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Transformers: Beast Wars, Season 3

Optimal Situation

Airdate: 24 October 1998
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: Grow Bigger

Synopsis: As the time storm begins to unravel space-time, Megatron gloats, telling them that Optimus Prime's death would mean that the Maximals would in result no longer exist. Blackarachnia, born from Maximal technology, finds herself affected by the time storm as well, and helps the Maximals. She uses the Golden Disk's information to access the Ark's security systems to drive out Megatron. Blackarachnia, with Silverbolt's help, activate the Ark's repair systems to stabilise Optimus Prime's condition. However, it is a temporary gesture at best, since reality is still in flux. Optimus Primal places Optimus Prime's spark in his body to protect it while Rhinox operates one of Teletraan 1's repair devices to repair Prime's body. Having Optimus Prime's spark inside him causes Primal's body to be transformed into a larger and more powerful body. Meanwhile, back at the Axalon Tarantulas' body is put together by his drones, while Ravage's is ignored. Quickstrike's cobra tail also finds its body.

Megatron calls for reinforcements, and after Inferno and Waspinator pull themselves together (literally) the Predacons attack. Optimus Primal drives Megatron off, while Blackarachnia sneaks away during the battle. However, the Predacons create an avalanche that blocks the entrance to the Ark. Blackarachnia is trapped outside at the mercy of the Predacons. As punishment for her betrayal, Megatron blasts her. The Predacons take their leave when Optimus Primal blazes a path through the rocks. Realizing that they are heading for the unguarded Axalon, Primal and Cheetor fly off in pursuit.

A distraught Silverbolt cradles Blackarachnia. Thinking that the Predacon is dying, Silverbolt comforts her, as well as admitting his love. Silverbolt finally manages to convince Blackarachnia to join the Maximals, before going limp. Silverbolt howls in anguish... only for Rattrap and Rhinox to tell him that Blackarachnia is merely in stasis lock. Meanwhile, Optimus Primal and Cheetor manage to shoot down the Predacon fliers, but they are too late to prevent Rampage and Tarantulas' spider drones from trying to drag the Axalon off the cliff it had slammed onto. Optimus severs the ropes, but Rampage fires a missiles that flies dead-on towards Optimus Primal. Fearing that the missile would hit Prime's spark, Primal deflects it, and it explodes on the Axalon, which plummets down the cliff, severs into two and crashes down into the river below. The Predacons make their escape.

Optimus and Cheetor return to the Ark, where Rhinox had repaired Optimus Prime's body. Primal returns Optimus Prime's spark to its rightful owner. They decide to relocate to the Ark in order to protect it from further time-tamperings, and the Maximals (plus Blackarachnia) begins to set up their new base.

Featured Transformers: Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Megatron, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Optimus Prime, Waspinator, Inferno, Tarantulas, Ravage's Head, Quickstrike, Rampage

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Deep Metal

Airdate: 1 November 1998
Written By: Larry DiTillio
Japanese Title: Ray!

Synopsis: In the future, a Cybertronian hunts for Protoform X in a space sector declared off limits by the Maximal High Council. A transwarp portal suddenly appears and engulfs his ship, sending him tumbling into the past. The Cybertronian's body is also changed by the transwarp portal. Meanwhile, the Maximals have moved into a now-fortified Mount Saint Hilary. Inferno leads Rampage on an attack on the Maximal base, but when Rampage sees the ship coming out of the portal, he leaves Inferno to fend for himself. Inferno is quickly defeated.

Cheetor also sees this ship, and follows its descent as it plummets into the sea. But as Cheetor is reporting to Optimus, Rampage shoots him out of the sky, saying that the battle between the visitor and him is personal. The visitor in question is the Maximal Depth Charge, who has scanned a manta ray as an alternate mode. Depth Charge rescues Cheetor from sinking, but leaves off immediately to hunt Protoform X. Depth Charge and Rampage meet each other underwater, and they engage in a brutal battle. Optimus Primal arrives on Cheetor's position. When Cheetor tells the story to Primal, Primal apparently recognizes Depth Charge.

As the battle moves towards the beach, Rampage heals from his wounds, and approaches Depth Charge. The two battle again, and Depth Charge gains the upper hand when he throws his sword into Rampage's cannon, blowing it up. However, Quickstrike, sent by Megatron to check on Rampage, shows up and knocks out Depth Charge. Optimus Primal and Cheetor arrive and take out Quickstrike, but the distraction was enough for Rampage to sneak away. The Maximals bring the damaged Depth Charge back to base.

