Persuasion

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"You ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"
"Persuasion"
Season	3
No. in season	11
Production company	Hasbro Studios
Airdate	July 12,2013
Written by	Michael G. Stern
Directed by	Todd Waterman
Animation studio	Polygon Pictures
Watch this episode on YouTube

Megatron appeals to Ratchet for the greater good while the Autobots try to cope with the disappearance of a friend.

Synopsis

Optimus Primestruggles to his feet after having been knocked out of the sky byPredaking,who transforms torobot modeand lands nearby. ThePredaconcharges up his blaster, but Optimus rebounds with a flurry of punches.

It gets better when you remember that it was Shockwave's creations that caused both of them to lose a hand.

Inside the Solaris building, a firefight betweenAutobotsandVehiconsis brought to a swift end by one ofWheeljack'sgrenades. The Autobots make their way into the next room, whereShockwaveis overseeing the theft of the particle collider, and begin fighting theDecepticonforces there.

Outside, Optimus continues to hammer away at Predaking, temporarily keeping him on the defensive, but the Predacon lashes out with a savage kick that sends Optimus sprawling. Predaking transforms back tobeast modeand is about to unleash a blast of flame at the prone Autobot whenMegatroncontacts him over the comm, ordering him to help secure the collider. Frustrated, Predaking fires his flame into the night sky.

Inside, the Autobots finish mopping up the Vehicons asUltra Magnusbeats Shockwave to his knees. He offers the Decepticon a chance to surrender before Predaking bursts in, makes short work of the Autobots, and flees with Shockwave and the collider. Outside, Optimus Prime rises shakily to his feet, just in time to see PredakingGroundBridgeout.

ArceeradiosRatchetto return them to base.Fowler,Bulkhead,andSmokescreenare just coming to after being knocked out bySoundwave,and Bulkhead reports that Ratchet is gone.

Aboard theNemesis,Megatron informs the captive Ratchet that he requires his assistance. Ratchet defiantly refuses to cooperate. Megatron says that cooperation isn't required, as Shockwave approaches the Autobot with acortical psychic patch.

At the Autobot base, Arcee examines the piece ofLaserbeak'swing that Smokescreen shot off while the young Autobot laments his poor aim. Ultra Magnus and Bulkhead confirm that Ratchet is nowhere on the premises, and that he didn't leave via the Autobot GroundBridge. Because there have been no ransom demands, Optimus reasons that Ratchet has something the Decepticons want.

Predaking learns that an Autobot is aboard the ship, and states that he's going to do to him what he failed to do tothe Prime.Megatron explains that the captive is necessary for the restoration ofCybertron,but once that's no longer the case, he will be turned over to the Predacon.

While Fowler barks orders for increased surveillance and satellite monitoring into the phone, Wheeljack theorizes that the Decepticons took Ratchet for hisSynthetic Energonformula. Smokescreen asks why that would be necessary when the Decepticons already control most of the planet'sEnergon.Optimus remembers Ratchet's belief that Megatron is attempting to rebuild theOmega Lock,and deduces that Synth En could be a necessary component. Fowler, now off the phone, relays his concern to the Autobots; if the Decepticons found Ratchet, it means they know the location of their base.

"Now would probably be a bad time to mention that I have a phobia of cliché lighting...".

Shockwave reports that the psychic patch only confirms Ratchet has not yet stabilized the synthetic energon formula. Megatron tries a different tactic, waiting for Ratchet to revive and telling the Autobot directly that he wants to help him complete the formula. Ratchet rejects the idea outright, until Megatron reveals his intentions; that the Synth En, when combined withCNA,forms the basis for an alternativecyber-matterthat can be used to restore Cybertron. Ratchet refuses to collaborate with Megatron, calling him a barbarian responsible for destroying Cybertron in the first place and crushingBumblebee'svoice box.Megatron offers him a choice: the first option is to complete the formula. The second option is represented by an image ofJack,Raf,andMikodisplayed onSoundwave'svisor. Ratchet tries to feign disinterest in the humans, but the image on Soundwave's visor changes to that of the Autobot base. Megatron tells Ratchet that if he agrees to cooperate, the humans and the Autobots will not be harmed. The Decepticons leave him to ponder the offer, andStarscreamasks if Megatron was being serious. Megatron says of course he wasn't, and tells Starscream to assemble his armada and destroy the Autobots' base once again.

