#20 - "What Lies Beneath", part 1

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Pencils - Guido Guidi / Inks - Elaine To, Ferd Poblete / Lettering - Ben Lee / Colors - David Cheung, Elliot Kravchik, Jong-Im Lee

Story

The Alterenergy Project site in western Australia is drenched in fire and calamity as Scorponok and the Terrorcons strike! The humans have unknowingly uncovered a rich vein of energon, which the Terrorcons are now claiming for Unicron. As reports of the attack begin to distribute, Carlos, Rad, and Dr. Brian Jones -- head of the Alterenergy project -- watch in muted horror from an orbital satellite and a mobile base. Dr. Jones is worried about his son, Chad "Kicker" Jones, who's lost in the carnage, while Carlos and Rad quickly realize that the Transformers have returned...!

At the perimeter of the project site, a group of environmental protesters can do nothing but watch as a quartet of F-19 Vipers from the Australian Air Force engage the Terrorcons. Alexis, one of the protesters, saves a runaway Kicker from a Battle Ravage Drone, even as the other Terrorcons make short work of the Australian jets. While Rad tracks Kicker in one of Alterenergy's rocket sleds, Carlos sends a desperate slipstream signal to Cybertron...

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime tells the Autobot High Council about his encounter with Sig-Omega and his visions of Unicron and Megatron (see last issue). Though very skeptical of his claims, the Council agrees to authorize Prime's visit to Earth -- but only if he goes alone.

As a frustrated Optimus exits the chambers and explains the situation to the other Autobots, they are suddenly attacked from the skies -- by the Four Horsemen of Unicron!

Notes and Comments

• Scorponok's team consists of himself, one Battle Ravage drone, Divebomb, Cruellock, Tidal Wave, and Insecticon.
• The energon being studied by the Alterenergy Project is called "01 Source," and is considered a supplimental energy to replace the diminishing reserves of fossil fuels.