"If you're just tuning in, we're live from central Cybertropolis, outside the Maximal Citadel, where a group of Predacons have INFILTRATED the complex. We are in megacycle five of the standoff: the total is four Maximal guards injured, one of which is in critical condition, with no report yet if any Maximals were actually taken off-line during the confrontation.
"Breaking news: Maximal security service now reports that the threat has been NULLIFIED. They are sending in the first wave of their own troops to scan the building and check for any other injured Maximals or still-remaining Predacons. Fortunately, the council, in session today in Prime Sector, managed to evacuate the complex during the first megacycle of the attack. The security force seems to be confident in their strategy as they allowed the building's internal security ward off the attack while the council members fled to safety. As you can see, Maximal military has the building completely surrounded, so the chance of successful escape by the Predacon attackers is highly unlikely. Reports of Maximal Magnaboss being injured have found to be exaggerated. Though an 'assassination prevention drone' of the 'Boss's was found and dismantled during the conflict, Magnaboss himself is safe in his home in upper side Cybertropolis. He is expected to address the sector some time this evening.
"The Predacon attackers are reported to be the stronger half of a group called 'The Revolutionaries.' Megatron supporters and known trouble-starters, the team, headed by Predacon commander Swiftsting, is the same group responsible for the attack on the Amulon Greenhouses several decacycles ago. Thought to have vanished into deep space when their home sector was captured by the Maximals, the Revolutionaries seem to have returned for another invasion. Maximal security ensures that, since the Citadel has taken the Predacons out of commission, this is sure to be their final raid.
"With council members being sent home now, we will continue to stay on the scene with you until the final all-clear is sounded. Roving Roxy Fox, reporting, Council Citadel Cybertropolis."
[Summary:]
As the security forces give the all-clear and begin to repopulate the building, the Maximals who have captured the T2 hypnotist—GuardianWing, Starfire, and Armageddon, are asked inside with several security force agents so they can question the prisoner. When she is revived, Starfire and the two agents immediately fall unconscious, having accessed her mind and reached the encoding wall set up on her system. Starfire is revived with his emergency reboot switch, and the Maximals ask the prisoner about the Predacon attack. Their investigation is slow going until GuardianWing begins to flash back to a different war. He then threatens the female and extracts the information. She is a Unicron-worshipper who claims that the Daughters of Tarantulas aided the Predacons in reaching Megatron with the hopes of sacrificing him to their god. While they question the Daughter, another cloaked figure enters the room to free her comrade.
Meanwhile, Darkwave is approached by agent Scanner. Scanner informs Darkwave that Cybertron's First Lady is going to be arriving on-planet, and wants to see him and Optimus Primal in specific. Darkwave, allowed to bring allies as he sees fit, is to meet up with her the next morning at the Matrix Complex. Optimus asks Darkwave what he has learned, and Darkwave passes on the invitation. Optimus agrees, then mentions that he is going to attempt to locate Cheetor, Blackarachnia, or Silverbolt, whom he has not seen since his arrival on Cybertron. Darkwave assures him that, while he does not know where to find Blackarachnia or Silverbolt, Cheetor is in good hands, inside the council building...
However, Cheetor is currently engaged in combat in the building, as Stalker has knocked him unconscious. As his Transmetal II healing begins to activate, Stalker's companion, a healer herself, advises Stalker to decloak and remove herself from combat. The healer takes several hits from Pantora before she is able to retreat herself, into the next sealed room. Meanwhile, Epitaph, searching for Stalker, comes upon the combat, and is attacked by a now-recovered Cheetor. Stalker is healed, then attempts to enter the next room, looking for an exit. Inside, she finds what appears to be a spark-cloning facility. When she asks Tarantulas for information, she comes across interference, and he warns her to guard her mind temporarily to avoid giving the telepath Mindrazor any more information.