While Depth Charge is placed in a CR chamber, Optimus Primal and Rhinox tell the other Maximals that Depth Charge was in charge for colony Omnicron, until Protoform X destroyed the colony. A vengeance-ridden Depth Charge was the one who ultimately hunted down X. However, instead of executing Protoform X, the Maximal High Council placed X aboard the Axalon to be dumped in deep space. Depth Charge has since tracked X's energy signature, intent on killing him.

Depth Charge awakens, but acts aloof with the Maximals. Even when he sees the Ark, he has no interest in saving history, and leaves off to hunt for Protoform X. Optimus tells the other Maximals that Depth Charge's obsession with Rampage has changed him. Meanwhile, Rampage, delighted that his old friend has come to play, blows up Depth Charge's ship.

Featured Transformers: Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Depth Charge, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Inferno, Rampage, Megatron, Cheetor, Quickstrike, Waspinator

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Changing of the Guard

Airdate: 8 November 1998
Written By: Evan Somers
Japanese Title: Loose Fitting

Synopsis: Rhinox tries to use the outdated Teletraan-1 forcefield, but the technology is incompatible with Maximal tech. This causes Optimus Primal to send a team to salvage the Sentinel module from where the Axalon had sunk. With Depth Charge refusing to help, the Maximals plan to use a single-occupant aquatic vessel developed by Blackarachnia. A reluctant Rattrap is selected to be the pilot. Soon, Silverbolt drops the submarine into the lake where the Axalon had sunk, and Rattrap has a good time as he explores the underwater surroundings, and begins to extract the Sentinel module. The radar warns him too late of Rampage's arrival.

Rampage catches Rattrap's submarine in a single claw, and would've crushed it completely if Depth Charge hadn't intervened. The vengeful Maximal battle with Rampage, letting Rattrap escape back to the surface where he is retrieved by Silverbolt. However, Waspinator attacks Silverbolt and causes him to drop Rattrap. Quickstrike then keeps the Maximal duo busy while Waspinator delivers Sentinel back to the Predacon base. Quickstrike is knocked out accidentally by Rampage. Silverbolt tries to enlist Depth Charge's help to recover Sentinel, but Depth Charge is obsessed only with hunting down Rampage.

Rattrap and Silverbolt improvises and manage to steal back Sentinel from Waspinator with a few aerial acrobatics, but Inferno arrives and harasses the Maximals. Depth Charge has a change of heart and goes off to help, but his untimely arrival causes him to slam onto Silverbolt, and he drops Sentinel into Inferno's hands. The Predacons leave, victorious for once.

Back at the Maximal base, Rattrap and Optimus Primal berate Depth Charge for getting in their way and causing the Predacons to obtain a strategic advantage. However, because they offer Depth Charge a place among them again, and this time Depth Charge warily accepts. Meanwhile, a jubilant Megatron installs Sentinel in the Predacon base, encasing it in a force field.

Featured Transformers: Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Rampage, Depth Charge, Megatron, Quickstrike, Waspinator, Inferno

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Cutting Edge

Airdate: 15 0november 1998
Written By: Ian Weir
Japanese Title:Beast Wars Metals: Convoy's Great Transformation! (Released as a movie special in Japan)

Synopsis: The tribe of protohumans led by the one that wields Dinobot's hammer are walking through a jungle. They are attacked by a gigantic Cyber-raptor that drives them off with laser optics. Two children, Chak and Una, hide and are separated from their tribe. Optimus Primal and Silverbolt arrive and drive off the raptor. They take the kids back to their base, where Rhinox deduces that the cyber-raptors are made by Predacons. Optimus Primal assigns Cheetor and Blackarachnia to return the kids back to their tribe, a decision that Silverbolt is not entirely pleased with. After the two leave, Rattrap (who has been spying on Blackarachnia's activities) tell Rhinox that Blackarachnia has taken something from the classified area of their base.

As Cheetor and Blackarachnia slowly trek through the jungles, Cheetor and the kids fool around, much to Blackarachnia's annoyance. A cyber-raptor attacks, and in the resulting battle damages Cheetor's flight engines after he tries to impress Blackarachnia with a grandstanding maneuver. They also find that their radios are jammed, so they are on their own. In the Maximal base, Optimus Primal and Silverbolt likewise go out to check out their ersatz team members. Megatron, meanwhile dispatches a whole squad of Cyber-raptors, Waspinator and Tarantulas to eliminate the two Maximals. Both Maximal and Predacon teams arrive on Blackarachnia and Cheetor's position and a full-out battle ensues. Tarantulas uses his new gun and blasts Optimus Primal, causing him to lose his mind and sing around. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia intercepts a blast meant for Chak and Una. As the Predacons seem to have the upper hand, the hammer-wielding protohuman jumps to help, damaging the backpack on one of the Cyber-raptors. With this knowledge the Maximals easily destroy the raptors and defeat the Predacons.

