16 - Motorvational Theory or When Transformers Get Silly

[Grand Moff Muffin]

MOTORVATIONAL THEORY or WHEN TRANSFORMERS GET SILLY

"It's like this. To clear the way for a time-jump you have to lock onto, and displace, beings of a comparable mass from the time zone you are entering. We, for instance, filled the mass-gaps left by three Decepticons, picked at random when we travelled back from 2006. Evidently, Galvatron and his cronies used Prime, Ratchet and Prowl as their mass substitutes..."

"Where exactly are these 'mass substitutes' displaced to?"

"No-one knows for sure. A bit of nothingness between dimensions is the theory. As soon as Galvatron and co. return to 2006, Prime and the others should reappear - alive and undamaged."

- Marvel's Transformers UK #85
___

"At a guess I'd say that this was some sort of parasite, feeding off frenetic mental activity... off emotion, if you like. In particular, it would seem, violent emotion..."

"I believe that the creatures - given enough time and enough violent emotion - could have fashioned a reality from illusion."

- Marvel's Transformers UK #100
___

"Having visited this dimension before, I was able to resist the web these strange creatures weave in the mind! Given time, they fashion a reality from their subject's dreams. Skids - here since Galvatron time-jumped - is perhaps already lost to us!"

- Marvel's Transformers UK #203
___

"Arzon! When it was necessary to fly you found wings! For that, you shall receive the totem of the eagle... Witterquick, for your blinding speed and dexterity, I grant you the totem of the fastest animal in creation - the cheetah!"

- Marvel's Transformers UK #219
___

"The years I spent in the nether dimension called Limbo gave the life-forms that inhabit it a chance to fashion a reality from the dreams they induced. When I was returned to Earth the creatures I'd 'given life to' came with me!"

- Marvel's Transformers UK #220
___

"Now you've got Transformers with little men for heads and guns, Transformers with outer humanoid shells, Transformers whose engines are little men, Double Targetmasters, Micromasters... I get a headache just thinking about it... Nnf! Should find the answer up here."

"Big deal! Probably some Microheadtargetmaster with a Pretender shell!"

- Marvel's Transformers UK #261

NOW READ ON

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

FLAME

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Troubleshooter
Sub-groups: Micromaster, Action Master, Motorvator, Brainmaster
Eternian cyborg component: Sy-Klone
First appearance (as Sy-Klone): Rock Lords vs Battle Beasts
First appearance (as himself): The Last Days of the Transformers War: Nucleon

"Too hot to handle is ice cold to me."


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

When Emirate Xaaron developed the Micromaster process to conserve energy, back in 1988, the names of the first Autobots to transfer their brains to miniature bodies were not, as you might suppose, Roadhandler, Powertrain, Flak and Red Hot. No, their names were Flame (not the mad scientist, another Flame), Lightspeed (not the Technobot, another Lightspeed) and Gripper (the one and only).

Why have you never heard of these, the original Micromasters? Well, because on their very first test mission they had the extreme bad luck of running into Trypticon, who panicked and stomped the suckers flat. (Thunderwing was very cross when he heard this, as he wanted to capture one of them alive in order to acquire the Micromaster process for the Decepticons.)

Three years later... Nucleon! Gripper, Flame and Lightspeed were brought back from the brink of death. They all felt an intense power surge through their bodies, making them stronger, faster, more alive than ever before! But... they could no longer transform. They had become the first and only Action Master Micromasters!

The trio quickly came up with an ingenious means of getting around their lack of mobility - they hauled their original, pre-Micromaster bodies out of storage and plugged themselves into the voids left inside them when Xaaron stripped out their cerebral and neural circuits back in 1988. When they transformed the larger bodies into their vehicle modes, the Action Master Micromaster sat in the driver's seat. In robot form, the driver controlled the body from behind the facial hologram. In either mode, the larger body, running on energon, received all the benefits of the enhanced powers conferred on the smaller robot by the Nucleon running through its systems, whilst retaining the ability to transform. Thus... the 'Motorvators' were born!

The thinker in the team, Flame is a brilliant advisor in battle and tracking tactics. Equipped with a problem-solving analytical compu-unit, he is sneaky and cunning in a conflict situation, as mentally agile as Lightspeed is physically fast, leaving most of his enemies far behind him in the brainpower stakes. He has a very cool character, and is a sharp observer of others. There is no dark place completely safe from his eye. His icy demeanour makes fellow Autobots tense, and he dislikes socialising with others. His flameproof laser-evader proton armour makes him an invincible attack force, both in robot mode and when disguised as a Lamborghini Countach sports car. His extreme fighting move is the 'Blizzard Storm Attack', whereby he turns his tyres at full speed to power up special climate-control devices that freeze his enemies solid.

In the year 2021, the Motorvators underwent a further evolution, as they reinstalled their cerebral circuitry in the chest modules of their larger robot forms and binary-bonded to homeworldless superhumans who now took the places previously occupied by the discarded Action Master Micromaster figures. Thus they became the first 'Brainmasters'!

Flame is now binary-bonded to Sy-Klone, a blue-skinned cyborg who possesses the ability to spin at super-speed and generate a whirlwind. He is also able to spin different parts of his body individually. Excluding Rock People and the wholly mechanical Roboto, Sy-Klone is the only Heroic Warrior to escape the destruction of the other-dimensional planet Eternia, in contrast to their evil foes, many of whom managed to survive - an injustice that weighs heavily upon Sy-Klone. In becoming a Brainmaster, Flame acquired an attack vehicle mode, with a double-barrelled variable burning/freezing cyclone cannon mounted on his roof, and he can also now combine with Gripper and Lightspeed to form the giant robot known as Road Caesar.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

GRIPPER

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Assault Force Leader
Sub-groups: Micromaster, Action Master, Motorvator, Brainmaster
Thunderian component: Felina
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Nucleon

"To go forward across unknown terrain is only the beginning..."


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

In the year 1991, the Motorvators fought well in the Battle of Klo, but it was in the later Battle of Hydrus Four that they distinguished themselves, drawing the Double Powermaster Overlord out into the open with their extreme driving and setting him up for an ambush by Ultra Magnus, Computron and Omega Supreme. Then in 1993 they finished the job by teaming up with Steeljaw to hunt down and destroy Overlord's last surviving vehicular component. In the late 1990s they spent some time on Earth, where they acquired their current vehicular configurations, which they retain to this day, because although the designs are somewhat dated they really like
their style. In the year 2021, thirty years on from their debut as Action Master Micromasters and Motorvators, the three Brainmasters take on the role of roving heroes, alternating between Nebulos and Planet Beast as required, championing the enduring bond between mechanical and organic civilisations.

The tougher the terrain, the better Gripper likes it, thanks to his mega-grip tyres and super-reinforced vehicular armour. He takes in all around him with his wide-sweep radar and sonic scanner. He transforms from a Baja buggy into a mighty robot wielding a crack-calibre laser-blazer broadsword, and his high-quality construction makes him almost indestructible. In his 'Needle Wheel Attack', he expands all four tyres and shoots the sharp, spiked treads at his opponents with force sufficient to pierce almost any armour.

Courage and pure strength are Gripper's trademarks. He commands immeasurable power as leader of the Brainmaster assault force. An experienced hero who frequently deputises for Thunderclash Prime in command situations, he has a gruff personality, and no-one can stop him when he gets angry. Usually very frank, he nonetheless shows consideration to less-experienced comrades, and enjoys acting as their mentor.

Gripper is now binary-bonded to Felina, a blue-grey-skinned, sharp-clawed refugee from the destroyed planet Thundera, and long-lost daughter of the legendary Thundercat Panthro. Like both her father and her Autobot partner, Felina is a fierce warrior, quick-tempered yet considerate to those less able to defend themselves. She wields nunchaku styled on those used by her father during his later years on Third Earth and New Thundera. In becoming a Brainmaster, Gripper acquired a shield, and an attack vehicle mode, with a double-barrelled armour-piercing nail gun mounted on his roof, and he can also now combine with Flame and Lightspeed to form the giant robot known as Road Caesar.

Additional biographical note: When Felina learnt that the last of the Plun-darr Reptilians, S-S-Slobb, believed to have fired the laser bolt that killed her father on New Thundera, had taken refuge in the Fright Zone area of Planet Beast ruled by King Hiss and his Snake Men, she was overcome by a desire for revenge. With the aid of her stealthy friend Shadowkitten, she infiltrated the Fright Zone, but found herself unable to kill the sleeping Reptilian in cold blood. Instead she left him a note challenging him to a duel to the death on the Isle of Fight. Felina, Shadowkitten and a third young Thunderian named Bobkitten met S-S-Slobb and his Jackalman and Monkian comrades on the arena-shaped artificial island, and they fought three duels simultaneously. Each of the Thunderian girls emerged victorious, and that was the end of the last of the evil mutants from the planet Plun-darr, much to the amusement of the Snake Men who had been providing them with sanctuary.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

LIGHTSPEED

Allegiance: Autobot
Functions: Scout, messenger
Sub-groups: Micromaster, Action Master, Motorvator, Brainmaster
Spectral Knight component: Witterquick
First appearance (as Witterquick): Marvel's Transformers UK #215 ('The End - The Beginning')
First appearance (as himself): The Last Days of the Transformers War: Nucleon

"Light-years flash past at mind-numbingly sub-atomic speeds."


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Exceeding all known groundspeed limits, faster than light itself, he races ahead of the team on reconnaissance missions in the likeness of a Ferrari F40 sports car. Lightspeed's micro-lens photo-recording equipment supplies all the data Flame and Gripper require to formulate their battle plans. In robot form, his speed is transferred to his fighting ability, his lethal laser-jousting technique rendering his laserblade invisible when in motion. This impossibly rapid Motorvator is beyond the reach of his more slow-moving enemies. No-one can track him - a blur on the radar, and he's already on his way back. His 'Blur in Hellfire' attack discharges energised oil from the base of his feet, which encircles his enemies faster than the eye can see before finally igniting.

