Battle Lines, Part 4

Some handy reinforcements arrive in time to help the Elite Guard.

Synopsis

The Autobot's saviors, Ironfist, Big Bang, Sprocket, and Rumbler, jump to the battlefield below. Dion can hardly believe that there are more Elite Guard survivors, while the Combaticons, annoyed at their continued survival, plan to kill them again. Unfortunately for them, Side Burn has captured Blast Off, preventing them from combining into Bruticus. The other Decepticons ask Starscream if they should retreat, but the arrogant Seeker orders them forward, attacking the Autobots once more.

Meanwhile, Magnum manages to blast Deathsaurus as he monologues, only to be disarmed by Lyzack's blade. As Magnum is slashed by the Decepticon's blade, Side Burn watches, distracted by Lyzack, as does Starscream, who is surprised by her ferocity. But before Lyzack can finish the Autobot commander off, Thunderclash knocks her back, and Side Burn, roused from his infatuation, blasts Starscream with his flamethrowers. Thunderclash attempts to help his leader up, but the two are confronted by Deathsaurus, who leers over them with his blades. Suddenly, Sprocket jumps on Deathsaurus' back, using the momentum to leap over him and blast him right in the chest wound he sustained earlier. Heavily injured, Deathsaurus orders the Decepticons to retreat. Onslaught orders the Combaticons to retreat as well, but the others feel as though the Decepticon has betrayed them, and do not want to leave Blast Off in the hands of the Autobots. Onslaught tells them they'll have to leave him behind, but Flak takes his chance to attack them, noting that the old Onslaught would never leave a bot behind. Soon, the local security force arrives to take the Combaticons back to Iacon, and Magnum orders his troops back as well, knowing that the wounded will need urgent care.

Meanwhile, back at Deathsaurus' fortress, the Decepticon warlord arrives only to find another Decepticon occupying his throne...Megatron!

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"So much for timid"
"I think I'm in love! If only she were painted red..."

—Starscream and Side Burn watch Lyzack work.

"Clash of thunder!"
"Did someone ring me?"

—Lyzack calls an attack and gets Thunder Clash.

"Piggy backs! C'mon, Deathsaurus. Gimme a zap-pony ride!"

—Sprocket

"'Behind'? You never leave a bot behind. You truly have lost your Elite Guard ways."

—Flak is not impressed by Onslaught.

Notes

• Characters mentioned but not seen include: The One.

Continuity notes

• Ironfist, Big Bang, Sprocket, and Rumbler were thought to have died in "The Coming Storm: Part 6". Only Ironfist's supposed death, being struck by Over-Run's Attack Copter, was seen on-panel. Sprocket's profile next issue would reveal how they survived.
• Like her brother did in "Wings of Honor", Lyzack shouts her attacks as she performs them.
• The local security force includes the generic robot who Megatron used the Robo-Smasher on, seen in Transformers episode "The Secret of Omega Supreme". Evidently, something's up with the security garrison...

Transformers references

• Side Burn wishes Lyzack was red; the original Robots in Disguise incarnation spent much of his free time chasing after red sports cars.