Meanwhile, Megatron leads the rest of the Predacons on an assault on the Maximal base. After using Quickstrike to spring the exterior traps, Megatron leads Rampage and Inferno to claim the Ark. However, the unexpected arrival of Depth Charge turns the battle in the Maximal's favour. Meanwhile, Cheetor's group deliver Chak and Una back to their tribe. Unseen by the other Maximals, Blackarachnia smuggles some hardware from the Cyber-raptors. Cheetor congratulates Blackarachnia on her heroic actions, but Blackarachnia disses Cheetor off, walking off with Silverbolt. Cheetor sighs for being treated like a kid. Meanwhile, Megatron considers using the technology from the Cyber-raptors with the half of Rampage's spark...

Featured Transformers: Cyber-Raptors (killed), Silverbolt, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Rattrap, Blackarachnia, Cheetor, Megatron, Inferno, Tarantulas, Quickstrike, Rampage, Waspinator, Depth Charge
Notable Others: Hammer Protohuman, Chak, Una, Protohuman Tribe

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Feral Scream, Part 1

Airdate: 31 January 1999
Written By: Greg Johnson
Japanese Title: I am Resurrected

Synopsis: Optimus Primal and Cheetor battle Megatron and Waspinator for a stasis pod through a canyon. Cheetor accidentally buries Optimus in an avalanche, allowing the Predacons escape. Depth Charge arrives and helps to get Optimus out of the rubble before going off on his own. Optimus drives off back to base for repairs and instructs Cheetor to wait for backup. Meanwhile, Megatron loads the stasis pod into a gigantic machine, with cells from Dinobot and half of Rampage's spark. Lightning strikes the Transmetal 2 generator, and a second Dinobot is born. Depth Charge and Cheetor arrives, and the new Dinobot attacks. Cheetor manages to steal the Transmetal 2 Driver from Megatron's machine, and tosses it to Depth Charge. However, this leaves him open to Megatron's attack, which causes him to be trapped in the electrical current of the machinery. Electricity runs through the young Maximal for a while, until a gigantic explosion engulfs him and the machinery.

Depth Charge arrives at the Maximal base and reports Cheetor's death to Optimus Primal and the others. He heads deeper into the caves to scan the Driver by himself, finding out that it's an Alien device altered by Megatron. Depth Charge tosses the Driver into the lava to destroy it, but when he turns his back, Blackarachnia zips down and catches the device. Outside the base, Optimus blames himself for Cheetor's death. But it turns out that Cheetor is still alive, although he isn't in the best of conditions.

In the Predacon base, Rampage is furious at Megatron for giving the other half of his spark being given to the Dinobot Clone, and tries to reclaim the spark fragment. However, Dinobot is also able to squeeze Rampage's spark, just as Megatron was able to do before, causing Rampage great pain. Megatron then dispatches Dinobot to recover the Transmetal 2 Driver. Depth Charge, meanwhile, sets out from the Maximal base after repairs to hunt down Rampage. Dinobot ambushes him, and easily subdues him. The Predacons interrogate Depth Charge, but suddenly a beast jumps down and defeats the Predacons one by one, overwhelming the Predacons with his speed. Depth Charge is left alone to wonder what had saved him, but the mysterious beast disappears by the time Optimus arrives to his rescue. Meanwhile, when they return to the Maximal base, a damaged Cheetor stumbles onto the scene and passes out. Primal and Rhinox rushes out to help him.

Featured Transformers: Waspinator, Megatron, Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Depth Charge, Dinobot II, Rhinox, Blackarachnia, Rampage, Quickstrike

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Feral Scream, Part 2

Airdate: 7 February 1999
Written By: Jules Dennis
Japanese Title: Cheetor Arises

Synopsis: Optimus Primal checks on Cheetor, who is sleeping in his room. Optimus discusses this with Rattrap, expressing worry about Cheetor refusing to use the CR chamber. Rattrap passes this off as Cheetor wanting to prove something, but Optimus is still suspicious. Cheetor, meanwhile, has a nightmare of himself being mutated, and is reviled by the other Maximals. A horrified Cheetor wakes up to see a green tendril emerging from his spark. Sleeping on the job, Rattrap is rudely awakened by Cheetor's scream and rushes to help, but is knocked aside by a large feline monstrosity. When Optimus arrives, Rattrap assumes that the monster had gotten Cheetor.