Lightspeed is now binary-bonded to Witterquick, a Spectral Knight refugee from the destroyed planet Prysmos. When the wizard Merklynn appeared across Prysmos and called upon its citizens to reach his secret chamber in the great Iron Mountain, Witterquick took up the challenge. He ably demonstrated his natural dexterity and speed by dodging through a series of deadly traps. Upon reaching Merklynn's chamber, Witterquick was given the cheetah totem and the power of Light Speed, making him now the ideal partner for one of the fastest Autobots alive. In becoming a Brainmaster, Lightspeed acquired an attack vehicle mode, with a double-barrelled particle accelerator cannon mounted on his roof, and he can also now combine with Flame and Gripper to form the giant robot known as Road Caesar.

Additional biographical note: Less than a year after Merklynn gave the Spectral Knights and Darkling Lords their magical powers, he sent them on a quest to recover four talismans of immense power, representing the elements of earth, air, fire and water. The quest ended in disaster, as the evil Darkstorm attempted to combine the power of the talismans himself rather than hand them over to the wizard, resulting in the destruction of himself, his men and, ultimately, Prysmos itself. The speed of Witterquick was instrumental in enabling the Spectral Knights and a handful of civilians to make it off the planet before the end.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

GALAXY SHUTTLE

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Shuttle service between Nebulos and Planet Beast
Sub-group: Headmaster
Elephant component: Shuffler
Humanoid crew: Arzon, Leopard-O, Roboto
First appearance (as Arzon): Marvel's Transformers UK #215 ('The End - The Beginning')
First appearance (as Roboto): Rock Lords vs Battle Beasts
First appearance (as himself): Right here

"All aboard for adventure!"


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Galaxy Shuttle is a new Autobot, commissioned in the year 2021 to act as a regular transport between Nebulos and Planet Beast for the Brainmasters and their humanoid allies. He is crewed by Arzon, a Spectral Knight from the destroyed planet Prysmos who possesses the totem of the eagle and the power of Knowledge, Leopard-O, a mottled-skinned scientist from the destroyed planet Thundera, and Roboto, an android from the destroyed planet Eternia whose right hand can alternate between axe, claw and laser gun. Shuffler, a talking pygmy elephant from the planet Halfworld in Headmaster armour, sometimes takes the place of Galaxy Shuttle's regular head.

Galaxy Shuttle can dock with the rocket base commanded by the Autobot Micromaster Countdown. His tech-specs say that he is armed with a 'Moonlight Gun', and that his special attack is the 'Meteor Crusher', whereby he gathers together a vast number of meteors, then turns them and himself into a ball of fire and plunges down upon his land-based foes, smashing them to a powder. However, having not seen combat thus far, this is all purely theoretical.

Galaxy Shuttle has a funny voice.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

ROAD CAESAR

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Protector
Sub-group: Brainmasters
Humanoid partners: Felina, Sy-Klone, Witterquick
First appearance (as Witterquick): Marvel's Transformers UK #215 ('The End - The Beginning')
First appearance (as Sy-Klone): Rock Lords vs Battle Beasts
First appearance (as himself): Right here

"You too can be a hero!"


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Providing hope and inspiration to all who call upon him for aid, Road Caesar is a giant hero filled with indomitable fighting spirit. Unlike many of his combiner predecessors, who suffered from limited intelligence or other impairments when combined, Road Caesar is a perfect fusion of his component members. Without exerting himself, he can easily lift 400 tons. He wields the mighty 'Road Blade', a massive sword formed from the combination of the individual blades of Flame, Gripper and Lightspeed. But even this weapon pales in comparison to his 'Brain Wheel Shocker' technique, which sees Road Caesar launch rings of destructive energy from all twelve of his tyres at once.

When the three Brainmaster Autobots form Road Caesar, their humanoid components - the Thunderian Felina, the Eternian cyborg Sy-Klone and the Spectral Knight Witterquick - are free to operate alongside him as a superhero support team in their own right, of which Felina acts as the de facto leader.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

RESCUE FORCE

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Special Operations
First appearance: Prelude to the Predator War: Who is Skyquake?


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Centuries ago, the Decepticons decided to upgrade six of their soldiers to create a formidable new combining team, each of whose members would receive an armoured breastplate capable of transforming into either a hand-held weapon or a robotic beast. They botched it. One of the team, Deathcobra, blew his brain circuits the moment they powered him up, and was hastily replaced by a substitute. The team then went into the field against Computron, and he wiped the floor with them, smashing their combined form, Liokaiser, and obliterating two of the six - Gunhawk and Hellbat, who made up Liokaiser's arms - with ease. The remaining four overheated due to the stress of combat and their cerebral circuits went into meltdown. The Technobots claimed their bodies as the spoils of war and took them back to Autobase.

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

The Autobots re-engineered the four Decepticons to serve as search-and-rescue drones, and over time they became known as the Rescue Force, serving Emirate Xaaron both before and after his resurrection as Thunderclash Prime. In 2018, the human Matrix-bearer Katy Witwicky gave them sentient brain modules and they became Autobot personalities in their own right - Clawbison (a Gepard anti-aircraft tank with extension claws and a bovine beast partner), Jaguar (a Baja buggy with a missile rack and a robotic feline companion), Drillhorn (a tunnelling machine with hand-held drills and a rhinoceros breastplate) and their leader, Lionheart (a Grumman F-14D Tomcat fighter jet with a photon cannon and leonine partner).

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TRANNIS

Allegiance: Decepticon
Functions: War-Lord, Emperor of Destruction
First appearance: Marvel's Transformers UK #83 ('Cybertron: The Middle Years')

"Victory!"


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

With the disappearance of their leader and some of the most powerful Autobot warriors, the Autobot army fell into disarray. Though the Council of Autobot Elders, led by High Councillor Traachon, tried to bond their remaining soldiers together once more, it was the Decepticons, also bereft of their high command, who took the initiative. A young and ambitious War-Lord named Trannis seized control of the Decepticon army.

Sensing the Autobots' weakened state, Trannis systematically began to undo all the work Optimus Prime had done. City-states that he had liberated fell in quick succession to a vicious and concerted campaign of terror, as Trannis cast a shadow over his enemies in his giant dragon (or 'Deathsaurus') mode, backed with brutal force, as he wallowed in the fuel of his victims, smashing them to bits with his 'Death Tailer', a large spiked ball-on-chain weapon. Despite his successes, Trannis reached the same deadlock experienced by his predecessor when he reached Iacon... The deadlock remained for hundreds of thousands of years, until Trannis - now in almost total control of the rest of Cybertron - decided that Iacon simply wasn't worth capturing intact any more. That decided, he unleashed the full might of the Decepticon firepower against the city, leading with his own 'Death Wing' attack, in which he used the Wing Cutters on his back to convert starlight into corrosive dark energy and channel it, through his large cannon, against Iacon's defensive dome, almost levelling it in the process. War-Lord Trannis marched triumphantly into the shattered shell of Iacon. His first act was to order his transforming breastplates to assume their eagle and winged tiger forms and brutally execute all members of the Council!

Unknown to Trannis, over the next thousand or so years, Emirate Xaaron united all the scattered remnants of the Autobot army... He sent his crack troop of commandos, the Wreckers, to assassinate Trannis. At great cost, they succeeded - Roadbuster ripped off his Wing Cutters, Rack'n'Ruin shattered his Death Tailer, Whirl sliced up his eagle beast, Topspin blasted the winged tiger, Twin Twist drilled through his body armour, and Impactor harpooned his brain module. The reign of Trannis, the terrible Deathsaurus, was ended.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

YELLOW CONSTRUCTICONS

Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Construction, perchance?
First appearance: Life and Freedom

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

To a prospective conqueror of worlds, the Constructicons were among the most useful of all Decepticons to have under one's command. Whether you wanted an interstellar transmitter dish, a defensive fortress, a Unicron-busting cannon, a flying island or a Self-contained Nomadic Assault Machine, they were your 'bots. But Devastator was a bit rubbish compared to most of the other combiners, and the Constructicons were no better for having individual personalities. So, when word got around about how good they were at building stuff, the other Decepticons realised that to share in the benefits enjoyed by whoever was lucky enough to have them currently under his direct command, all they needed was to replicate their basic configurations and mental functions. Essentially, they could be cloned.

When the Micromaster Battle Squad, led by Direct-Hit, set out in 2017 to terrorise the Autobots, the humans and the Decepticons who treacherously maintained the peace with them, they quickly realised that they needed some major upgrades before going toe-to-toe with the likes of Thunderclash and Shrapnel. So who did they enlist? The yellow Constructicons. These non-sentient drones lacked life and the ability to combine, but they had the same technical abilities as the original green Constructicons. In a matter of months, they had assembled mighty warrior forms for the six Micromasters to inhabit - the Predators! Direct-Hit controlled Skyquake, the Predator Commander-in-Chief, while Fireshot, Half-Track, Vanquish, Power Punch and Meltdown operated Falcon, Skydive, Snare, Stalker and Talon respectively. The Predator War was vicious and costly in Autobot, Decepticon and human lives, and although the Predators and their Micromaster pilots were ultimately destroyed, the yellow Constructicons' creations were nonetheless the pinnacle of Transformer technology in the year 2018.

