The Insecticon Syndrome

The Insecticons feed on an unstable new fuel that threatens to trigger an explosion big enough to level a city.

At a National Park, Jeff, a park ranger has called for help. Spike, Hound, Beachcomber, and Bumblebee respond, driving along a rocky road (and Bumblebee is especially having trouble). The ranger shows the Autobots some trees that appeared to have been chewed on by something. Beachcomber quickly realizes that something did chew on the trees, but not by an animal—it was the Insecticons. Meanwhile, the Insecticons are hiding in their current lair/hive/base thingy. They complain that the pines just aren't filling and they're still hungry, so they decide to go chow down on some redwoods. Meanwhile, Jeff is having trouble accepting the possibility of giant robotic insects (even though he's talking to a trio of giant robotic cars). Suddenly, another ranger, Mike, calls him, saying he's seeing giant robotic insects. The Autobots proceed to roll out.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons are searching for their Insecticon "allies". Megatron has come up with a plan that will require their unique abilities. As Soundwave spots the Autobots, Megatron takes it as a chance to observe them in action. As the other ranger barely dodges a falling tree, the Autobots arrive. The Autobots and Insecticons throw down, until the Insecticons push a log down a hill that nearly crushes the Autobots. Our heroes jump into a river to avoid death, but they then fall over a waterfall... at least, that's what the Insecticons believe, for Hound used his holograms to make it appear that the Autobots and humans fell over. After that, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. He explains that he intends to attack Iron Mountain, a human military base, but offers the Insecticons to gorge themselves at the Nova Power Plant if they help them. Overhearing this, the Autobots contact the base.

Receiving their signal, Optimus Prime leads a strike force to the Nova Power Plant. Unfortunately, the Decepticons are already there. The Seekers quickly down the helicopters the humans have to defend the base, while Megatron, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw go to stop the Autobots. The Insecticons reach the Nova Power Core, which they proceed to drain. However, the protons within the core cause them to grow in size, and they decide to "show Megatron who's really in control." Soundwave overhears their plotting, but Bombshell implants him with a cerebro-shell and makes him their slave. The Insecticons proceed to kick the slag out of Ironhide and Wheeljack, and the Autobots are forced to retreat with their fallen comrades. Megatron is pleased with the Insecticons' new power, unaware that the Insecticons plan to off him.

At the base, the Autobots use Teletraan I to calculate what will happen to the Insecticons. It says that the energy from the Power Core will cause the Insecticons to explode unless something is done. However, the Autobots receive a distress signal from Iron Mountain, where the Decepticons are attacking. If the Insecticons explode there, they'll kill everyone there. Ratchet and Wheeljack quickly work on an antidote.

At Iron Mountain, the Decepticons attack. However, the human defenses are surprisingly advanced for simple flesh creatures. Finally, Shrapnel takes control of the human weapons, causing them to attack the base. The Autobots arrive, but are quickly buried in rubble by the Insecticons. Entering the base, Soundwave manages to access the computer. Megatron declares that it's time to eliminate the Insecticons, only to discover that his army has been taken over by them. Bombshell fires a cerebro-shell into Starscream, but Megatron manages to grab the shell fired at him and destroy it. Before Megatron can fire his fusion cannon at the Insecticons, Optimus Prime prevents him from doing so and they instruct the Decepticons to attack while they retrieve Soundwave. Prime explains the explosive situation to Megatron as Ratchet and Wheeljack arrive with an antidote.

Heading into Iron Mountain, Megatron fires at the Insecticons. Although he misses his targets, the Insecticons begin to reach critical mass, and will explode at any minute. Bombshell shoots Megatron, forcing Optimus Prime to manually transform him into gun mode to fire the antidotes into Bombshell and Kickback. However, Shrapnel harnesses lightning from the sky to blast Optimus Prime before he can load Megatron with the antidote made for him. Spike picks up the antidote and as Shrapnel is incapacitated by a power overload, bravely climbs up to the Insecticon's chest and throws the antidote inside, jumping clear just before Shrapnel explodes anyway. The power surge causes all of the cerebro-shells to deactivate, but also erases the information Soundwave downloaded. Bombshell uses a special shell to cause Shrapnel to reassemble, and the Insecticons fly away, with the angry Decepticons in pursuit. With the Decepticons defeated, the day is saved.

—Jeff the Park Ranger's suspension of disbelief is ruined.

—Megatron and Starscream after the Insecticons defeat some Autobots.

—Bombshell and Starscream trade insults.

—Inferno takes aim at Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

—So much, in fact, that you would angrily throttle off unbothered that Spike is holding on for dear life, Bumblebee.