Issue #5

• Writer - Chris Sarracini
• Penciler - Pat Lee
• Inker - Rob Armstrong
• Inker - Erik Sander
• Lettering - Dreamer Design
• Colorist - Ramil Sunga
• Colorist - Gary Yeung
• Colorist - Alan Wang

Summary

  Two hikers in Canada's Northwest Territories, startled by a hising sound behind them, run into Bumblebee and a squad of Autobots. Jazz tries to tell the humans to seek shelter, but they run away in fear before he can deliver the message. While Mirage speculates on their fear of Autobots, Wheeljack unveils his newest invention -- Autobot-powered blasters that can destroy Megatron's runaway metallic virus.

  As the Autobots begin spraying the virus, Trailbreaker calls from San Francisco, seeking reinforcements against the Decepticons. Jazz is unable to help, and Devastator quickly knocks out Trailbreaker, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker. Optimus Prime then attacks Devastator from close-up, and manages to knock the giant into the ocean. As Prime resurfaces, Megatron approaches him, and offers to talk.

  Inside cell block C at the Pentagon, Spike is expecting to be killed by Hallo at 3:00, but is surprised at the visitor he receives. Meanwhile, in Canada, the Autobots are nearly depleted of energon, having used all of their internal stores to destroy the virus. Cliffjumper collapses from the strain, and is greeted by a tank from the Canadian Army -- who demand the Autobots surrender immediately.

  Riding inside a laundry cart, Spike is wheeled to a supply room, where Larry the janitor (from issue #1) produces a folder. Larry explains that Hallo had originally headed a Pentagon plan to create their own robot warriors, with no success. Hallo then refocused the project to find a way to control Transformers instead, and the U.S. military teamed up with the Autobots to defeat the Decepticons so Hallo would have captives to experiment with. Led by an engineer named Adam Rook, the "Lazarus Project" was ultimately successful; Hallo then planned the Ark II explosion to eliminate the Autobots. Another project engineer -- Larry's brother -- tried to expose the scheme, but was killed instead. Rook, meanwhile, escaped with the project and changed his name to Lazarus. Spike angrily berates Larry for his cowardice, then takes Larry's security card and goes in search for Hallo.

  As a weary Optimus Prime listens, Megatron sneers at his devotion to the human race, arguing that they aren't as noble or as virtuous as Optimus believes. Pointing to examples of petty and selfish behavior around them, Megatron tells Prime that humans aren't worth protecting, and offers for Optimus to join him instead. And Unknown to either of them, General Hallo orders a nuclear missile for immediate launch on San Francisco...