The yellow Constructicons waited patiently for their masters to return to base, not realising that they were not coming back. Instead, one of their captives, a human Circuit-Breaker, escaped from her torture chamber and freed the Insecticon being held in the cell next-door. He retrieved her Circuit-Breaker costume from her star-fighter, she found his sub-machine gun, and together they went to work. And, alas, that was the end of the yellow Constructicons.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

VICTORY LION

Allegiance: Autobot/Thundercat
Function: Thundertank
Sub-groups: Triple Changer, Headmaster
Lion component: Lione
First appearance: Right here

"Might beyond might."


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Building their new Cats' Lair on the southern continent of Planet Beast, close to the friendly Battle Beast and Rock Lord settlements of Beastbourne and Rocksford, the surviving Thunderians realised that their natural athleticism and fighting agility would only get them so far when it came to combating hostile Laser Beasts from across the sea, the rogue Rock People and Rockasaurs led by the evil Magmar, and the technological terrors of the reconstituted Evil Horde, now commanded by King Hiss. Therefore, the blacksmith Bengali, aided by his apprentice Servalis, intelligent daughter of the scientist Leopard-O (now serving on the Galaxy Shuttle travelling back and forth between Planet Beast and Nebulos), constructed the Thundercats' most advanced war machine to date to act as their new Thundertank - the first Autobot created by Thunderians - the Victory Lion.

The Victory Lion is a Triple Changer, transforming from a flying tank into a winged lion or a humanoid robotic warrior. Everybody agrees that the winged lion mode is by far the best. The intuitive Siamara acts as the Victory Lion's principal pilot/partner, guiding its actions. Like the Thunderstrike, piloted by Wildkitten, the Victory Lion's flight mode seats three Thunderians and is capable of faster-than-light interstellar travel.

The Victory Lion possesses the greatest firepower of any machine on Planet Beast, with its long-range 'V-Lock' missile rifle, a pair of rock-shattering V-Lock cannons, and two hip-mounted rotary cannons, which are capable of firing bullets at a rate of 100 rounds per second. The Lion's sheer destructive potential troubles the compassionate Pumyra, current custodian of the sacred Sword of Omens and Eye of Thundera. With many of the adolescent Thunderians actively embracing the Battle Beast ethos of engaging in mortal combat for fun, she fears that they have become too war-like, and wonders whether Thundakat (formerly Wilykat) had the right idea when he made only a brief appearance on Planet Beast before departing into space again with his friend Cloud, the living nebula. The Thunderian priest Ligra, however, urges Pumyra to accept the Thundercats' warrior heritage and focus on directing their people's fighting instincts towards noble goals, defined by honour, justice and defence of the weak, rather than deny altogether their feline urges for combat. Pumyra's concerns have been somewhat lessened by the arrival of a Matrixed brain module from Earth, which instils in the Victory Lion - or Victory Leo, as he is more affectionately known - the values of the Code of Thundera - justice, truth, honour and loyalty. The Matrixed Victory Leo has a disarming sense of humour, and is particularly protective of the two mischievous Thunderian cubs, Tabbykat, son of the priest Ligra, and the orphan cub Alleykat, and they love riding around on his back.

The Victory Lion only has three modes and doesn't combine with anything except, occasionally, Lione, a talking lion from the planet Halfworld in Headmaster armour, who sometimes takes the place of Victory Leo's regular head.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

DASHTACKER

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Overland warrior
Sub-group: Multiforce
First appearance: Right here

"I'm so confused."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

You remember the Duocons, right? No... actually, forget the Duocons. Um...

You remember how Grand Slam transforms from a cassette tape into a tank, and how Raindance transforms from a cassette tape into a jet, and how they combine to form the robot Slamdance, with Grand Slam as the body and Raindance as the legs?

Well, Dashtacker is exactly the same. Dash transforms from a sports car into a robot, and Tacker transforms from a military transport vehicle into a robot, and the two combine to form a larger robot called Dashtacker, with Dash as the body and Tacker as the legs.

Just like Slamdance.

Except... okay, if they want to, Tacker can be the body and Dash the legs, and then you get a different robot called Tackerdash.

Just like Danceslam would be.

If he existed.

Which he doesn't.

So that's all right then.

And, also, Dash combines with Mach to form Dashmach. Or Machdash.

And Dash combines with Tackle to form Dashtackle. Or Tackledash. And with Wing to form Dashwing or Wingdash. And with Waver to form Dashwaver or Waverdash.

And Tacker can combine with Mach to form Machtacker or Tackermack. And with Tackle to form Tackertackle or Tackletacker. And with Wing to form Tackerwing or Wingtacker. Or with Waver to form Tackerwaver or Wavertacker.

Oh God, this means there's going to be an Autobot called Tacklewaver at some point, isn't there?

Look, forget about Slamdance. It's more like the Micromaster combiners, okay?

Anyway, Dash also combines with Tacker and Mach and Tackle and Wing and Waver to form Dashtackermachtacklewingwaver. (Also known as Landcross.)

It says here that Dash and Tacker shake the ground, gathering energy from the Earth's magma and drawing in solar energy, and then release it in their 'Multiple Turbo Fire Attack'. This is apparently the strongest and hottest ground attack, and actually sounds pretty good.

It also says here that Dash and Tacker have two unique personalities. Dash is proud, quick and hasty, while Tacker is strategically minded and thinks things through calmly. Though they have opposing characters, their rugged combination seems to work out well.

FILE ENDS

[Philip Ayres]

Are we getting a Tacklewaver profile?

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I leave that one for Matt M to do.

Martin

[Philip Ayres]

blueshift ..... step up to the plate man!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

It seems we have discovered the one thing that gets Phil interested in the fan-fiction board.

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

MACHTACKLE

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Land and air warrior
Sub-group: Multiforce
First appearance: Right here

"Welcome tae yer gory bed, or tae victorie."


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

The Multiforce were six normal small Autobots trying to establish a post-war settlement in the area of the abandoned city-state of Vos when the Red Mutant Zoid army landed and politely but insistently asked them to move along. They headed to Iacon to explore alternative options, and Prowl suggested that they might like to act as ambassadors to Cameron, the only planet in the the fledgling Autobot-human alliance where the Autobots had no permanent ambassadors. They agreed to give it a go, but before they left, Wheeljack upgraded them so that any two of them could combine into a larger robot, with either component forming the top or bottom half. He was rather pleased with his achievement, though some of them thought it a little excessive. They still haven't tried out all the combinations, but one early experiment led to the formation of Machtackle.

Due to a misunderstanding, the Multiforce's English-language speech circuits were programmed so that whenever Mach forms the top half, the resultant robot is Scottish and prone to quote Robert Burns or, if the pairing is a bad one, William McGonagall.

The Multiforce engineered themselves to transform into the likenesses of the space-age vehicles indigenous to the high-tech human world that was home to Cameron Space Control, and were surprised at the disappointment expressed when they arrived and introduced themselves. It seems that since Cameron re-established contact with the planet on which humans originally evolved, Earth culture was all the rage, and they'd been looking forward to welcoming Autobots who turned into quaint Earthen contraptions, which they thought all Autobots did. To please their hosts, the Multiforce soon rectified this matter by adopting Earthen disguise modes.

Mach expands in size when he transforms into a space shuttle large enough to carry his five fellow Multiforce members. Tackle is the all-terrain vehicle. It says here that they convert the energy of the moonlight and geological power to bind the enemy in the air, whatever that means. Apparently they absorb the cosmic power from the light of the moon and control the power of the ground to shake the axis of the Earth and cause a tornado in what they call their 'Multi-Spin Tornado Attack'. It sounds highly irresponsible, if you ask me. Fortunately, the Multiforce are stationed on the planet Cameron rather than on Earth, so it's their problem to worry about and not ours.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

WINGWAVER

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Air and sea warrior
Sub-group: Multiforce
First appearance: Right here

"When the land stops, we don't."


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

It says here that Wing (the jet) is leader of the Multiforce squadron, an excellent team player and strategist, while Waver (the hoverboat) is the deputy leader and helps Wing with his knowledge and kindness. That's nice. Apparently they change the wind and water into a multiple power to wipe out the enemy. Specifically, they manipulate the wind and suck up the water from the sea and rivers to create an artificial tidalwave, in an attack called 'The Multi-Dead Hurricane', which is the strongest attack of all the Multiforce members. Don't forget, though, Waver - knowledge and kindness!

On Cameron, the Multiforce's guides and liaisons with the planetary authorities are a woman and two men codenamed Aquastar, Bulletforce and Zetoca, who, like several other humans serving with Cameron Space Control, have undergone the Powermaster process, which enables them to transform into additional engines compatible with the majority of Transformers, and give any robot they lock onto an extra power boost. They have not been assigned as partners to any particular members of the visiting Multiforce, but can alternate between them as circumstances require.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

LANDCROSS

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Land, air and sea warrior
Sub-group: Multiforce
First appearance: Right here

"Guns win wars, but words win the peace."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Landcross is the Autobots' most technologically advanced combiner, formed from the six small members of the Multiforce squadron, any two of whom can combine into a medium-sized robot. Each such robot has a different merged personality, and the personality differs depending on which small robot forms the body and which the legs, making 30 different medium-sized Autobot characters. Some pairings work better than others - they all have strengths and weaknesses. But, as if by a miracle, when all six Multiforcers get together to form Landcross, the result is the most stable personality of all, braver, more intelligent and more skilful than any of the small or medium-sized Multiforce robots. Consequently, they spend more time in their combined form than any other Autobot or Decepticon Special Team.