Meanwhile, Megatron hears the roar of the incoming beats, and deduces that Cheetor has been upgraded from their previous confrontation. Intrigued, Megatron sends Waspinator to investigate. On the Maximals' side, Silverbolt returns to the Maximal base, unable to locate Cheetor (and a little jealous of Blackarachnia's concern for Cheetor). Optimus Primal confronts Depth Charge and threatens him, forcing to tell the whole story to him. Reluctantly Depth Charge tells Optimus about the Transmetal Driver, and how he had gotten rid of it.

Cheetor finds himself awake, back in his Transmetal form, completely repaired. Waspinator leads an unhappy Dinobot towards the cave. After getting rid of Waspinator, Dinobot begins the hunt proper. Cheetor arrives again in front of the Maximal base, telling the others that he has taken care of the cat monster. Optimus takes Cheetor somewhere private under the guise of recovering the monster's remains, then urges Cheetor to tell him the truth. Dinobot chooses that moment to strike, and the sight of the downed Optimus causes Cheetor to morph back into his Transmetal 2 form, and he begins to battle with Dinobot and Waspinator. When Maximal help arrives, the Predacons retreat. Optimus Primal manages to bring Cheetor back to his senses. Back at the base, Cheetor flirts with Blackarachnia, who is actually more interested in Cheetor's technology than in the person.

Featured Transformers: Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Rhinox (dream and present), Blackarachnia (dream and present), Silverbolt (dream and present), Dinobot II, Waspinator, Megatron, Depth Charge

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Proving Grounds

Written By: Arthur Sellers
Airdate: 14 February 1999
Japanese Title: Love Typhoon

Synopsis: The Maximals examine Blackarachnia's interior structures with an X-Ray machine, and Rhinox finds the location of the shell program that Tarantulas had inserted into Blackarachnia's protoform. A frustrated Blackarachnia snaps at Rattrap (who is suspicious) and Cheetor (who is infatuated), and leaves the Maximal base to clear her head after overhearing Optimus and Rhinox discuss an operation on her. Dinobot II, who is spying on the Maximals, stalks her. Blackarachnia finds herself walking into a secluded forest, and reflects on her situation when she notices Dinobot. After a scuffle, the two begin to hunt each other through the forest. In the Maximal base, Rattrap plays a video game but is evicted by Silverbolt, who uses the computer to locate Blackarachnia, and is surprised to find her in Predacon territory. Silverbolt manages to convince Rattrap not to report this to Optimus Primal, and sets off to rescue his beloved.

Blackarachnia and Dinobot continue their battle, tearing their way through large trees in a deeper, darker woods. Dinobot ultimately manages to trap Blackarachnia under two fallen logs, but Blackarachnia shoots Dinobot at pointblank. She manages to free herself and tries to radio for help, but doesn't notice Dinobot regenerating from his injuries. Fortunately for her, Silverbolt arrives. Meanwhile the other Maximals realize that Silverbolt and Blackarachnia are away, and heads off to help.

Silverbolt arrives near Blackarachnia, but is promptly attacked by Dinobot. Dinobot gains the upper hand, trapping Silverbolt's head in his optic laser, but Blackarachnia shoots Silverbolt, telling Dinobot that the fight is between the two of them. Blackarachnia proposes an alliance with Dinobot, but is rejected. Dinobot attacks, but Silverbolt uses the distraction to stand up, and uses Dinobot's hologram emitter used earlier on to fool Dinobot, and they shoot Dinobot over a cliff. Blackarachnia and Silverbolt argue about Blackarachnia's seeming betrayal. Blackarachnia explains that it was a stalling tactic to fool Dinobot

Blackarachnia tells Silverbolt of her decision to leave the Maximals, not wanting distrust to harm both parties. She headbutts Silverbolt, but it knocks both of them out. Optimus Primal arrives, and Blackarachnia confronts Optimus about the operation she overheard him discussing. Optimus explains that the choice falls to Blackarachnia alone and that the operation would not be forced. Satisfied, Blackarachnia remains with the Maximals.

