While the Maximals clean up in the swamplands, the Predacons have been regrouping. Upgrade has managed to find a discarded Axalon I stasis pod in the swamp area, and with a bit of repair and reprogramming he has a new Predacon recruit within a few megacycles, a komodo dragon identified as Stahldrache. Meanwhile, Epitaph takes a few of the other Predacons, and they return unhindered to the site of their old ship. With Oblivion back at the security console, they are able to repair the ship enough to take it into their newly constructed jamming zone. While Epitaph is scanning the swamp area for signs of the Insecticons; the commander; or Blackout, who is still MIA, he comes across a very interesting reading: Swiftsting is apparently deactivated. When Upgrade and his new recruit enter the ship, Upgrade is eager to check his computer, as a set of calculations he put into motion should have completed themselves by this time. However, Epitaph "breaks the news" to Upgrade quite suddenly, and the two are locked in a challenge for the command position.
Stalker and Caesar, lost in the downpour in the swamp, see when the Insecticons fly overhead for the final time, but know nothing about the meaning of the event. They eventually locate an injured and complaining Blackout, and rather than dealing with him they knock him out to present him to the Maximals as a hostage. When they reach the edge of the swamp and the rain subsides, the Predacon again attempts escape by blinding them with a T2 flash, but this is to no avail. They manage to contact a now-repaired Optimus, who arrives along with Silverbolt and Darkecho to retrieve them and their Predacon captive. Meanwhile, Cheetor leads a group to investigate a disturbance of a slightly different type, as the freed Beetalion is irate to find Thundershot has altered his ship and command codes. The melee between Thundershot and Beetalion leaves the Demon/Sphinx command console in ruins, and the Maximal commanders upset. They declare that any units under their specific command are to take time out until the simple matter of cooperation can be resolved. Stalker and Ceasar immediately put themselves to task collecting energon from the local jungle vein; Edge looks to repair the damage to the Demon. When Darkecho finds conference with Optimus some time later, he again makes an argument for allowing him to enter the Ark to contact his ancestor. Because Darkecho has so far proved trustworthy, Optimus agrees.
However, while the Maximals recover from their hardships, the Predacons have a war of their own to wage: the battle for their new commander.