The Multiforce are based on the planet Cameron, homeworld of Doubledealer's human partner, Knok, and the VsQs Exploration Team who stumbled upon Optimus Prime's original body back in 1989, and headquarters of Cameron Space Control, the space-faring organisation first referred to by Bumblebee in Part 4 of 'Matrix Quest'. Cameron is the most technologically advanced human world in many ways, certainly when it comes to space travel, though Nebulos has taught them a thing or two about biomechanical engineering, Halfworld has the most advanced robotics and cybernetically/genetically enhanced fauna, and Earth, whose human population dwarfs that of any of its nearby colony worlds, is the most culturally (and racially) diverse of the four, as well as the oldest, and has the monopoly on superhumans and magicians. Cameron is noteworthy for having more people living in orbiting space stations than it has living in cities on the ground, which is surprising in a way, as it's a very nice and largely unspoilt planet, which the Multiforce are eager to explore.

Landcross can lift up to 400 tons and is armed with the 'Hybrid Gun', which is formed by combining the six guns of his component Multiforcers. His special fighting move is the 'Multi-Hybrid Thunder'. This torpedo technique is an explosive combination of the forces that are the energies of his six components - wind (Wing), water (Waver), sun (Dash), fire (Tacker), moon (Mach) and earth (Tackle). Like most of the Multiforce's special powers, it has yet to be tested in anger.

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GREATSHOT AND VICTORY SABER

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: N/A
Sub-groups: Sixchanger, Micromaster, Action Master, Motorvator, Brainmaster
First and last appearance: Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Several children growing up on the planet Cameron took part in a design-a-Transformer contest as part of their school's 'Art Week'. The Autobot Landcross judged their efforts, and tried not to hurt their feelings. One lazy little boy who everyone called Loafer had clearly just downloaded the schematics of the Decepticon Sixshot, coloured him in different colours and given him a new head and breastplate, while a girl named Kirk got carried away with the Motorvator concept:

"My Transformer is, you know, an Action Master Micromaster, with a sword, who goes inside a Motorvator jet, who has a sword, and that goes inside a larger robot jet, who has the biggest sword in the history of the universe, and, and, and, you can put Victory Leo's wings and guns on him to make him even awesomer."

"What does that leave of poor Victory Leo?" Landcross gently asked the excited child.

"Oh, he forms these big platform shoes for Star Saber to stand on, to make him taller than all his enemies."

Bless, thought Landcross.

In the end, he gave the prize to a little boy whose parents had seen fit to give him the popular Earth name Rodney, for coming up with the novel idea of a Transformer that turned into a tree.

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[Grand Moff Muffin]

Done a bit of editing. Found a place for the extra humanoid Headmaster heads, Kirk, Loafer and Rodney, in the Greatshot / Victory Saber item, and for the extra Powermaster engines, Aquastar, Bullet and Zetoca, in the Wing Waver entry. Have made Lione an optional extra head for Victory Leo, and Shuffler an optional extra head for Galaxy Shuttle. Because why not.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

ARAGON (a.k.a. Roadfire)

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: City Defence
Sub-groups: Powerdasher, Triple Changer
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"The Sparkdashers are just the warm-up act - I'm the full-on inferno."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

The Powerdashers were a new form of Autobot, commissioned on Cybertron in the mid-1980s. As they were constructed after the displacement of Optimus Prime to Limbo by Galvatron, which caused the death of the Matrix Flame, Emirate Xaaron was unable to grant them life as he had Ultra Magnus, Broadside, Sandstorm and Springer, and so they served instead as drones - friendly, cheerful and obedient, fast and skilful, but unable to act on their own initiative. But their power grew over time, and they were constantly evolving, as the Autobots modfied their bodies, adding to them, improving them. Consequently, whenever they were called into action, the Autobot requesting their assistance was warned that the model of Powerdasher he received might not quite match the one portrayed in the catalogue.

As their technical specifications were always changing, little was known about the Powerdashers' true strengths and weaknesses. They have been able to take on a variety of shapes and forms, and operate at various levels of kinetic energy. The Powerdasher armoured car referred to as Aragon was gradually modified over the years, not least through the addition of a formidable 'burst cannon', so that, by the time it was finally Matrixed in the year 2018, it looked more like a tank than a car and had a third mode in the form of a Micromaster battle station. Soon afterwards, it/he declared that he would prefer to go by the name of Roadfire. His special attack is the blazing 'Fire Kick' and his Micromaster partner is called Drillbuster.

The three Powerdashers have recently acquired the ability to combine their vehicle modes to form a larger vehicle, called simply the Big Powerdasher.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

CROMAR (a.k.a. Sonic Bomber)

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: City Defence
Sub-groups: Powerdasher, Triple Changer
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"Sonic BOOOM!"

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Like the armoured car, the Powerdasher jet called Cromar has also grown and evolved over the years, and acquired a Micromaster battle station mode to assist Groundshaker, Metroplex and Quickswitch in the defence of Iacon. In this form, it/he is serviced by the Autobot Micromaster called Sonic, and, upon his eventual Matrixing in the year 2018, Cromar announced that he would like to be renamed Sonic Bomber.

When in flight, Sonic Bomber can generate concussive sound waves to knock out his enemies, and in robot mode he is armed with something called a 'vulcan shot' rifle. In vehicle form, he combines with his team-mates to form the Big Powerdasher.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

ZETAR

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: City Defence
Sub-groups: Powerdasher, Quadruple Changer
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"I bear my burden gladly."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

The Powerdasher drill named Zetar has grown and evolved over the last thirty or so years, and now has four modes - robot, drill tank, flying drill and Micromaster battle station. He is equipped with an energy-reflecting shield, a 'magna shot' rifle and a dual laser cannon. In his battle station form, Zetar is manned by the Autobot Micromaster called Speeder. He combines with Roadfire and Sonic Bomber to make the giant vehicle known only as the Big Powerdasher.

Zetar's wings transform into a Z-shaped sword. He thinks his name suits this ability, and so has no plans to change it in the foreseeable future. Zetar takes his city defence responsibilities very seriously, and sometimes feels that he bears the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, just like the mythical Atlas.

In battle station mode, Roadfire, Sonic Bomber and Zetar link together with the Landshaker defence base commanded by Groundshaker, the Missile Launcher combiner transport operated by Retro and Surge, and the Tanker Truck combiner transport operated by Gusher and Pipeline, to create an awesome Micromaster defence complex from which the Air Patrol, the Battle Patrol and Overload sally forth under Groundshaker's direction to defend Autobot City: Cybertron. Alternatively, one or more of the Powerdashers may venture beyond the city limits to support the Battlefield Headquarters commanded by Full-Barrel and Overflow and the smaller battle stations / bases manned by Hothouse and Ironworks.

FILE ENDS

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FACT-FILE INTERFACE

BATTLESTAR-GLIDER

Allegiance: Cameron Space Control
Function: Interstellar defence
Sub-group: Triple Changer
First appearance (as Cameron star-glider): Twenty Years Later
First appearance (as Battlestar-Glider): Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

The Battlestar-Glider is a new model of Cameron star-glider intended to soon replace the well-worn model that currently forms the backbone of the Autobot-human interstellar defence fleet. Almost indistinguishable from the star-gliders now in service - including the star-gliders 'Spearhead', 'Stalwart', 'Victory' and 'Vigilant' used by the Cameron Space Marines - the Battlestar-Glider is far more versatile, as it is a Triple Changer, capable of transforming from star-glider to battle station to giant robot warrior. The first prototype Battlestar-Glider, dubbed 'Sky Garrison', is actually an fully-fledged Autobot, Matrixed by the former Space Marine Katy Witwicky in the year 2021.

Sky Garrison is commanded by Squadron Commander 'Silencer' Arigoz, former Targetmaster partner of the Autobot Landfill, and crewed by the Micromaster named Shotbomber and Sergeant Bullorn the Bludgeonly Bulldog, a Battle Beast whose armour has been upgraded with Circuit-Breaker technology. Each Battlestar-Glider carries a Microtrailer and Robot-Buster Mk VI exo-suit.

Sky Garrison wields two 'star shot' rifles, and his special attack is the 'Mystery Circle Punch', which involves suddenly revealing his Autobot nature by transforming to robot mode and punching his enemy in the face, really hard. In battle station mode he can link up to Countdown's rocket base.

FILE ENDS

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FACT-FILE INTERFACE

GRAND-ASS BASE

Allegiance: Cameron Space Control
Function: Star-fighter carrier
Sub-group: Triple Changer
First appearance: Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

'Grand-Ass' Base is an amphibious multi-modal aircraft carrier. When you see it trundling towards you on caterpillar tracks the height of a two-storey house, the first thing that goes through your mind is "AAAHHH!!!" But at some point in your consideration you will also marvel at the fact that this wonder of engineering floats, and is virtually unsinkable. Really.

Grand-Ass Base operates on the ocean planet of Pequod, where it has been stationed, acting largely as a deterrent to would-be invaders, since the failed Quintesson invasion of 2018. It is staffed by two Autobot Micromasters, Spinner and Robocritter, under the command of the Nebulan Captain Flintlock (who transforms into a stress pistol), and acts as a take-off and landing platform for the Circuit-Breaker-piloted star-fighters of Cameron Space Control.

On the rare occasions that Grand-Ass Base assumes its giant robot configuration on dry land, its signature attack is the earthquake-inducing 'Stonehenge Kick'. In all its modes, it is armed with multiple surface-to-orbit laser cannons and missile batteries, and equipped with over-the-horizon radar and upper-atmosphere small-object-tracking capabilities. It also has a working elevator, which brings landed aircraft into its interior hangar for maintenance and safe storage. In addition to all this, Grand-Ass Base has a full complement of Microtrailers and Robot-Buster Mk VI exo-suits.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

HOT RODIMUS

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Cavalier
Sub-group: Micromaster
First appearance (as Hot Rod): Marvel's Transformers UK #132 ('Kup's Story')
First appearance (as himself): Right here

"Action only where words fail."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

From the memory banks of Optimus Prime:

In the year 2021, I rested my circuits, alone in the parking garage at the base of Avengers Tower in New York, enjoying a rare moment of silence and solitude. Much of the last two years had been taken up with guarding, entertaining, educating and befriending the now-toddler Matrix-bearer, Minerva Witwicky, grandchild of Buster Witwicky, who I had tricked into taking the Creation Matrix more than three-and-a-half decades previously. Actions have consequences.