Featured Transformers: Blackarachnia, Rhinox, Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Rattrap, Dinobot II, Silverbolt

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Go With the Flow

Airdate: 18 February 1999
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese title: Zap! Shibire Babire bu

Synopsis: Cheetor fools around with Chak and Una, teaching them the arts of self-defense as well as basic science and the usage of tools. Rattrap watches this with disdain. Meanwhile, on a mountaintop the Predacons build a gigantic cannon, but because the bipolar energon source is installed before the shields, the Predacons couldn't safely get near the cannon. In order to complete the weapon, Tarantulas suggests that they capture the two proto-children that Cheetor had 'educated'. Waspinator and Inferno is dispatched to kidnap them, and Waspinator manages to capture Una. Depth Charge arrives to help but the Predacons retreat. Cheetor reports to Optimus Primal, who orders Rattrap and Depth Charge to rescue Una while Cheetor returns to base for repairs.

Una does manage to dismantle Waspinator en route to the Predacon outpost. Megatron fires the weapon at a low setting, knocking Depth Charge and Rattrap out of the sky. However, the incomplete cannon creates a feedback that knock the Predacons silly, forcing them to shut it down. Megatron tries his best to instruct Una to install the shields to cover the machine, but it is slow going, with the protohuman's limited intelligence. However, she manages to cover the machine with the shield, albeit in a haphazard manner. During this time Depth Charge and Rattrap find themselves crash-landed in a forest. Damaged, Depth Charge is stuck in the crater, unable to transform or fly. Rattrap goes off on his own to rescue Una.

Una is ordered to place the stabilizer crystal when Rattrap arrives. Dinobot engages the Maximal, while Tarantulas heads off to 'dispose' Una. Rattrap and Una manage to out-trick the Predacons and run off. Arriving where Depth Charge had crash-landed, Una reminds Rattrap of Cheetor's earlier lesson with a lever, and they manage to get a nonplussed Depth Charge free and use him as a raft. Sailing through the rapids, they shoot Waspinator and Inferno out of the air, and they knock Dinobot out.? Megatron prepares to blow the Maximals up with his cannon, but apparently Una had fancied the stabilizer crystal as a hairclip. The cannon explodes and the Maximals sail float away victorious.

Featured Transformers: Cheetor, Rattrap, Quickstrike, Tarantulas, Dinobot II, Megatron, Waspinator, Inferno, Depth Charge, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Blackarachnia
Notable Others: Chak, Una

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Crossing the Rubicon

Airdate: 22 February 1999
Written By: D.C. Fontana
Japanese Title: Shiny!

Synopsis: In an alcove, Blackarachnia straps herself a ragtag piece of machinery that would hopefully convert her into a Transmetal 2. When she activates the machine she accidentally attracts the attention of Silverbolt, who flies in to the 'rescue'. Blackarachnia berates Silverbolt, but suddenly short-circuits and passes out. Silverbolt rushed Blackarachnia back to the Maximal base, where Rhinox diagnoses the problem. The shell program is starting to degrade, and if not removed soon it would delete Blackarachnia's core consciousness with it. Rhinox begins the procedure to remove the shell, something that have never been done before. The disoriented Blackarachnia wanders off to think about it, and confides to Silverbolt that she still views herself as a Predacon, and the idea of becoming a Maximal bothers her. Silverbolt insists that the only reason she is thinking that way is because of Tarantulas' shell program, and that deep down she is a Maximal. Blackarachnia abruptly short-circuits again in the middle of the conversation.

With little time to spare, Blackarachnia decides to go through with the operation. She transfers the access codes to the Ark (gained some time ago) to Optimus Primal before submitting to the operation. Rhinox controls some sort of nano-machine injected into Blackarachnia's systems, and begins to destroy the safeguards guarding the web-like shell program with calculated precision. This attracts the attention of Tarantulas, who informs Megatron of the situation. Megatron concludes that the access codes to the Ark must've been transferred, and that they have no reason to keep Blackarachnia alive anymore. Megatron recruits Tarantulas and sends his Predacons to attack the Maximals in order to disrupt the delicate operation. Optimus Primal, Cheetor and Rattrap defend the base while Rhinox tries to concentrate and gun down the safeguards. As Rhinox is about to destroy the final safeguard, a rocket launched by Tarantulas hits the base, causing Rhinox to miss and extinguishing Blackarachnia's spark in the process. A shell-shocked Rhinox shuffles off to tell Optimus, but Silverbolt, fueled with rage, stalks out in hunt of Tarantulas. Tarantulas, meanwhile, detects that Blackarachnia is dead and breaks off the attack, heading in a different direction with the other Predacons. Silverbolt follows. Meanwhile, the other Maximals (not aware that Silverbolt had slipped away) give Blackarachnia an eulogy and apologizes belatedly for not trusting her more. When they realize this, they head off to hunt Silverbolt. Unseen by them, the Transmetal 2 Driver begins to glow...

