Inflitration

• Writer - Simon Furman
• Artist - EJ Su
• Colorist - John Rauch
• Lettering - Tom B. Long
• Editor - Chris Ryall
• Editor - Dan Taylor

Summary

  Over the shattered front of Jimmy Pink's garage, the Decepticon Runabout makes one last demand for the stolen palmtop computer. As a ruse, Ratchet's holographic driver offers it to him, then flash-zaps him to the ground! Before Runamuck can react, Ratchet transforms to his robot form, blasts him in the face, then reverts back to his ambulance mode and carries off the three humans.

  Meanwhile, in the Arizona desert, a team of highway patrol officers are investigating a dead body. The cause of death is unknown, and it's revealed to be the businessman Verity stole the palmtop from back in issue #0. While the others puzzle over the unidentified body, one of the officers secretly reports the incident to a group of somber-looking men...

  On the freeways of Southern California, Ratchet explains that the palm computer was stolen from a human who found actual evidence of Decepticon activity on Earth, and was targeted by them as a result. His rumination is interrupted by a road-shattering sonic boom from Thundercracker, which is followed by Runamuck and Runabout ramming through the traffic in their hunt! Ratchet's concern deepens, and he explains that there must be something truly incriminating on the palmtop for the Decepticons to come out of hiding so brazenly.

  Somewhere in Oregon, Blitzwing reports to Starscream that their ore sample is pure, and they can begin. Starscream wants to be prepared -- having broken cover, he expects a response very soon...

  Back on the side roads of California, Ratchet finally eludes Runamuck and Runabout by tricking them into a collision with a tanker truck. As the humans recover, Verity is gripped by a sudden panic attack! As Ratchet comes to a halt, she runs out, with Jimmy close behind. While Hunter remains to chat with Ratchet, Jimmy calms her down by talking about how they share a common fear of the mundane.

  Jimmy and Verity suddenly scramble back inside Ratchet as Thundercracker appears again on the horizon. He fires a missile at them, which Ratchet evades with a last-second rocket boost. As the Decepticon prepares for another strike, three cars arrive and shoot him down with various hidden weaponry! Ratchet explains that he summoned them from Jimmy's garage, but Hunter wonders if they're friendly or hostile -- a sentiment that isn't clear when they transform into robots and point weapons at them!

  In a steady tone, Prowl reads the numerous charges against Ratchet, including disobeying a superior officer and violations of the Autobot code of interplanetary conduct. In response, Ratchet gives two words: "Seige mode."

  Prowl is stunned, and the final image on Verity's palmtop is revealed to be a Decepticon installation somewhere in the mountains...