In the basement of the Citadel, the Predacons release Megatron, their newest ally. They discover they also have a cloaked healer at their side, who repairs and treats them despite most of their distrust. Stahldrache fills Megatron in on current events; the dragon seems only momentarily surprised to hear the news of Tarantulas's revival, and mentions that it seems things are "coming together." Swiftsting inspects the team's exit route, and realizes the Predacons are now sealed in by a force shield which is placed over the elevator shaft. T2 powers don't seem capable of penetrating the shield, and Swiftsting says he will take a recess to consider further options. After a moment, he claims that he has received telepathic contact from Angel. The new Revolutionary base has been retaken by Beetalion, who now claims it as a Maximal zone. However, Swiftsting ensures his troops that a rescue patrol, sent by DoT as promised, will be allowing them a way out of the basement cell. Stahldrache and Upgrade both begin to explain to the commander how he has been duped, but both receive a message from Mindrazor immediately. She tells them that if they would like to kill Tarantulas, she will be glad to aid them. Upgrade does not want to hear her message, but Stahldrache seems interested in the prospect. The Predacons send the narrow-framed Medusa into a gap in the ceiling to attempt to disable the forcefield generators from the inside, and Stahldrache has a conversation with Mindrazor. Mindrazor explains to the Predacon that there is a secret exit to the building which can be accessed from the Magnaboss drone chamber they found earlier.
Elsewhere on Cybertron, Thundercat, Evalina, and Rhinox are gearing up for a trip to Vector Sigma. They arrive at the coordinates specified by Teletran II, and find that the shaft to the ancient computer has been sealed shut. Evalina uses spark force, and Thundercat his T2 abilities, to melt away part of the seal. Then they drop to the floor, sectors underground in the abandoned shaft. As they explore the dark, metal cavern, they notice the bodies left behind from break-in attempts, some older than the Maximal race. When Thundercat notices an Optimus-Prime-shaped imprint on the wall, he realizes the computer's security system may be more than he bargained for. As he steps beyond the threshold that leads to the computer, he activates the system's first level of defense, ancient Centurions. When he uses his sonic weapon on them, he discovers that they are immune to energy blasts. Rhinox rewires the shaft's elevator, allowing the trio enough power to emerge from the tunnel. They discuss a different strategy for approaching the situation. Evalina knows of a "Key to Vector Sigma," but is unsure what it does or how to obtain it. Rhinox thinks he may be able to reprogram the Centurion drones by remote, but it would take equipment that is still in his lab.
The interrogating Maximals fend off the new attacker: Armageddon and Starfire chasing her into the hall while GuardianWing, amazed at the violence he's just done, guards the prisoner. The captive Daughter nearly uses her T2 healing to escape, but, low on fuel, is not able to cloak to cover her retreat, and is finally gunned down once more. The Maximals keep their prisoner, even though the other Daughter escapes. Darkwave and Scanner arrive, and discover that there has been some difficulty with the interrogation. Scanner blames the lack of Transmetal II Inhibitor, which should be prepared by now. He invites the Maximals to take the unconscious Daughter upstairs to the chemical lab.
Meanwhile, in a different lab, Stalker accesses a cold storage shaft which contains a single spark in a force-field globe. She is unsure what to do, but surprised in that the spark seems to be aware of its surroundings and of her presence. She decides to set the spirit free, just as Epitaph is discovering the secret room. The spark assaults and possesses him, revealing himself to be Air Commander Starscream. Stalker is overjoyed, and invites the Air Commander to accompany her to freedom. As the trio leaves the lab, they are spotted by the Maximals on the same level. Darkwave's keen hearing spots Starscream's shout right away, and he orders the Air Commander to follow him. As Starscream thinks of Soundwave as an ally, he listens, and the two take the elevator down while the rest of the Maximals search the level. Darkwave tells Starscream to pretend to be his prisoner, and offers to sneak him out the back of the building. The Predacons meet up with Mindrazor, and she shows them the hidden exit to the Citadel building. When they finally emerge, they are in a Maximal-populated repair bay, greatly surprising the inhabitants. The military is alerted, and are sent to converge on the Predacons' new location.
Scanner is able to get a working Inhibitor, and injects the captive hypnotist before she is revived. When awakened, she panics, but does not offer much more information. Scanner thinks to check her for a protoformation mark, and is surprised to find the DoT insignia emblazoned over her spark cavity. When he exclaims in surprise that the Daughters must be manufacturing their own, GuardianWing alters personality again and goes on the offensive, destroying the female's spark without a thought. As he attacks, he refers to her as "Warder Scum," causing Scanner to panic as another illegal-protoformation war has just been brought out of information cover-up.