Silverbolt trails Tarantulas into a desolate area, and brutally attacks the Predacon. However, just as he was about to deliver the killing blow Rampage arrives and beats Silverbolt to the ground... only to be stopped by Blackarachnia, having been upgraded into a Transmetal 2. Using her newfound powers she makes quick work of Rampage and returns to base with Silverbolt. They return to base and Blackarachnia shrugs off her revival as being 'dark, then light'. She then gives Silverbolt a kiss on the cheek, much to the other's embarrassment.

Featured Transformers: Blackarachnia, Silverbolt, Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Cheetor, Rattrap, Tarantulas, Megatron, Rampage, Quickstrike, Inferno

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Master Blaster

Airdate: 1 Match 1999
Written By: Eric Torin
Japanese Title: Blaze, Dragon

Synopsis: Megatron sends Waspinator to lead an attack against the Maximal base, and he successfully dispatches Silverbolt before the other Maximals storm out. Denied of reinforcements, poor Waspinator is quickly squashed by the Maximals. However, Waspinator was merely a ruse to draw Optimus Primal out. A hidden Tarantulas uses a blowgun to shoot a dart, which burrows into Primal's foot. The dart unfolds and makes its way through Primal's interior machinery and accesses Primal's spark. Optimus Primal goes black for a moment, then punches Cheetor, speaking with a Western drawl.

Soon, Blackarachnia returns to the Maximal base, suspicious at the open doors and the darkened interior. Optimus Primal sneaks up and grabs her. The Predacons reveal themselves, as well as the rest of the unconscious Maximals trapped in a cage. Quickstrike is revealed to control Optimus Primal's body by piloting a large mechanical suit. Blackarachnia is left to Rampage to play with, while Quickstrike uses Optimus Primal's body to allow Megatron access to the Ark. Megatron enters the Autobot shuttle, only this time his target is not Optimus Prime, but rather his namesake, the original Megatron. The Predacon leader opens the Decepticon's chest and uses a tentacle to grab the original Megatron's spark. After a bit of a struggle Megatron manages to contain both sparks within his body. While he recovers from his ordeal, Quickstrike, influenced by Tarantulas into working against Megatron, dumps the Predacon leader into a lava pool.

Meanwhile, Rampage is about to step on Blackarachnia, but the Maximal uses her newfound telekinetic power to slam a girder onto the Predacon. After outsmarting Inferno, she then proceeds to free the rest of the Maximals, although they are too injured to be of help. Meanwhile, Tarantulas accesses Teletraan-1, activating a self-destruct sequence which would destroy all the Autobots and Decepticons within. However, as Tarantulas leaves the Ark, Megatron rises from the lava, now reformatted into a new dragon form by a combination of the lava dip and the original Megatron's spark. Megatron burns the treacherous Predacon for failing to destroy him and tosses him into lava as well.

Blackarachnia assaults Quickstrike and manages to outsmart the Fuzor, freeing Optimus Primal from his control. The two head back towards the Ark. Megatron and Optimus Primal battle, the former reveling in his newfound powers. Blackarachnia manages to shut down the destruction sequence with seconds to spare. The remaining Maximals regroup and manage to drive off Megatron. Optimus then remarks that they needed to end the Beast Wars quickly...

Featured Transformers: Silverbolt, Inferno, Quickstrike, Tarantulas, Waspinator, Megatron, Dinobot II, Cheetor, Rattrap, Optimus Primal, Blackarachnia, Rampage, Rhinox, G1 Megatron (deactivated), G1 Optimus Prime (deactivated)

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Other Victories

Airdate: 5 May 1999
Written By: Larry DiTillio
Japanese Title: I Have Returned

Synopsis: In deep space, several skull-like ethereal entities — the true forms of the Vok — discuss the experiment on Nexus Earth. The Vok decide that there remains a threat, despite their efforts to sterilize the planet. The Vok merge the dormant bodies of Tigatron and Airazor together, creating a new Transformer. Two Vok inhabit the new body and fly off. Unseen by them, two sparks follow in their trail.