The child was now elsewhere, playing with her powers in the 'safe' environment of the Sorceress Supreme's Sanctum Sanctorum, so I got to take a break.

An Autobot Micromaster came down the stairs from the entrance lobby and hesitantly approached the grey, cuboid trailer that was all that remained of the Autobots' greatest leader.

"Optimus? Can I speak to you?"

"Yes. It's Hot Rod, isn't it?"

"That's right. We've never met. It's an honour..."

I transformed into Combat Deck mode, my single claw arm reaching down to gently grab the small Autobot around the torso and lift him up to my main viewer, for a closer inspection.

"No, the honour is mine. We've never met, but I know all about you. You fought bravely under the command of both Fortress Maximus and my Nebulan Powermaster namesake, against both the Decepticons and Unicron. I am always honoured to meet a truly courageous and compassionate Heroic Autobot." I put Hot Rod down next to my much larger scout car, Roller. "You've changed."

"Yes, I've just undergone the Micromaster process, ahead of a diplomatic mission to the planet Halfworld."

"Yes, but that wasn't what I meant. You've changed on the inside. According to your records, you've adapted well to the decades of peace, serving admirably in various ambassadorial capacities. You're not the hot-headed, impulsive warrior you once were, are you?"

"You're very perceptive. Yeah, I've mellowed over the years. And you're not the same either, are you?"

"Indeed not. I leave warfare to my successors now. Go ahead - you can ask the question."

"Why have you never rebuilt your cab module? Or upgraded? There are some great designs out there for a new, improved Optimus Prime." And he projected a three-dimensional hologram of something truly ghastly, labelled 'Battlestar-Convoy Optimus Prime'.

"Expectations. Our people would have expectations of me if I returned in my familiar robot form or a variant thereof. But existing as a trailer, they let me alone. I often tease the Protectobots for leaving my intact trailer behind with Ethan Zachary when they ceremoniously processed my robot remains back to the Ark in 1987, little realising that once Ethan's backup copy of my personality was reinstalled, I would live again. But I am truly grateful for the opportunity it has given me to be something other than a warrior."

"A nursemaid?"

"And protector of the Internet, remember. But returning to you... I also know from your file about Rodimus Prime, your future self."

"A future self I never got to become. Powermaster Optimus Prime destroyed Unicron in 1991, and the Creation Matrix never chose me."

"There are currently two Optimus Primes and one Thunderclash Prime. None of us now possess the Matrix, so what's preventing you from being Rodimus? A better Rodimus - one that you create for yourself, rather than have created for you overnight by a higher power?"

"That sounds like wisdom."

"Well, then. Maybe it's time to upgrade your name to go with your new Micromaster body. And your motto..."

"All right, thanks, Optimus. Think I'll hang on to my function for a bit, though."

"Cavalier?"

"Yeah, it's never really made sense, until today, when I actually got to ride a horse for the first time ever."

"The Valkyrie's, I take it."

"Right. Still too heavy for an Earth horse. Okay, great to meet you... Commander. I'll leave you in peace now."

"Good luck on your mission on Halfworld, Rodimus."

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

SKY HYPER AND THE DEMOLITION DERBY PATROL

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Self-contained Nomadic Defence Machine
Sub-group: Micromaster base
First appearance (as Skyhopper's base): The Last Days of the Transformers War: Unicron
First appearance (as itself): Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Skystalker brought an army of over a hundred Decepticon Micromasters into the field against Unicron in 1991. Most of them died (including Skystalker himself), and the majority of their vehicles, linked together to form a mobile city consisting of bases, battle stations and combiner transports, were destroyed. But several of the Micromasters survived, and a few of the vehicles remained intact even when their owners did not. One such example was Skyhopper's giant helicopter, which was on the ground in its base configuration when its master, the Decepticon Micromasters' Aerial Assault Commander, was destroyed by Unicron's eye beams. After the battle, it was found, relatively intact in the midst of carnage, by an Autobot Micromaster named Deadwheeler, the only surviving member of the Autobots' little-known Demolition Derby Patrol. (The Patrol's team leader, who shared the name Gunrunner with an Autobot Pretender, was assisting in the evacuation of the wounded on board Groundshaker's Landshaker all-terrain vehicle, but failed to make it inside himself before Unicron's eye beams struck.)

Deadwheeler spent the years following the end of the war patching up the helicopter, which he named 'Sky Hyper' in honour of its former Decepticon master. He repaired its sonic cannon and molecular disrupter gun, and in the year 1994 it flew again for the first time since the battle with Unicron, albeit with a new colour scheme and Autobot markings.

Deadwheeler and Sky Hyper may be seen patrolling the remotest parts of the planet Cybertron, on the alert for we-know-not-what.

FILE ENDS

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OMNIBOTS

Adapted from unpublished Transformers Universe entries apparently written by Bob Budiansky:

web.archive.org/web/20071230230844/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40993
web.archive.org/web/20071230230833/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40992
web.archive.org/web/20071230230902/http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=40994



FACT-FILE INTERFACE

CAMSHAFT

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: City defence
Sub-group: Omnibot
Battle Beast partner: Jungaroo the Kickback Kangaroo
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"The road is no place for the weak."

Unlike all others who travel the highways, Camshaft has no fear of car accidents, as his lightning-fast automated reflexes allow him to pulverise any vehicle that approaches within 4 inches of his metal frame. The arrogant confidence he has about his own safety often leads to reckless driving, a fact that his commanding officers are not too happy about. When posted to Earth, Camshaft made no secret of the fact that he didn't share his leaders' concern for the lives of the planet's native inhabitants. But his aggressive nature was a boon in battle against the Decepticons.

In the year 2021, Camshaft retains his wartime rank of 6, but whereas he was previously a scout, he is now one of the many Autobots contributing to city defence in Iacon, under the command of Assistant Director Quickswitch (rank 7), Director Groundshaker (rank 8) and City Commander Prowl (rank 9). Having been active on Earth in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he still transforms into a silver Mazda RX-7 Series 2. In robot mode he carries a neutron blaster, while in both robot and car modes he can deploy a rear-mounted ground-to-air rocket launcher and high-energy plasma beam projector with a range of 2 miles. In car mode, Camshaft's rear fenders can convert to powerful fists, each capable of 30 punches per minute, each punch having a force of 80,000 pounds per square inch.

Converting to an offensive mode while in the act of driving sometimes causes Camshaft to lose control. As it is unlikely that he will back off from any confrontation, he often finds himself overmatched by his opponents.

Camshaft is now partnered with the Battle Beast called Jungaroo the Kickback Kangaroo, reformed partner in crime of Dark Dragoon Raccoon. Jungaroo can leap 20 metres in a single bound and deliver punches and kicks that will cause even a Transformer to see stars. His battle armour includes four shoulder-mounted mini-rockets. He is an expert at bringing down his quarry with his combat boomerang. He has the power of wood, but we don't talk about that, as it doesn't work on Cybertron.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

DOWNSHIFT

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Joint Assistant Director, Internal Security
Sub-group: Omnibot
Battle Beast partner: Squire Squirrel the Flying Attacker
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"If war is the only reason to live, then living isn't worth it."

Nothing pleases Downshift... or so he thought. During the war on Cybertron, this battle-weary soldier had fought for so many millennia that he began to wonder whether it was worth it for him to continue. But once he came to Earth he found everything around him fresh and new, and he delighted in all his optical sensors saw. He particularly enjoyed the company of human children, or, as he liked to call them, mini-men and mini-women (although he had as much trouble telling them apart as his fellow Autobots). His sullenness about the Autobots' mission was often of concern to his commanding officers, but he generally followed orders, however grudgingly, because deep down he knew this truth - that the seemingly unending resistance was preferable to a rapid Decepticon victory.

During the war, Downshift's function was security agent. In the year 2021, he and Red Alert (both retaining their wartime rank of 7) are Joint Assistant Directors of Internal Security at Iacon, reporting to Director Pointblank (rank 8) who in turn reports to City Commander Prowl (rank 9). The Micromaster Metro Squad and Rescue Patrol operate flexibly and reactively under their joint direction. Having been active on Earth in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Downshift still transforms into a white Toyota Celica Supra. In robot mode, he carries twin ground-to-air rocket launchers on his shoulders. The rockets use magnetism to guide their path, limiting them to mostly iron and steel targets, such as Decepticons. The launchers can also be used while he's in his car mode, making Downshift a very effective covert warrior. In either mode, the rockets can travel up to 30 miles and pack the explosive equivalent of a half ton of TNT. He also wields a 'rust rifle', which shoots a stream of powerful liquid oxidising agents. A blast of this can seriously harm and debilitate a metallic foe.

Downshift's weapons are mostly ineffective against non-ferrous materials, a fact that can be used to his disadvantage by an opponent. His soldierly instincts are often hampered by his sullen moods.

Downshift is now partnered with the Battle Beast called Squire Squirrel the Flying Attacker. Squire Squirrel has taken up residence in Iacon, building a nest high on one of the Celestial Spires with a 360-degree view out over Autobot City. Squire Squirrel loathes fire, and although he tolerates it when invoked by those fighting beside him, he will respond to any other occurrence of it with a swift watery downpour. If he sees a fire anywhere in Autobot City, he will usually have swooped down from his vantage point and extinguished it before the Micromaster Red Hot can get there, and be well into a fight with whoever he thinks started it by the time the emergency services have arrived on the scene. Squire Squirrel possesses an armoured flight-suit with jet pack and glider wings that enable him to soar across the skies at up to 450 miles per hour. He can invoke deluges of water sufficient to put out almost any fire and is a skilled combatant with his squirrel-tail scimitar.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

OVERDRIVE

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Assistant Director, Strategy
Sub-group: Omnibot
Battle Beast partner: Killer Koala Gray
First appearance: The Last Days of the Transformers War: Xaaron

"The race is not important, the finish line is."

