Transformers: Escalation #1

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Art - E.J. Su / Letters - Chris Mowry / Colors - John Rauch, Zac Atkinson, Aaron Myers

Story

In a nondescript mobile trailer, a Machination Field Unit team undergoes VR training to hunt and destroy "alien mech" -- Transformers. After the drill, team leader Drake checks for a surveillance status; the Michigan lake where the Autobots have been previously spotted (see Transformers: Infiltration #6) remains under surveillance, but there's still no activity for several days.

Inside the Ark-19, the Autobots make final preparations to send Verity, Hunter, and Jimmy home. Ratchet apologizes, but admits he has no say -- now that both the Autobots and the Decepticons are aware of each other's presence, the humans are in no danger from the Decepticons. While the others are upset, Verity dismisses it as yet another case of rejection in her life.

Meanwhile, at the Decepticon's Oregon bunker, Astrotrain briefs Megatron on Starscream's findings of ore-13 -- it's six times more potent than energon, and eleven seams have been found already. Megatron, surprised at the existence of natural energon, wonders if its growth was assisted somehow, then orders a full briefing.

After the humans are packed up at the Ark, Ratchet says farewell, then turns them to Ironhide and Sunstreaker for escorting home. As Prowl tells Optimus Prime that the humans have left, Prime reveals that there are indications that Shockwave and Soundwave were previously on Earth, and wonders where they are now. At the Oregon bunker, Megatron dresses down Starscream's treasonous Decepticons. After telling them that no further indiscretions will be allowed, he orders Phase 2 started immediately and orders the facsimiles activated...

Ironhide and Sunstreaker's emergence from the lake is spotted by the Machination, who begin tracking them for interception. Outside of Lebanon, MI, the Machination uses missile-firing drones to create a massive pileup, trapping the Autobots in the ensuing gridlock. Hunter thinks the Autobots should help the accident victims, but Ironhide refuses to act out of suspicious caution. The Machination then releases an electronic-jamming smokescreen; his paranoia confirmed, Ironhide rams through the other cars to escape, only to hit mines planted alongside the road!

Another team of Machination agents close in on Sunstreaker, who prepares to open fire, only to be yelled down by Hunter. In the moment of hesitation, the Machination fires an electronic scrambler that shocks them both!

A moment later, there's a massive explosion -- and Ironhide smashes through the traffic, only to find the burning husk of Sunstreaker's remains...

Notes and Comments

• The text of the inside front cover reads:
  

  Present day Earth: the Decepticon infiltration gambit has begun, the opening moves made in a multi-layered strategy that may well spell the total and utter destruction of the planet. Having dispatched his traitorous unit commander, Starscream, Megatron has taken control of affairs on Earth, the discovery of Ore-13 (a potent variant on the long-exhausted Cybertronian power source known as Energon), meriting his personal attention. Now, the local Autobot tactical esponse unit (from their hidden base beneath the surface of Lake Michigan) and their newly arrived commander-in-chief, Optimus Prime, prepare for the worst.

  Phase two begins...

• Shockwave's prior visit to Earth is documented in Transformers: Spotlight #1.