On Earth the Predacons hold a mock trial for Quickstrike. Quickstrike begs for mercy, offering to hunt down Tarantulas for Megatron. Megatron is about to order Quickstrike's execution when sensors suddenly detect an incoming, massive energy surge. The Predacons (and, from their respective bases, Rhinox and Tarantulas as well) realize that the aliens are back. The Predacons' autoguns are ineffective, and the Predacons abandon their base. The Vok-controlled ball of energy slam onto the Predacon ship, obliterating it immediately. Optimus Primal, worried that the timeline could be destroyed if the spark of the original Megatron is harmed, heads of to save the Predacons. As the Predacons recover, the Vok-controlled Transformer emerges from the ashes of the Predacons, introducing himself as Tigerhawk, the Emissary of the Vok. Commanding the powers of the elements, he easily dispatches the Predacon troops and faces off against Megatron. Megatron's powers give Tigerhawk some problems but the Vok Emissary is ultimately victorious. Before he could kill Megatron, however, Optimus Primal arrives. Tigerhawk does not wish to harm Optimus but couldn't let him interfere, and buries the Maximal under Earth. This provides the distraction that Tarantulas' spider drones need to swarm over Tigerhawk, subduing him and dragging him away.

Cheetor sees a prophetic dream of Airazor, Tigatron and the Vok. He wakes up to see the two sparks flitting through the air. Following it, he finds Tarantulas' lair, as well as Tigerhawk's unconscious body. Tigerhawk wakes up and recognizes Tarantulas. Tarantulas reveals that he intends to use Tigerhawk's powers to destroy the Maximals and the Ark, since he and the Tripredacus Council are not descended from the Autobots or the Decepticons. Tarantulas uses a deprogramming device on Tigerhawk, and the two Vok inside him exit and float towards Tarantulas. The machinery, designed to seek out the Vok's energy, swivels around and targets the Vok as they enter Tarantulas' body, obliterating all three of them. Cheetor jumps in and drags the now-lifeless Tigerhawk body out. Tarantulas' lair explodes. Tigerhawk and Airazor's merged spark enter the Tigerhawk body, and Optimus Primal welcomes the old-new friend back into the Maximal fold.

Featured Transformers: Tigatron, Airazor, Tigerhawk, Megatron, Rampage, Quickstrike, Dinobot II, Inferno, Waspinator, Tarantulas (killed), Rattrap, Rhinox, Blackarachnia, Optimus Primal, Cheetor
Notable Others: the Vok (two destroyed)

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Nemesis, Part 1

Airdate: 6 May 1999
Written By: Bob Forward
Japanese Title: Kaboom!

Synopsis: Tigerhawk shows off his elemental powers while Optimus Primal reads a passage from the Covenant of Primus, believing Tigerhawk to be a good omen. With the Predacons missing a base, the Maximals begin to hunt down the disadvantaged Predacons. The Predacon troops are dissatisfied, but the ever-loyal Inferno offers to take Quickstrike and Waspinator to find a new 'colony' for his queen. Megatron, Rampage and the Dinobot clone search the abandoned remains of Tarantulas' lair. They discover a hatch that leads to an underwater tunnel. After accessing the files of a nearby computer Megatron becomes excited, and hops onto the rail car Tarantulas had prepared alongside Dinobot.

Silverbolt and Depth Charge, patrolling the skies in search of the Predacons, spots Inferno's squad. Despite Optimus Primal's orders otherwise, the two head in to investigate. Optimus Primal is forced to leave the base with Tigerhawk, Cheetor and Blackarachnia to support them. As Primal's group arrives, Depth Charge finds the hatch in Tarantulas' lair, but finds that it is booby-trapped. Silverbolt is torn to pieces, forcing Blackarachnia and Cheetor to carry him back to base.

Inferno declares that the Protohumans' cave dwellings would be their new colony, and, alongside Quickstrike, is prepared to wipe the Protohumans out. Waspinator, however, snaps, and bursts into an angry rant against everything in general. After several insults, Inferno and Quickstrike blasts him, and assault the Protohumans. However, the Protohumans have found ways to defend themselves with primitive spears.

Optimus Primal, Tigerhawk and Depth Charge locates a data terminal inside the tunnel, and discovers what Tarantulas had been planning — the Nemesis, the flagship of the Decepticon fleet, the vessel that the first Megatron used to shoot down the Ark. Primal and Tigerhawk flies through the skies while Depth Charge takes an aquatic route towards the Nemesis' landing site. Megatron likewise introduces Dinobot to the Decepticon warship with his usual flair for drama. They discover that Tarantulas had repaired the vessel, as well as added a transwarp cell and a Predacon-sized control panel. Megatron and Dinobot powers up the vessel for an attack.

