Summary

  In an earlier skirmish of the Autobot-Decepticon war, Optimus Prime throws himself and Megatron into a Space Bridge prototype -- it overloads and explodes, resulting in the disappearance of both leaders.

  Sometime later, an energy fissure opens above Cybertron, dropping a golden sphere on the planet. A mysterious robot of flame and darkness steps forth and surveys the area. He is The Fallen...

  At the Moon Alpha spaceport, Grimlock and Kup are waiting in preparation, and Kup idly ponders the stagnation of their race. Swoop arrives with news of an imminent arrival, and Grimlock hustles them all into cover. Simultaneously, at the secret Autobase headquarters under the ruins of Iacon, Hound reports to Prowl rumors that the Decepticons are developing a mobile assault base on their eastern perimeter. Jazz scrounges up some Autobots to investigate, and reflects nostalgically on the former days of Autobot unity.

  At the smelting pools of Kaus, the dark arcane rituals of Bludgeon, Bugly, and Mindwipe are interrupted by the mockery of The Fallen. Bugly attacks with his magicks, but The Fallen easily repels them, and he offers them the opportunity to serve as his acolytes and receive dark powers beyond measure. The three hesitantly agree, and The Fallen tells them to gather four Transformers, to prepare for the unbinding...

  Back at the Moon Alpha spaceport, Starscream leads a crew of Predacons as they arrive with two shuttle transporters full of energon. They land cautiously, and Starscream wonders where their security detail is. The flying head of one of the guards serves as a response, and then they are attacked by Grimlock, Kup, and the Lightning-Strike-Coalition. Starscream orders his crew to repel the invaders, but the L-S-C soon pulls back... as the transporters are hijacked by the Autobots.

  Elsewhere within Cybertron, The Fallen directs his acolytes to a giant, deserted chamber, even as he identifies their first subject -- Grimlock.