The Age of Wrath

• Writer - Simon Furman
• Penciler - Joe Ng
• Inker - Ferd Poblete
• Inker - Tracy Ho
• Inker - Erik Sander
• Colorist - Josh Burcham
• Colorist - Sigmund Torre
• Lettering - Ben Lee

Summary

  From his aerie in the orbital torus state of Praxus, Megatron amuses himself by reflecting on his rapid conquest of Cybertron -- thanks to the million drones in his Aerospace Extermination Squadron. He then turns to a containment vat, where Starscream is imprisoned, and sends Piranacons to gnaw at him as punishment for slaughtering the High Council (see last issue). Shockwave then enters, asking for help with deciphering the alien cloning technology that empowers Megatron's Extermination Squadron. Megatron refuses to answer where the technology came from, and gives Shockwave ten cycles to resolve the issue.

  Over in Nova Cronum, a Squadron patrol is searching for stragglers when the Autobot Getaway is detected. Three break off from the pack and give chase with relentless determination. Though Getaway tries his best to evade them, the drones quickly have him cornered, and close in for the capture...

  At an internment camp in Praxis, a group of Autobot prisoners is sent deep into the bowels of Cybertron, to begin another cycle of backbreaking work. When Cliffjumper trips, Octane tries to attack him, which prompts Brawn to retaliate in unbridled anger! But a pair of drones quickly shocks him into submission and drags him off, while an enslaved Ultra Magnus can only watch with shameful impotence.

  Back in Praxus, Megatron consults with an unseen partner on the progress in his renovations to Cybertron. The "partner" declines an invitation to appear before the Decepticons, and Megatron agrees to let him remain hidden for now. He then queries Soundwave, who has begun to transmit images showing the excavation of Cybertron's core...

  In Nova Cronum, the three drones close in on Getaway, but are suddenly ambushed by a pack of Autobot rebels, led by Nightbeat. Using a cloak that shields them from the drones' sensors, the Autobots quickly take down two of the Seekers, then prepare to capture the third -- while Blaster and a contingent of Autobots wait from nearby, waiting hopefully...