Depth Charge informs Optimus of the Decepticon warship, and Optimus authorizes Depth Charge to neutralize the Nemesis by any means necessary. Rampage attacks his archenemy, and while Depth Charge tries to proceed with his mission, the inevitable fight occurs. The two mortal enemies engage in a brutal battle, which ends with them falling onto a field of energon crystals. Depth Charge gains the upper hand and manages to get an energon crystal above Rampage's spark. After a short struggle, Rampage let's go of the crystal, laughing like a maniac as a determined Depth Charge plunges the crystal into Rampage's spark, creating an explosion that kills both combatants. Dinobot II, with the death of Rampage, cries out in pain. Optimus Primal mourns Depth Charge's loss as pieces of him float up to the surface, but notes that the threat of the Nemesis has been dealt with... until the Nemesis rises from the ocean, fully operational...

To be concluded...

Featured Transformers: Tigerhawk, Rhinox, Optimus Primal, Blackarachnia, Cheetor, Rattrap, Depth Charge (killed), Silverbolt, Dinobot II, Rampage (killed), Quickstrike, Megatron, Waspinator, Inferno
Notable Others: Una, Hammer, Protohumans (many presumably killed), Chak

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Nemesis, Part 2

Airdate: 7 May 1999
Written By: Simon Furman
Japanese Title: Happy? This Should Do It.

Synopsis: Megatron opens fire at everything on sight with the Nemesis, quoting a passage from the Covenant of Primus about a 'Megatron'. Optimus Primal contacts Rhinox to deploy operation Eternity, and with Tigerhawk opens fire at the Decepticon warship, but fail to do anything worse than scratching the hull before Megatron returns fire. Tigerhawk tells Optimus to hurry back to the base to rally the Maximals, telling Primal that he would hold the line there. Meanwhile, Dinobot II comments that with Rampage's death, his spark seems to have changed, and admires Tigerhawk's stalwart defense. Summoning a giant tornado with his powers, Tigerhawks manages to disable most of the power conduits on numerous parts, limiting Megatron to only use the main fusion cannon. Megatron opens fire at Tigerhawk, who tries to hold it back with an energy beam. Despite his power, Tigerhawk is overwhelmed by the power of the blast, and is atomized.

Rhinox tells Rattrap that they are preparing to move the Ark. Optimus returns to base, and is told by a computer that Tigerhawk has been terminated, and swears in rage that Megatron will be stopped. Inferno and Quickstrike, meanwhile, drives off the protohumans. Hammer the protohuman chief tries to fight them back. Inferno is about to open fire at Hammer when the Nemesis soars overhead. Not realizing that his troops are below him, Megatron prepares to open fire at Hammer with the Nemesis. Dinobot tries to stop Megatron for some reason he seems not to fathom, asking Megatron where the honor is in killing a lone human. After a tense silence, Dinobot waves it off as conserving power. Megatron ignores it, and opens fire at the protohuman, killing Inferno and Quickstrike in the process.

Rhinox and Blackatachnia note in dismay that the ship has been offline for too long. Meanwhile, the Nemesis approaches the Ark and activates the tractor beam, tearing the mountain apart while the cannon is forced to recharge. Optimus Primal enters the Decepticon warship after disabling the grinders, and begins a brutal battle royale with Megatron. Despite floating around, Blackarachnia and Rhinox manages to get the engines online but they burn out almost immediately. Rattrap notes that they are all going to die. Dinobot mutters that Megatron is not being honourable and sportive by attacking a defenseless enemy, and sends a message to the Maximals informing them of a shuttle hidden inside the Ark (something that Blackarachnia notes the history datatrax doesn't mention). The Maximals activate the Autobot shuttle. Megatron gains the upper hand against Optimus, and orders Dinobot to fire. Dinobot refuses, and Megatron bats him aside. Before he could fire, though, the Rhinox-piloted shuttle crashes through the Nemesis' bridge, going all the way through and taking Megatron with him. This causes a chain reaction that causes the Nemesis to begin to crash. Optimus Primal flies out, telling Dinobot to save himself. However, Dinobot remains with the ship, telling Optimus Primal farewell as an explosion engulfs him.

Some time later, Optimus Primal remarks that all is as it should be. They have repaired the Autobot shuttle and attached a transwarp cell to it, and leaves the past Earth to Cybertron, a screaming Megatron tied to the hull of the shuttle. Back on Earth, the protohumans have built a village, and are using parts of Inferno and Quickstrike to worship their new leader... Waspinator.

Featured Transformers: Optimus Primal, Tigerhawk (killed), Rhinox, Silverbolt, Blackarachnia, Cheetor, Rattrap, Megatron, Dinobot II (killed), Inferno (killed), Quickstrike (killed), Dinobot (flashback), Waspinator
Notable Others: Protohumans (many killed), Hammer (presumably killed)

Reviews and Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

 

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