Road-racing is Overdrive's passion, so much so that he considers it Earth's primary cultural advantage over his native Cybertron. But the thrill of merely racing is not enough for Overdrive - if necessary, he'll lift off from the ground and fly in order to win. Good sportsmanship isn't his strong suit. And that carries over to his battle tactics too. He has no interest in a fair fight with a Decepticon - he only wants to win. And he'll do whatever he must to make sure that he does.

In the year 2021, Overdrive (rank 8) is Assistant Director of Strategy in Iacon, under Director Grotusque and City Commander Prowl (rank 9). He works closely on defensive strategy with Deputy Assistant Director Trailbreaker (rank 7) but also formulates proposals for more outward-looking initiatives, particularly in terms of forming strategic alliances both on and off Cybertron and preventing hostile factions from becoming a clear and present threat. Having been active on Earth in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he still transforms into a red Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer. Besides being able to travel up to 190 miles per hour while in car mode, Overdrive can also sprout wings from his doors and fly. His flying range is 700 miles and he can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour, while on the ground the wings are also good for slashing tyres. He can convert a section of the front of his hood into twin high-powered electron machine guns that shoot 60 rounds per minute. In robot mode he carries a neutron blaster and a plasma beam rifle and retains the use of his wings and electron cannons, although he's considerably less adept at flying when in this form.

Although his ability to fly while in car mode can often be used to surprising advantage, Overdrive's overall manoeuvrability in the air is often inferior to that of his airborne opponents.

When off-duty and participating in road races outside the city limits, Overdrive lets the Battle Beast called Killer Koala Gray come along for the ride. Killer Koala is the slowest surviving Battle Beast, as well as being one of the weakest, but loves driving at speed, and Overdrive finds the Battle Beast's enthusiasm and excitement infectious, and is convinced that it helps him to go even faster. A fully certified Battle Beast referee, with a licence to adjudicate on any disputes arising when two or more of his compatriots battle for fun, Killer Koala has no qualms about playing dirty when on the road, and has been known to lean out of Overdrive's window to strike at rival racers with his battle-axe. He can can invoke the power of water to create icicles with which to impale his opponents - or puncture their tyres.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

METROBOMB

Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Assassin
Sub-group: Micromaster
First appearance: Right here

"You'll never see me coming."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Metrobomb is the only member of the Decepticon Great Car Rally Patrol to survive the coming of Unicron, the rest of his platoon being vaporised by the Chaos-Bringer's eye beams. He is not on record as having breached the terms of the 1991 Autobot-Decepticon truce, and so is not currently on any wanted lists - but he probably ought to be.

As a Micromaster, Metrobomb recognises the advantages of being small to one whose purpose in life is to strike without warning and then fade away into the shadows. However, that doesn't stop him from dreaming of another life, a mirror universe, perhaps, in which he is a Decepticon possessing the size and power of the city Autobot, Metroplex.

Metrobomb can expand in size when he transforms into the likeness of a Porsche 959 sports car, and in this form he can maintain speeds of up to 175 miles per hour. In robot mode he is only seven feet tall, but is a deadly fighter nonetheless, able to shoot laser beams from his eyes and extend 8-inch daggers from his wrists that carry a high-voltage electrical current and can melt any delicate circuitry into which they are inserted. He has access to a secret stash of Mindwipe's Living Nightlights, which come in handy every now and then for distracting or immobilising the enemy.

Metrobomb is light orange in colour, which doesn't always help when he's trying to approach a target by stealth, and somewhat undermines the credibility of his motto. It does, however, mean that he comes across as less of a threat. By the time his intended victims realise their mistake, it's often too late.

Metrobomb has enrolled as a combatant in the 2021 Galaxy Kombat tournament on Derut Four, which took a one-year hiatus in 2020 following the sudden and mysterious death of its then patron, Xagra. It is not known who the Micromaster assassin is hoping to kill in the tournament. Other fighters known to be taking part include the motorcycle-configured Robo Machine Renegades, Cy-Kill and Dart; Granita, one of the Rock People escaping the collapse of the other-dimensional planet, Eternia; the Battle Beasts, Power Nozzle the Antic Anteater and Tanglin' Pangolin; the Nebulan Mandora, Evil Chaser 1st Class and member of a vigilante group calling itself the Interplanetary Control Force; a sword-wielding, lizard totemed mercenary named Reekon, thought to be the only Darkling Lord to survive the destruction of the magical world of Prysmos; the Eternian Evil Warriors, Blast-Attak and Ninjor; two adventurous Thunderians named Bobkitten and Shadowkitten; Mosquitor, energy-draining insectoid of the Evil Horde; an adamantium-laced amnesiac mutant berserker from Earth known only as the Wolverine; Scare Glow, the sorcerously enslaved evil ghost of Skeletor; and Metrobomb's fellow Decepticon, the size-changing Blue Backlash, confined to his smaller Pretender form for the duration of the tournament.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

SIXLINER AND SIXTRAIN

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: N/A
Sub-group: Micromasters
First and last appearance: Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Sixliner and Sixtrain are Transformers that didn't make the grade.

In the year 2008, Jacko Witwicky had his first Matrix-induced dream featuring six Autobots who transformed into Japanese-style locomotives and combined like a Special Team. He called them Train-bots, even though they didn't actually form a train. (As everyone knows, a train is a chain of carriages pulled by a locomotive.) Unlike the four Special Teams dreamt up by his father, Buster, more than twenty years earlier, the Train-bots were not considered to be a serious message from the Creation Matrix, but rather a confused product of Jacko's imagination and random bits of Matrix data, resulting in what everyone agreed was a highly impractical design concept.

Trains are great. They whizz you and your stuff from A to B along popular pre-defined routes, marked out by train tracks. Transformers that turn into locomotives are not so great. For one thing, locomotives make rubbish disguises, because they get noticed by the wrecks they cause if they run along train tracks that other trains are supposed to be using, and they also get noticed if they drive along the ground where there are no train tracks, which is more likely because train tracks rarely go where Transformers want to go.

I speak of Transformer locomotives in the plural, but I shouldn't really, because there is only one Transformer locomotive, and he also turns into a space shuttle. Which is also a rubbish disguise, but he doesn't care about that, as it gets him wherever he wants to be in no time flat.

Anyway, in the year 2021, Jacko Witwicky had more dreams about Special Teams formed from obsolete Japanese locomotives, only this time they were Micromasters, and so only combined to form a regular-sized Autobot. He dutifully sketched them out and showed them to his friend Bumblebee, who said, "Never mind." Then Jacko showed Bumblebee the other Micromaster combining teams he'd dreamt about straight afterwards, who turned into cars, aircraft and construction vehicles, and Bumblebee said, "That's more like it! Let's build these ones."

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

SIXBUILDER

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Construction team
Sub-group: Micromasters
First appearance: Right here


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Sixbuilder is currently under construction.

Sixbuilder is designed to separate into Crush-Bull, the bulldozer and team leader; Digger, the excavator; Grand-Arm, the front-end loader; Iron-Lift, the crane; Mix-In, the cement mixer; Treader, the dump truck; and a large jet drone armed with Sixbuilder's 'building-buster' gun. In battle, Sixbuilder skewers his enemies by extending the crane and shovel arms on his shoulders.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

SIXTURBO

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Urban rescue
Sub-group: Micromasters
First appearance: Right here


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Sixturbo is currently under construction.

Sixturbo is designed to separate into Road-Police, the police car and team leader; Sir-KITT, the F-1 race car; Discharge, the fire truck; Glide, the motorcycle; Neo-Wheel, the Lamborghini; Syren, the ambulance; and a large jet drone armed with Sixturbo's 'turbo-buster' gun.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

SIXWING

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Air support
Sub-group: Micromasters
First appearance: Right here


Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Sixwing is currently under construction.

Sixwing is designed to separate into Chain-Gun, the AH-64 Apache helicopter and team leader; Falkon, the F-16 Falcon jet; Flanker, the Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker' jet; Missile-Run, the B-1B Lancer bomber; Raker, the space shuttle; Supersonic, the supersonic transport plane; and a large jet drone armed with Sixwing's 'wing-buster' or 'thunder-god' gun, which discharges a powerful electric shock.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

1. SCORPONOK AND FORTRESS SCORPONOK

Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Headmaster Commander
Sub-groups: Triple Changer (?), Headmaster
Nebulan component: Lord Zarak
First appearance: Marvel's Headmasters #1 ('Ring of Hate')

"Kindness is no virtue... and cruelty is no vice."

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As a Decepticon battalion commander on Cybertron under Straxus, despair and isolation were typically all that remained in Scorponok's wake. He was armed with twin pulse blasters mounted on each of his shoulders. In scorpion mode, his tail could shoot 100,000-volt electric bursts. His claws could break up mountains. He believed the poor should be exploited, the weak oppressed and the noble corrupted. In short, others' pain was his sole pleasure. In the final few years of his long life, however, he consented to binary-bond with the Nebulan Lord Zarak and became a Headmaster in order to hold his own against his Autobot nemesis, Fortress Maximus, in battle. Although greedy and manipulative, Zarak did not have a Decepticon's stomach for the dealing of death, and, under his influence, Scorponok changed, finally siding with Optimus Prime to unite the Transformers against Unicron, at the cost of his own life.

