Recipe for Hate

• Writer - James McDonough
• Writer - Adam Patyk
• Penciler - Rob Ruffolo
• Inker - Erik Sander
• Colorist - Sigmund Torre
• Colorist - Eric Burns
• Colorist - Josh Perez
• Colorist - Josh Burcham
• Lettering - Ben Lee

Summary

  Shockwave greets the returning Decepticon Micromasters, Skystalker and Skyhopper, and brief them on recent developments -- Shockwave has Countdown under surveillance, but failed to nudge the Race Track Patrol into visiting him. Still, he does have Big Daddy under observation, and hopes to retrieve Countdown's mysterious artifact soon...

  Big Daddy and the Hot Rod Patrol are hanging outside Little Iacon when they're suddenly attacked by the Deluxe Insecticons! The city's Micromasters fight back in unity, but the weaponless Hot Rod Patrol wonders if Barricade led them to the city, and quickly drive away...

  Back at his rocket base, Countdown is reviewing several viewscreens when Groundshaker informs him of the attack at Little Iacon. Countdown tells him now isn't the time for them to act, prompting Groundshaker to snap that Countdown never fully trusts him. Chastized, Countdown reveals to him the strange artifact he found on Paradron -- a Golden Disc, encoded with Cybertron's past and future history! Countdown speculates that the Transformers' various sizes and vehicle forms are because they are destined to help other species and keep the peace, but Groundshaker challenges him by asking what gives them the moral right to decide who and when to help...

  Back at Little Iacon, the attack is over, and the Insecticons are searching for the Hot Rod Patrol without any results. Venom asks the Decepticon Micromasters to break their solidarity and help them, and Barricade agrees. Blaze Master refuses to cooperate, however, and gets blasted for his troubles. Meanwhile, in Skystalker's shuttle, he and Skyhopper dismiss the Decepticon leadership as short-sighted fools, and make plans to overthrow them...!

  The Hot Rod Patrol finally reach Autobase, and Big Daddy prepares to swallow his pride and appeal for help. Unfortunately, the Battle Patrol refuses to let them enter, harassing them as deserters and security risks. As the Hot Rod Patrol leaves, Stakeout meets them with a handful of weapons he snuck out for them. And as the Deluxe Insecticons are marching the Micromasters to headquarters, Motorhead bickers with Barricade over his choice to help the Decepticons; Barricade reassures him by explaining that he was just biding for time, and looking for an opportunity to free them all.

  After examining Blitzwing's unusual self-augmenting growth, Shockwave solicits his support for the days ahead, then prepares to enter his private generator area to recharge. However, a set of explosives suddenly goes off, throwing the Decepticons off their feet -- and revealing Skystalker and Skyhopper as their attackers! Despite their small size, the Micromasters easily defeat the energon-weakened Decepticons, and Skystalker prepares some plans of his own...

  Venom and the Decepticon Micromasters finally reach Decepticon Headquarters, where the Decepticons have received orders to prepare for a frontal attack on the Autobots. Barricade is confused, given Shockwave's earlier concerns about low resources, but then gets a summon to see Shockwave immediately. The Race Track Patrol oblige, heading for Shockwave's lab -- and are greeted by the victorious Skystalker and Skyhopper instead...