#2 - "Transformed"

Credits

Writer - John Ney Reiber / Art - Jae Lee / Colors - June Chung / Letters - Benjamin Lee

Story

As the Joes barricade themselves in the ruins against Cobra's forces outside, they investigate the giant robot war machines they've found. During their search, a repair system is activated, causing a satellite to fly off. The first robot repaired is Ironhide, and his initial movements prompt the Joes to open fire. As the bullets bounce off of him, he catches them in one hand and warns the Joes to be careful. Outside, Starscream is thrilled to see the satellite take off...

Nearby, Stormshadow and Snake-Eyes continue their duel. Stormshadow bloodily slashes Snake-Eyes across the face several times, then runs off as Stalker arrives. Ignoring Stalker's pleas to seek medical help, Snake-Eyes follows Stormshadow through a forest, then disables a cadre of Cobra guards who were waiting in ambush. Realizing his blood loss has gotten worse, Snake-Eyes cauterizes his wounds by sprinkling his face with gunpowder, then igniting it with a flamethrower. He then catches up to Stormshadow, who flees when he realizes his ambush had failed.

In the ruins, the now-reactivated Optimus Prime explains to Duke how they and the Decepticons arrived on Earth, as part of the great war on Cybertron. Leatherneck grouses about how the Decepticons have been aiding Cobra in their war of conquest, and reminds the Joes of their mission. Some of the Autobots want to help the Joes; Prowl argues against it, saying they don't know the context of the human's war, but Grimlock counters that stopping the Decepticons makes sense in any situation.

Outside, Starscream is talking to himself about how he will soon suppliment Megatron when the Decepticon leader surprises him. Slamming Starscream to the ground, Megatron berates him for his schemes, and warns that the Cobras are getting suspicious about their cache of energon. Then, spotting the repair satellite, Megatron curses his fate, then orders Starscream to transfer their energon to a secure location before they go to destroy the Autobots.

At the Terrordome, Destro informs Cobra Commander they've lost contact with Stormshadow, as well as two of their southern outposts. In response, Cobra Commander orders Wild Weasel to lead a squadron of Rattlers on a recon flight, then summons Zartan to survey the situation as well.

Duke and the Joes are back in the open when they're fired upon by Wild Weasel's squad. They are countered by Grimlock, who handily blasts them out of the sky in his tank mode. Wild Weasel reports his confusion that the robots are fighting against Cobra, and Cobra Commander orders him to retreat while Decepticon reinforcements arrive.

Elsewhere, Snake-Eyes has chased Stormshadow to the creaky ramparts of a castle. After taking a helm and broadsword from an old suit of armor, he confronts Stormshadow for the last time. Stormshadow smugly offers Snake-Eyes a simple choice: either a clean death by suicide, or a painful death under Ravage's claws...