There are many who say that Scorponok was a Triple Changer, but no-one alive today can say for sure, because people only remember ever seeing him in upright mode or giant scorpion mode. And yet everyone has the idea that Scorponok possessed a third, defence base mode, and, after his death, the humans made a toy of him, which had a defence base mode. For this, the toy's designer used as a reference Scorponok's old base on Cybertron, which is located roughly at the point of an equilateral triangle made with Darkmount in Polyhex and Fortress Maximus's old headquarters in the Manganese Mountains. It is popularly referred to by Autobot and Decepticon alike as Fortress Scorponok.

Scorponok's old base is more than half a mile across. It is green, purple and orange, with two silver, eleven-storey towers flanking a huge, grey, pincer-shaped shield generator. It has exit ramps on three sides, green lifting arms, over-the-horizon radar, a fully-functional communications centre, an anti-aircraft sonic cannon, a repair bay, a construction bay, storage bays, elevators, an armoury, and a squad of semi-autonomous armoured interceptors with dual photon cannons that patrol the base's perimeter.

Maybe Scorponok really did have the ability to transform into a miniature version of this base, but for some reason chose never to do so when people were watching. It cannot be disproved. But the base is still there. And with its automated defences left activated when Scorponok's troops departed for Nebulos, no-one was able to get near it until a motley assortment of Battle Beasts helped Scorponok's old lieutenant, Sixshot, to get back inside and re-establish control of its functions in November 2019.

In the year 2021, Sixshot found himself spending more and more time out at Fortress Scorponok, either on his own or with a few like-minded ne'er-do-wells, brooding over the infuriating decades of peace forced upon them by the realities of their post-Unicron situation. Back in Tyrest, those Decepticons loyal to Trypticon and his policy of continued co-operation with the Autobots have not missed Sixshot's grumbling, being quite content to leave him to his nostalgic sulks.

Meanwhile, on Earth, in the Savage Land, eleven Transformers - five Dinobots (Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop and Tyrannitron) and six Dinoforce Pretenders - suddenly and unexpectedly went CHOOM!

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

2. SIXSHOT

Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Fortress Scorponok Base Commander
Sub-group: Sixchanger
First appearance: Marvel's Headmasters #2 ('Broken Glass')

"Life is worth living only as long as there are enemies worth destroying."


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Sixshot is a vile, nasty, murderous sort who carries out any job he is given with ferocious intensity. His only redeeming quality is that he speaks well of those he's sent to 'the great junkyard in the sky' (his phrase for destruction), be they enemies he's fought or followers he's led to their deaths. (There have been a great many of both.) This Solo Transformer Assault Group, or STAG, has six forms - robot, armoured carrier (with twin laser batteries), ramming tank (with infra-red range-finder and target-tracker), jet-propelled laser pistol, star-fighter (maximum speed 80,000 miles per hour, range 800,000 miles) and winged wolf-creature. Only the wolf-creature has no need for Sixshot's two hypersonic concussion blasters, preferring to rip apart enemies with his razor fangs.

Sixshot fought against Unicron in 1991, losing almost all the Decepticons under his command in the process. Nobody on Cybertron knew whether or not he had survived the battle until decades later, when he showed up again in 2017 with Razorclaw's Predacons, on the run from Skyquake's psychotic Predators. He then served for a while as Joint Director of City Defence in Tyrest alongside Onslaught, under the overall command of Decepticon Leader Trypticon, before branching out on his own to become base commander of Fortress Scorponok.

In the year 2021, Sixshot and his pal, the self-styled 'space gangster', Black Shadow, were fantasising for the umpteenth time about making a triumphant Decepticon comeback, when all of a sudden, quite out of the blue, they both went CHOOM! And all that remained of them on the floor of Fortress Scorponok's main control room were two small piles of peculiar black ash.

FILE ENDS

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

3. THUNDERCLASH PRIME

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Autobot Leader
Sub-group: Turbomaster
First appearance (as Emirate Xaaron): Marvel's Transformers UK Annual 1986 ('And There Shall Come... a Leader')
First appearance (as Thunderclash): The Last Days of the Transformers War: Nucleon
First appearance (as himself): Where Were You During the Predator War?

"We're ready and more than able. Let them throw all they want at us. We stand as one."


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Thunderclash Prime, formerly just Thunderclash (before Optimus Prime's bestowing upon him the Prime title in 2018) and Emirate Xaaron (up until his original body's destruction in 1991 by Unicron, during a mind-swap with 'Primus' that left his consciousness temporarily trapped in the ancient sentient core of the planet Cybertron until extracted by the computer genius Mainframe), has a razor-sharp mind and an intuitive flair for plucking his troops from disaster. He is massively strong and versatile in the body designed for him by Grapple (architect of Omega Supreme and Metroplex), and his fearless presence on the battlefield quells any Decepticon fightback. He commands the respect and loyalty of every Autobot, and earned the fear and loathing of the Predators during Cybertron's brief but violent war with them in the year 2018. In the end, Thunderclash's incredible speed and strategic genius proved more than a match for the evil Predators' supersight and ultra-communication powers, as he joined forces with his former arch-enemy, the Insecticon Shrapnel, to destroy the awesome Predator Commander-in-Chief, Skyquake, and his Micromaster puppet-master, Direct-Hit, in a pitched battle in deep space, thereby restoring peace to this corner of the cosmos.

As a trailer, Thunderclash Prime is a powerful command centre. As a robot and battle station, as well as in trailer mode, he uses his long-range photon missile launchers with devastating accuracy. Like the Optimus Primes, he has an affinity to the Creation Matrix, and as Xaaron he used the Matrix Flame in 1986 to give life to Broadside, Sandstorm, Springer and Ultra Magnus. Since the Matrix Flame was snuffed out by Galvatron's brief displacement of the original Optimus Prime to Limbo, he has been unable to give sentience to any further Autobots, but was able to interface with the sleeping Primus in 1991 and awaken him gently in time to bring all the active Cybertronian Transformers from Earth to Cybertron ahead of Unicron's arrival.

Xaaron hardened himself to the deaths of his fellow Autobots over the course of countless millennia leading the Autobot Resistance, far more so than Optimus ever has. He mourns Impactor, Rack'n'Ruin, Roadbuster, the Jumpstarters, Sandstorm, and - as Thunderclash - Broadside, the Triggerbots, Doubleheader, Pincher, Crossblades, Vroom and his own fellow Turbomasters. But after mourning them, and hailing their service and sacrifice, he grimly moves on. Thunderclash Prime fights for the living.

Thunderclash Prime has overall command of the Autobots on Cybertron. His direct reports include City Commander Prowl and the various rank 8 Autobots located outside Iacon's command structure, such as Blaster, Jackpot, Nautilus and Scattershot. The four members of the Autobot Rescue Force act as his personal special operations unit and are never far from his side.

By the year 2021, some of the Autobots and all the Decepticons who had ever been shunted to Limbo were dead. So if, say, a visitor from the future wished to use mass-displacement to travel back in time and wanted to avoid scaring the hell out of someone new to the process, they had a limited pool of subjects from which to choose. They couldn't choose Skids, as it would probably kill him, and they couldn't choose Snarl, as someone else had already just sent him to Limbo. So...

Thunderclash Prime was in the midst of receiving a very boring and routine briefing from Prowl via video-link, when suddenly the City Commander went CHOOM! and disappeared, leaving a screen showing an empty command centre. Thunderclash called for Blaster to check the signal, only to be told that his communications chief had also just gone CHOOM!

Wheeljack appeared on the screen from Iacon, highly agitated. "It's happening again, Xaaron!" he exclaimed. "After all these years! Er... do you want to call Ultra Magnus on Earth and tell him, or shall I?"

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

4. COMBATICONS 2021


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In the year 2021, the smooth-talking Swindle was Decepticon City's principal liaison with the Autobots, so it was to him that his opposite number, Hopper, broke the news that they should start preparing to receive visitors from the future. But which future? Galvatron's future was now history - a history that was rewritten when his presence in Earth's past led, through a complex chain of events, to the death of Unicron and (all the Megatrons and Galvatrons) a decade and a half before 2006. Mass-displacement time-travel technology of the kind used by Galvatron and Rodimus Prime was never invented. Or was it?

The Decepticons did invent a different kind of time machine - the Flashback Doorway, used by one of the Megatrons in 1990 in an attempt to undo the deaths of the Seacons at the hands of Starscream. It resulted in the possession of a historical subject by the mind of the time-traveller. It didn't make them go CHOOM! And the prototype, the only one of its kind, was destroyed by the Autobot Earthforce. So who alive today, in this timeline, would know how to recreate Galvatron's time-jump device?

All these thoughts went through Swindle's mind as he alerted City Commander Trypticon, Onslaught, Director of City Defence, and Razorclaw, Director of Perimeter Security. Onslaught immediately put the other Combaticons on full battle readiness, along with Airwave, Blitzwing, Brunt, Headstrong and Rampage, while Razorclaw led Divebomb, Full-Tilt and the Race Track and Sports Car Patrols out to scour the suburbs of Tyrest for sign of any intruder.

Before joining his fellow Combaticons in readiness to form Bruticus should the need arise, Swindle took a quick census of the city's residents - Action Masters, Clones, Constructicons, Insecticons, Micromasters, the Reflector trio - and found all were present and correct. None of Trypticon's Decepticons had gone CHOOM!

Then Astrotrain reported in from the Murderpits of Derut Four that Blue Backlash and Metrobomb had gone CHOOM! in front of an audience of thousands, right in the middle of the 2021 Galaxy Kombat tournament.

