The Rebirth, Part 1

The Decepticons steal the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, and the war expands to the planet Nebulos and the new Headmasters.

Goldbug is talking with the Technobots at Autobot City. Things have been quiet for the Autobots in the months since the return of Optimus Prime and the Hate Plague crisis. Not a word has been heard of the Decepticons in months. Who knows where they are. The answer? Right at their doorstep. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus walks into a room to find Optimus on his knees. Optimus claims that he has been having visions since he opened the Matrix, and it's something big. Goldbug informs Optimus of the approaching Decepticon force, and Optimus realizes that whatever he's been sensing, it's starting right now.

Leading the Autobots out, the Decepticons attack. The Technobots and the Throttlebots take point, but the Decepticons have gotten some new raw power in Apeface and Snapdragon, while Mindwipe has some fun with Lightspeed. However, Punch sees Wingspan and Pounce enter into Autobot City. Transforming into Counterpunch, he follows to check up on their progress, where he sees them steal something from the vaults. The Clones quickly dispatch Punch, and take their prize to Scourge. Having claimed what they wanted, Galvatron orders a retreat. Optimus, realizing this was a diversion, runs into Autobot City, finding Punch and the vault. Horrified, Optimus orders everyone to board the ships and head for Cybertron.

On Cybertron, Blurr is racing with Hot Rod, with Daniel riding in Hot Rod. Blurr, however, loses control, while Daniel shoots several Decepticon targets and wins the race. Brainstorm claims that this is evidence of his theory that human partners would be able to assist the Autobots in the war with the Decepticons. Hardhead and Cerebros are unsure of the idea. However, Optimus contacts the Autobots, telling them Galvatron stole the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber. This was the forge which was used to create the bodies of the original Autobots. Since the Quintesson rebellion, the key has been in the safekeeping of the Autobot leaders, who have been tasked with guarding the key with their lives. However, Galvatron intends to open the chamber and destroy Cybertron. The Decepticons arrive, and chaos ensues. The Aerialbots are quickly taken down by Sixshot, who shows off all six forms!

During the onslaught, Kup and Hot Rod's team notice Scourge heading for the Plasma Energy Chamber. They pursue in an attempt to stop him. When Scourge opens the chamber, he is nearly killed, but Spike and Cerebros manage to grab the key. The Autobots' ship is hit by a wave of energy from the Plasma Energy Chamber and is hurled off Cybertron itself. Discovering Scourge, the Decepticons reactivate him. Scourge explains what happened, and a team under Cyclonus heads out to find the Autobots with the key.

Meanwhile, the Autobot ship crashes on Nebulos. With the engines fried, the Autobots and the Witwickys decide to look for civilization. They're soon spotted by Duros and Pinpointer, who assume the Autobots are machines controlled by the Hive and alert the rest of their resistance group. The group soon captures the Autobots, and plans to destroy the Autobots with magnetic bombs, even though Spike tries to talk them down. However, the Decepticons show up. Spike finally convinces the Nebulans to release the Autobots. In the subsequent battle, Daniel is injured by Snapdragon, and Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Crosshairs, Pointblank and Sureshot are taken captive. Some of the Autobots pursue them into the forest, but are quickly driven off by machines.

Back at the cave, Arcana and Firebolt manage to stabilize Daniel's condition, but the boy will have to be connected to life-support machinery. The Nebulan leader Gort explains that the Hive is a tyrannical group of telekinetics who have used machines to enslave Nebulos. The resistance members know the weak points of the machines, but they just don't have the firepower. Spike thinks that Brainstorm's idea of organic partners just might be the ticket. The Autobots agree to allow the Nebulans to use their heads as suits, except for Cerebros, who walks out, tired of fighting. Arcee asks to be Daniel's partner, and Spike agrees. As they remove their heads, Spike declares that they are about to become Headmasters.

—Punch, master of subtle hints, utters a classic line.

—Crosshairs really needs to think before he speaks.

—Galvatron prompts Sixshot to do the old sell-my-toy routine.

—Sixshot mows down the Aerialbots with each of his alt modes.

—Pointblank and Kup discuss Autobot emergency procedures.