At the base, Fowler and the Autobots are uneasy about the lack of Decepticon activity. Optimus notes that since the Cons aren't stealing Predacon bones orEarthtechnology anymore, there's no way to track them. Ultra Magnus suggests splitting into teams for some "old school" searching, but is interrupted by alarms signaling an incoming attack. As Starscream and a fleet of Vehicons emerge from the skies, soldiers rush to their jets to prepare a defense. Starscream commands his troops to concentrate their attack onHangar Eas the military jets open fire. Starscream evades the humans' artillery and lets loose a volley of missiles that hit Hangar E and reduce it to a fiery ruin. He reports to Megatron that the mission has been accomplished, and the Decepticons depart.

Anyone got any marshmallows?

The Autobots watch as soldiers put out the flames amidst the rubble that used to be the mess hall, and Ultra Magnus muses that the Decepticons were fooled by a simple paint job. The actual Hangar E, now repainted to say F, is still in one piece.

Back on theNemesis,Megatron has Ratchet released to give him a tour of the ship. Ratchet's first instinct is to attack, but he finds himself reluctantly impressed by the Decepticon technology. Megatron uses the opportunity to convince him that Autobots and Decepticons share a common goal in the restoration of Cybertron. Ratchet says that bringing back Cybertron would not stop Megatron's ambitions, which the Decepticon leader doesn't deny, but at least they would have a world worth fighting over. Ratchet asks what assurance he would have that Megatron would leave Earth alone. Megatron simply replies that no assurance is being offered, confident that Ratchet's desire to restore Cybertron will overpower his reservations.

At their base, the Autobots have realized that the piece of Laserbeak which Smokescreen shot off is his transponder. Raf hooks it up to his laptop and says that it's trying to communicate with the Decepticon warship. Jack asks how Raf can understandCybertronian code,and Raf says that Ratchet used to teach him in his free time. Fowler asks if they can triangulate the signal, but Ultra Magnus reminds him it's going to a shielded ship. Arcee notes that if the transponder was still attached to Laserbeak, they could follow it. Wheeljack proposes giving it wings, and he and Raf start putting the idea into action.

Jack sees Fowler staring thoughtfully at theApex Armorand asks if anything's wrong. Fowler admits he's been thinking of humanity's close calls at the hands of the Decepticons, and that technology like the armor could give their military agents a fighting chance even when the Autobots aren't around to protect them. He also suggests that Jack could be one of those agents himself someday, an idea he's apparently discussed withJack's mother.Jack isn't thrilled to hear they've been talking about him, but his protest is interrupted by the result of Raf's work:Chip,a small flying device built to house Laserbeak's transponder, which will lead them straight to the Decepticon warship.

Ratchet posits that even if the Omega Lock could be reconstructed, there's no way to scientifically replicate the device's mystical properties. Megatron says they won't know until they try, and shows Ratchet their progress: an almost-completed Omega Lock, attached to the underbelly of theNemesis.Realizing just how close they really are to being able to restore Cybertron, Ratchet agrees to complete the Synth En formula.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"This is no place for a one-handed Autobot."
"I'll take one bum hand over one good eye any day."

—ShockwaveandUltra Magnus

"Collaborate with the barbarian who essentially destroyed our planet in the first place... who sadistically crushed Bumblebee's voice box, while looking him in the eye? No thank you."

—Ratchet

"Humans. Always the weak link."

—Starscream

"Ratchet didn't think this new hand he built for me was good enough. But I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough: giving up."

—Ultra Magnus

Ratchet:Megatron, you would just try to conquer Cybertron all over again, and enslave anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to you.
Megatron:Of course I would!