Round 1:
Blue Backlash kills Dart.
Bobkitten kills Ninjor.
Metrobomb kills Mandora.
Mosquitor appears to kill Wolverine.
Power Nozzle kills Blast-Attak.
Scare Glow kills Granita.
Shadowkitten kills Reekon.
Tanglin' Pangolin kills Cy-Kill.

Round 2:
Blue Backlash and Metrobomb go CHOOM!
Bobkitten kills Mosquitor.
Shadowkitten kills Scare Glow's controller before being gunned down by security guards.
Wolverine gets back up again.

Round 3:
Power Nozzle and Tanglin' Pangolin kill Bobkitten.
Wolverine kills the security guards and escapes.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

5. PROTECTOBOTS 2021

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From the memory banks of First Aid:

An assortment of humans, Protectobots and other Autobots gathered around me at the appointed hour, but kept a respectful distance.

"Are you sure you don't want me to block the jump and keep you here on Earth?" Illyana Rasputin asked me.

"I'm sure," I replied (though I really wasn't). "If this was your Limbo leaking into our reality, you'd want to do something to fix it, wouldn't you?"

"Of course."

"But we've only got the word of our 'friends' from the future, on Cybertron, that there's a problem with Limbo," said Hotspot (now red, the correct colour for a fire engine). "I haven't seen any evidence of it myself."

"If they were bad guys, why would they give us prior warning that First Aid was about to be displaced?" retorted Streetwise.

Skids shuddered. "If it were me, I'd say block it. I couldn't take another spell in that dimension, however short."

"And they've evidently considered that, which is another point in their favour," said Ultra Magnus. "Hence it's First Aid who's going and not you."

"Yes, Skids - you were stuck there for over a year," said Groove. "Death's Head only transported First Aid there for a day or two."

"Hey, don't belittle my selfless heroism here!" I protested. "It was no-"

"Stand back!" Blades interrupted. "It's time."

And sure enough... CHOOM!

Before I could be set upon by monsters, I closed down my senses, cleared my mind and filled it with peaceful thoughts. After I guessed a sufficient interval had passed, I raised my optic visor to find myself floating in blackness. I reached up, carefully removed the Limbo parasite from the back of my head, and gently tossed it away. Then I looked around to see who else was there.

"First Aid - over here!" called Prowl. As expected, both he and Blaster were also awake and free from mental parasites. Also as expected, the Decepticon Pretender Blue Backlash and Micromaster Metrobomb were drifting by, apparently unconscious, in the thrall of the alien creatures, as was typical for those visiting Limbo for the first time.

What I was not expecting was to see thirteen other Transformers scattered around - Sixshot, a black Thunderwing, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Swoop, Tyrannitron, and what appeared to be six dinosaurs wearing high-tech armour. All of them were in Limbo-induced comas except for Snarl, who, despite his natural aggression, had apparently been able to do as we had done, and use his past experience of Limbo to reject the creatures' illusions and break free from their influence. He was evidently working hard to keep his temper and so not encourage them to have another go at him.

I resolved to break it gently to Snarl that he might be stuck here for a lot longer than Blaster, Prowl and I would be. The three of us had been deliberately sent here by friends, who would be going back where they came from very shortly. The other fifteen had been mass-displaced by parties unknown, for an unspecified duration.

"We need to record everything we can," I told them. "We haven't got long."

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

6. TITANMASTER NIGHTBEAT

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Detective
Sub-group: Titanmaster
Human/Titan component: Minerva Witwicky
First appearance (as Nightbeat): Marvel's Transformers UK #230 ('The Big Shutdown')
First appearance (as Minerva Witwicky): Characters from the 1987 Toy Range: Battle Beasts Strike!
First appearance (as herself): Right here

"Truth is revealed in the smallest detail."


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Nightbeat is a tough, no-nonsense type who is not afraid to break the rules to get what she wants. And usually what she wants is the solution to some complicated mystery, and she'll go anywhere - or anywhen - to get it. She feels as comfortable driving down a dark alley as she does cruising along a six-lane super-highway. She has an intuition for finding the truth that defies all known theories of programming. In trying to account for Nightbeat's remarkable talent, Thunderclash Prime suspects that the circuitry in the digital detective's logic centre may accidentally have been wired in a way contrary to accepted robotic engineering procedures. But the Autobot Leader is still at a loss to explain why Nightbeat thinks the way she does. Nightbeat prefers to work alone. Most partners don't understand her methods and her reasoning, and often wind up hindering her investigations more than helping them. But being a good soldier, she doesn't complain about her fellow Autobots - instead she tries to compensate for their investigatory deficiencies by working even harder.

In the year 2036, Nightbeat is apparently binary-bonded to the Matrix-bearer Minerva Witwicky, daughter of the human Katy Witwicky and the Titan Eros, also known as Starfox - both Avengers in the year 2021. Minerva transforms into Nightbeat's head, and, as Transformers themselves have no concept of gender, Nightbeat has switched to the female pronoun, discarding the male pronoun traditionally used when referring to Transformers. (At least in English - in Cybertronian there is only one animate pronoun.) Thanks to her Titan Eternal heritage, Minerva is effectively immortal and has superhuman strength, speed, endurance and skill, an accelerated healing factor and the ability to fly at up to 800 miles per hour. Thanks to her human heritage, she wields the power of the Creation Matrix, which enables her to understand, levitate and manipulate any non-living circuitry or mechanical device, and bestow sentience on new robots created by herself or others.

As you'll have by now deduced, just as a Transformer with an Asgardian or Olympian Powermaster partner is called a Godmaster, a Transformer with a Titan (or half-Titan) Headmaster partner is called a Titanmaster.

Nightbeat carries two photon pistols and a high-powered plasma blaster with infra-red sight. She also has enhanced audio and video sensors that aid in her investigatory work. From 5 miles away, she can hear a screw fall and count the threads on it. In her Porsche 959 ambulance car mode she can travel at speeds of up to 620 miles per hour and has a range of 1,500 miles.

Nightbeat's overconfidence in her abilities typically persuades her that she can handle almost any situation by herself. Given her preference for working alone, she often suffers damage that a more team-oriented Autobot might avoid. However, as a Matrix-bearer, self-repair is no longer such a problem as it once was.

The mystery Nightbeat is currently trying to solve is why creatures apparently dreamed up by missing Transformers, presumably mass-displaced to temporal Limbo, have been multiplying in the future and overrunning various worlds. To find out who could have built a mass-displacement time-jump device and triggered this crisis, Nightbeat realised she would have to build one for herself and travel back in time to just before the problem first began to manifest itself. Target: 2021!

Oh, and yes, in the future, Minerva has swapped Headmaster armour with her half-brother Shuta Go, so it looks like Nightbeat and Siren have each other's heads. Siren is now the one with the visor.

FILE ENDS

[Grand Moff Muffin]

FACT-FILE INTERFACE

TARGET: 2036

7. TITANMASTER SIREN

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Diplomatic security
Sub-group: Titanmaster
Human/Titan component: Shuta Go
First appearance (as Siren): Marvel's Transformers UK #230 ('The Big Shutdown')
First appearance (as himself): Right here

"Act first, ask questions later."

Image source: botchthecrab.com/archive/

Siren comes from the Sonic Canyons of southern Cybertron, a region where the deafening sound of underground machinery wells up from below and loudly echoes among the canyon walls, causing a constant deluge of scrap metal to come tumbling down. Given this deafening, dangerous environment he learned to be both loud of mouth and nimble of feet. He has the reputation of being overbearing, but much of that comes from his tendency to scream rather than talk, particularly to his Autobot subordinates who help him in emergency situations. He likes to think that he's at his best in these situations, a no-nonsense, take-charge Transformer whose decisiveness under pressure has saved the lives of many Autobots and humans. Actually, he often makes a problem worse by refusing to put aside his own narrow point of view and confronting the problem from a fresh perspective. He's very stubborn. He's also forthright and opinionated, and dominates any conversation if for no other reason than he's louder than everyone else.

In the year 2036, Siren is binary-bonded to the half-Japanese, half-Titan Shuta Go, son of Eros and half-brother of Minerva Witwicky, with whom he shares an uncle in the form of the mad Titan Thanos, who thankfully died before either of them was born. Like her he is effectively immortal and has superhuman strength, speed, endurance and skill, an accelerated healing factor and the ability to fly at Mach 1. He takes great delight in generating sonic booms that make Siren seem quiet by comparison. He is very protective of his half-sister, though with her Matrix powers she rarely needs his support in a fight.

Siren wields a sawed-off CO2 shotgun, which shoots high-powered bursts of freezing carbon dioxide gas that can turn an opponent into a frosted statue on impact. He is also armed with two sonic scream pistols, which can shatter steel with their high-decibel output. These are mounted on his hood in his Mazda RX-7 police car mode, in which he can achieve speeds of up to 480 miles per hour and has a range of 1,000 miles.

Neither Siren nor Shuta Go have any notable weaknesses.

The two Titanmasters, Nightbeat and Siren, travelled back in time fifteen years to 2021 by means of the time-jump device created by Minerva using her Matrix powers. They deliberately displaced Blaster and Prowl to temporal Limbo, knowing that they had both been there before and knew what to expect and how to handle it. They needed eyes in Limbo to establish who else was in there and whether the pocket dimension was behaving normally. Upon their arrival in Iacon they met with Thunderclash Prime and Wheeljack and, after proving their identity, explained about the future invasion of nightmare creatures from Limbo and their need to establish and address its cause.

They asked the Autobots of 2021 to alert First Aid on Earth to the fact that he would shortly be displaced by a third member of their group, in order to explain the situation to Blaster and Prowl and work with them to gather all the information that they needed. They specified certain scientific equipment available on Earth that First Aid should carry inside him when the time came. They also requested that the Autobots not inform the parents of their organic components of their identities until after they had returned to the future.

FILE ENDS