The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
Title card via TFWiki, fan-archive fair use
The Autobots create the Aerialbots to counter the Stunticons, and must recover the key before Cybertron is drained of life.
On Cybertron, the Autobots are busy converting old drone rockets into Earth planes. Once their redesigns are complete, they take the ships to Vector Sigma. However, without the Key to Vector Sigma, which is in the possession of Megatron, they cannot activate the supercomputer and give Cybertronic personalities to the new bots. Alpha Trion, however, intends to activate it by merging his lifeforce with the computer. Optimus Prime tries to stop him, but Alpha Trion merges with the supercomputer. It gives life to the new Aerialbots: Silverbolt, Slingshot, Skydive, Fireflight, and Air Raid.
The Autobots and Aerialbots prepare to leave, but Alpha Trion gives Optimus a warning: the Key to Vector Sigma will have different properties on Earth, which could destroy the planet. However, Shockwave overhears this. Heading back to the surface, the Autobots and Aerialbots encounter more Centurion droids, but the Aerialbots are able to get them to Omega Supreme. Omega returns them to Earth, but suddenly explodes.
Ratchet, Wheeljack, and Sparkplug Witwicky begin working to restore Omega, while the Autobots and Aerialbots head toward the base with the superfuel. Shockwave contacts Megatron, informing him of the recent developments on Cybertron, and the Key's power, so Megatron decides to run some tests. At the base, the humans believe that the Autobots attacked them, and open fire. Slingshot is pissed, but Ironhide reminds them that they are simply confused. Suddenly, they detect high speed movement. Optimus initially believes that it's Starscream and the jets, but it's the Stunticons, who quickly overwhelm the Autobots, forcing the Aerialbots to take to the air. Slingshot is attacked by Motormaster. Silverbolt goes to save him, but suddenly panics. Megatron, still testing the Key, orders the Stunticons to return to base.
However, during the tests, Soundwave trips and drops the Key, causing it to discharge its energy... turning the ground below it into metal. Megatron realizes that the Key can not only give life to machines, but also turn organic matter into metal. He now has a new plan—convert Earth into a new Cybertron.
Back at the base, the Aerialbots are unimpressed with the Autobots and disgusted with the humans they are supposed to defend. Optimus confronts Silverbolt about his panic, and learns that Silverbolt is afraid of heights. In a questionable command decision, Optimus appoints Silverbolt to be Aerialbot leader, hoping it will give him something to focus on other than fear. Soon, Teletraan I detects the energy emissions from the Key, and its result. The Decepticons are heading toward Seattle, and the Autobots roll out. Meanwhile, Silverbolt attempts to convince the Aerialbots to return to the base, saying that if they're the best, they should run the place. He shows them that the Decepticons will destroy them, showing how bad they are. He also shows the humans' capacity for compassion, letting them see how Sparkplug continues to work on Omega while Ratchet goes to recharge. Convinced, the Aerialbots move out.
Near Seattle, the Stunticons are overwhelming the Autobots, with Optimus Prime about to be crushed to death, when the Aerialbots arrive and save the Autobot leader. Megatron and Optimus reveal their last aces in the hole, ordering the Stunticons and Aerialbots to form Menasor and Superion, respectively. Menasor has the strength advantage, but Omega Supreme arrives, and turns the tide. The Decepticons retreat with the Key, but Silverbolt races after Megatron, knocking the Key from his hand and switching to robot mode to destroy it. Silverbolt believes he's about to go splat, but Slingshot manages to save him. The Aerialbots are convinced to join the Autobots, while Optimus appears convinced that Alpha Trion made the right choice.
—Blaster and Optimus Prime on the sacrifice of Alpha Trion to create the Aerialbots. Prime approves of the kamikaze concept, apparently.
—Slingshot, on humans
—Blaster and Ironhide after their first encounter with the Stunticons.
—Slingshot figures out Silverbolt's phobia
—Optimus Prime sures knows how to liven up a party. Ironhide isn't helping much.
- The tank vehicles seen at the army base are the M.O.B.A.T. and the Armadillo from the G.I. Joe animated series.
- The Aerialbots conclude that humans are worthless after watching television. Should this tell us something?
- During the script stage, this episode had the sub-title "Fury of the Aerialbots".
- In this episode, Superion and Menasor are voiced by Frank Welker and Roger C. Carmel respectively, but from their next appearances onwards, the characters were both recast with new voices (Ed Gilbert and Regis Cordic, again respectively). Reflecting the fact that they're combiners, their voices are modulated to sound like they're a chorus of multiple voices - an effect that would be dropped after this episode.
- The shooting scripts for both installments of this two-parter contain several "deleted scenes" which expand greatly upon some of the more significant events in the story. In this episode: Omega Supreme repairs himself after his battle with Shockwave (deleted from Part 1, although this episode contains a vestigial reference to it, when Ironhide says: "Now all we've gotta do is hope that Shockwave didn't get the better of Omega Supreme!"), but is only able to do a rudimentary job, noting that his personal survival is "highly improbable." It is this which causes Omega to explode upon his return to Earth—he willingly puts himself in danger to bring the Autobots back so they can stop the Stunticons.
- Later in the episode, when the Aerialbots watch as Sparkplug works to repair Omega, Sparkplug turns on the young punks, explaining what caused Omega to explode, making them realize what he did for them, and what they owe the Autobots. This is very much in contrast to the complete non sequitur of the finished episode, in which the fact that Sparkplug can continue working when Ratchet can't, and then Silverbolt makes the Aerialbots somehow realize that they owe the Autobots their lives.
Screencaps via TFWiki (Teletraan I), used under fan-archive fair use.