes several shots at Optimus Prime, but the Autobot is completely unharmed)
Megatron: You! Who are you?!
Optimus Prime: Your worst nightmare! - The Nth Doctor: In the English version, Laurie Faso does Orion Pax while Peter Cullen takes over when he becomes Optimus Prime. Averted in the Japanese version where Tessho Genda does Orion Pax as well.
- No-Sell: After being rebuilt into a new, powerful form, Optimus Prime takes multiple shots from Megatron's cannon and survived - not even a single scratch is on him.
- Non-Standard Character Design: The Cybertronians are drawn with very prominent lips through half the episode. Which jars incredibly with the rest of the episode, which alternates between the usual and a more detailed anime-like style.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Peter Cullen slips into the Southern accent he used for Ironhide during Optimus Prime's "Eureka!" Moment.
- Origins Episode: "War Dawn" serves to explain the origins of Optimus Prime.
- Pet the Dog: After a fight against the Aerialbots at the beginning of the episode, Starscream can be seen helping to fix Skywarp's wing.
- Properly Paranoid: While Orion and Dion express their admiration towards the Decepticons, Ariel worries as she heard rumors that the Cons are building an army and attacked several cities.
- Stable Time Loop: Megatron's time machine's actually the reason Optimus Prime was born. After being sent into the distant past, the Aerialbots would save Orion Pax's life and this lead to the events of his rebirth as the leader of the Autobots, which in turn eventually leads to the creation of the Aerialbots.
- This Is Unforgivable!: The Aerialbots lost all admiration towards the Decepticons after the past Megatron and his forces gunned down Orion Pax, Ariel, Dion and other workers.
- Wham Line: "You may not recognize him. He is no longer Orion Pax. Now, he's the first of our new defenders: Optimus Prime."
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Alpha Trion said that he'd rebuild Ariel as Elita One. But we never find out what became of Dion, whether he's dead or rebuilt as someone.
Word of God is he's dead.
