Transformers: Escalation #3

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Art - E.J. Su / Letters - Neil Uyetake / Colors - Zac Atkinson

Story

In the breakaway Soviet state of Brasnya, a separatist rebellion is on the verge of collapse, but rebel leader Georgi Koska assures his men that action is coming soon. Georgi then drives to an oil pipeline on the Russian-Brasnya border, where he meets Megatron, Skywarp, and Blitzwing. Megatron transforms into a pistol for Georgi, allowing the genetic facsimile to destroy the pipeline. As Georgi and Megatron return to the camp, Blitzwing uses chamelion mesh camoflage to hide himself while Skywarp leaves the area.

Inside the Ark-19 on the floor of Lake Michigan, Optimus Prime tells the Autobots that he has called for reinforcements, which Prowl sees as a slight on his command skills. Ironhide volunteers to find the missing Sunstreaker and Hunter (see issue #1), but the request is denied. When Optimus leaves, Prowl orders the others to various duties, then forcibly pulls Ironhide aside for a talk.

At the Brasnya border, a team of Russians arrive to investigate the damaged pipeline, but are fired upon by the separatists. With Megatron's firepower, Georgi decimates the Russians, prompting them to call for heavy armor.

In the Ark-19, Ratchet finds Jimmy and Verity inspecting the fake wreckage of Sunstreaker (see previous issue). Using his auto repair experience, Jimmy notes that the chassis was made from an unusual ultra-light alloy, and the two persuade Ratchet to use the Ark's computers to investigate manufacturers online. Ratchet momentarily wonders whether to bring this idea to Prowl, but decides not to, unaware that their conversation is being watched by a hidden camera. Meanwhile, as Russian armor advances on Brasnya, the other Autobots are tracking the conflict. When Optimus Prime recognizes Megatron's energy signature from satellite data of Georgi's blast, he orders Prowl to prepare a strike team.

The Brasnyan army arrives at the border, and the captain assures his driver that they're merely biding time until the politicians resolve the matter. They're suddenly fired upoon by Blitzwing, who's misidentified as a Russian tank, allowing the Brasnyans to fire on the Russians in response. As Georgi and Megatron leave among the confusion, the Autobots arrive via orbital teleportation to the east. Optimus orders Prowl, Jazz, and Wheeljack to capture Georgi (so they can track other Deception facimilies), while he tries to draw Megatron out of hiding. When Blitzwing spots Optimus, Megatron gives him authorization to attack, then orders Skywarp to fetch Astrotrain and look for other Autobots.

While Hardhead, Nightbeat, and Hot Rod arrive in Earth orbit aboard Autobot Ark-32, Ratchet, Jimmy, and Verity trace a shipment of lightweight alloy to a small garage in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The three prepare to head out, but are stopped when Ironhide emerges from the shadows and insist on joining...

Notes and Comments

• The text of the inside front cover reads:
  

  As the Autobots begin to probe the mysterious abduction (and fate) of Sunstreaker and his passenger, Hunter O'Nion, Megatron gets hands-on with the escalating Decepticon infiltraion strategy on Earth. Having upgraded to an immensely powerful new Earth form, Megatron sets his sights on the breakaway soviet state of Brasnya and one of the many facsimile (artificial) humans carefully integrated into that particular hot spot. Things... are about to go ballistic!

  Phase two continues...

• Nightbeat was last seen in Transformers: Spotlight #2, while Hot Rod previously appeared in Transformers: Spotlight #3.