Ratchet:What assurance do I have that you would leave humankind be, and that you wouldn't instantly terminate me once you get what you need?
Megatron:None whatsoever. After all, we both know that as a Decepticon, any assurances I might offer would be worthless.

"Miko,I needed that!"

—Raf

Megatron:It will not take long for this Omega Lock's drives to be fully operational. All that is still needed to restore our home is the cybermatter to launch through it.
Ratchet:Which requires a stabilized formula for the production of synthetic energon.
Megatron:I have every confidence in you, doctor.
Ratchet:I'll do it. But then, you already knew that, didn't you?

Notes

Continuity notes

• Megatron persuades Ratchet into completing the synthetic energon formula that he created in "Stronger, Faster".
• Megatron tearing out Bumblebee's vocoder is again referenced, this time explicitly. It was first detailed in "Operation Bumblebee, Part 1"and the novelTransformers: Exodus.
• Soundwave's picture of the children was taken way back in "Darkness Rising, Part 5".
• Starscream has previously described humans as "the weak link" in "Darkness Rising, Part 3".
• The Decepticons already destroyedone Autobot basein "Darkest Hour".
• Miko obtained the Apex Armor in "Chain of Command".
• Fowler mentions being stuck inKnock Out'strunk with June Darby, which occurred in "Plus One".
• The Decepticons successfully reconstructed the Omega Lock underneath theNemesis.The previous Lock was first seen in "Regeneration",then in" Darkest Hour ".
• Raf brings out Ratchet's ever-famous catchphrase throughout the show.

Transformers references

• "Chip" the flying drone is a reference toChip Chase.

Real-world references

• Fowler's dazed ramblings about there being "a man on the wing of this plane" refers to the famousThe Twilight Zoneepisode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
• Chip's kamikaze attack brings Fowler to swear by George Armstrong Custer (specifically his mustache).

Errors

• Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus are shown to be the same height when standing behind the hanger after the Decepticon attack. In "Rebellion"and every episode since, Optimus has been depicted at least a head and shoulders taller than Ultra Magnus.
• As withAgent Fowler'sjet, the human military jets haveSkyquake/Dreadwingrobot-mode kibble underneath, due to sharing the animation model.

Trivia

• Though Predaking named himself in "Evolution",this episode marks the first instance of him telling it to the Autobots.
• Shockwave mocks Ultra Magnus's bad hand during their fight, even though he likewise only has one functional hand and a permanently affixed cannon.
• This is the first episode to lack a title sequence since "Darkness Rising, Part 5".
• With this being the last episode in the series to take place in a snowy, cold setting, Optimusnever got Raf a snowball.
• Agent Fowler makes a hint at a possibility of Jack becoming an agent of Unit:E, yet another reference to the planned Unit:E Hasbro crossover.

Foreign localization

Brazilian Portuguese

• Title:"Persuasão"(" Persuasion ")
• Original airdate:7 December2013

French

• Title:"L'Otage"(" The Hostage ")
• Original airdate:22 September2013

German

• Title:"Überzeugungskraft"(" Convincibility ")
• Original airdate:14 October2013

Hungarian

• Title:"Meggyőző erő"(" Cogency ")
• Original airdate:16 September2013

Italian

• Title:"Persuasione"(" Persuasion ")
• Original airdate:6 September2013

Home video releases

DVD

2013 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2014 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season 3 Volume 3: Omega Lock (Madman Entertainment)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season 3 Volume 2: Race for Salvation (Primal Screen)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Saison 3 Volume 2: L'ultime affrontement (Primal Screen)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Staffel 3 Teil 2: Auf zur Rettung (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Intégrale Saison 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen)
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Die komplette Staffel 3 (Primal Screen) — English, German, Dutch and French audio.
2015 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— The Complete Season 3 (Primal Screen) — English, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish and Norwegian audio.

Blu-ray

2013 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season Three (Shout! Factory)
2016 —Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters— Season Three Collection (Madman Entertainment)