Flames of Yesterday

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"Flames of Yesterday"
Publisher	Transformers Collectors' Club(online exclusive)
First published	May 24,2010
Written by	Jesse Wittenrich
Illustrations by	Andrew GriffithandJesse Wittenrich
Continuity	Wings Universe
Page count	44pp

A mission babysitting archaeologists turns into a showdown with Cybertron's past.

Contents 1Synopsis 2Featured characters 3Quotes 4Notes 4.1Continuity notes 4.2Transformer references 4.3Real-world references 4.4Errors 5External links

Synopsis

AtElite Guardheadquarters, theCombaticons,latest of the Elite Guard squads, are introduced toMetalhawkand hisStrike Team—Dion,Ironfist,andOver-Run.The Combaticon's leader,Onslaught,gets straight to business, and introduces himself,Blast Off,Vortex,Brawl,andSwindle,before handing it over toMagnum.The commander explains to Metalhawk that both his team and the Combaticons are assigned together for their next mission, to serve as a trial run for the Combaticons, and, much to Magnum's consternation, to show theAutobot High Councilthat the Guard is capable of more than just combat and destruction. Leading them inside, the two teams are greeted byBig Bangand councilbotAlpha Trion.Big Bang explains, with bitter contempt, that their mission is to "preserve their history" by assisting a group of archeologists out inMedian.Alpha Trion proceeds to explain that the group may have found a factory, the one that built some of their earliest ancestors-and with it, a possible explanation for the current skirmishes and factions emerging, something that Big Bang scoffs at. Trion explains that they are needed for demolition and explosives, although Metalhawk senses that Trion is holding back some information. Nevertheless, the others, especially Ironfist and Brawl, are drawn in by the promise of demolition, and the two squad leaders accept the mission. Alpha Trion briefs them on the archeological group—consisting of head scientistGlyph,researchersLancerandGreenlight,security officerStrika,and head of operationsFlipsides—and sends them on their way.

Some time later, the teams arrive at Median. Over-Run is shocked to discover that all of the archaeologists, something Dion chastises him for. Transforming, Metalhawk goes to greet the largest of the bunch, Strika, but she ignores his greeting, simply asking him if he was followed. When questioned, Strika mocks his belief that they were assigned to assist in demolition, and goes off to fetch Flipsides. As they wait, Onslaught comes to the conclusion that Alpha Trion knew about what was here-and that he didn't want anyone else to know. Before they can decide upon what to do, Strika returns with Flipsides, who promises to explain everything to them. Inside, she takes them to Glyph, lost in her work as she studies a massive urn. After getting her attention, Glyph explains that the urn is the "Heart of the Dragon".Translating the inscriptions on the urn, Glyph tells them that apparently, the urn contains the spirit of a monstrous dragon that burned down the walls ofHyperius-something that she can't find in any known religious texts. Still unconvinced, the Elite Guard are taken to the main chamber of structure-a dim, abandoned factory. The team explain that this is one of the two factories they found-the other built service robots, while this one built military robots. Additionally, they've also found tech specs for whatever is contained within the urn is designed to be an ultimate weapon. Glyph believes that the "spirit" in the urn is the dragon'spersonality componentandlaser core.Greenlight and Lancer, Glyph's assistants, explain that the body is unimportant to the weapon-the personality core contains the energy that could easily reformat whatever it is placed into a near-identical body. Strika explains that they need the Elite Guard to help protect the urn from those who would use it for evil-and one Decepticon,Rage,already has his sights on it. Their security footage shows two of Rage's goons,DrenchandHydradread,breaching the factory before Flipside's group discovered the urn. Strika has already begun fortifications, getting repairs up to 65 percent, and asks for their help in finishing the job. Soon, everybody gets to work; Dion, Blast Off, Brawl, Strika, and Greenlight clearing rubble and fi xing the autoguns outside, while Swindle, having found an attack drone, trades it with Over-Run. Inside, Flipsides and Lancer explain that Rage and his "Stormtroopers"were once a group of minor thieves, having taken advantage of the outbreaks to steal more and more, including theMetrotitan,a fortress that his men have converted into a mobile battle station. While they don't need to worry about the Metrotitan, thanks to its sheer weight not allowing it to traverse Median's softer terrain, there isRoadgrabber,Rage's demolition expert, along with six other Decepticons to worry about. Onslaught begins to think up a new plan, but Ironfist comes rushing in, telling him there's no time…

Outside, Rage observes as Roadgrabber gets to work, with Drench reporting that everyone is in position. Please, Rage spies on the archeologist team one last time before the attack, but upon spotting Over-Run, calls over his troops, telling them that they'll have to rush things a bit. Back at the factory, Over-Run spots Roadgrabber getting to work on the weak point, and shouts at the others to get ready. Soon, Roadgrabber rams through the weakest point in the defenses-only to discover that it's also the weakest part of the flooring. His entrance, along with his attempt to escape, cause his exo-vehicle to fall through the floor. Flung from his vehicle, Roadgrabber can only watch as Strika blasts the rubble above him, burying him alive. Outside, Metalhawk, Dion, Blast Off, Over-Run, and Swindle are joined by an over-eager Lancer, who wants to prove her worth to the team, and Metalhawk decides to have her create a diversion. Outside, Rage brushes offAquablast's concerns about the missing Roadgrabber as he and the others speed towards the factory. Spotting Lancer, the four decide to play a game of chicken with her. Unfortunately for them, the second she runs, the Guardsmen surround the four, forcing them into robot mode. As Metalhawk approaches, Rage pulls Hydradread's newest gun, and after a brief misunderstanding of how to work the device, blasts Metalhawk with a liquid that sends him into stasis lock. The four return to alt-mode, causing the Guardsman to duck out the way, forcing them to call and prepare the others. Inside, Onslaught, Brawl, Vortex, Ironfist, and Strika get into position…but when only two cars come around the bend, Onslaught realizes they've been tricked. Elsewhere, Rage and Aquablast enter into the room holding the "Heart of the Dragon," and Aquablast melts it with his acid spray, allowing Rage to recover the personality component and laser core inside.

Ironfist and Vortex, having split from the others, come across the room holding the urn. Ironfist goes inside as Vortex hovers nearby, and after radioing that the "Heart" has been stolen, is knocked offline by Aquablast. Outside, Metalhawk has come back online, but is delirious from the chemical spray. The others send Lancer to have Flipsides activate the autoguns, hoping to prevent anyone from leaving. Elsewhere, Rage sends Vortex into stasis as well, and decides to show Glyph and the others his "appreciation." Inside one of the bunkers, Greenlight, Flipsides, and Glyph can only listen as the battle rages on. Glyph is unfazed by the sounds of the battle outside, and tries to comfort Greenlight-but the three are soon interrupted by Rage. The Decepticon thanks her for doing all the hard work, and demands for her notes. Glyph refuses, pushing him back, but Aquablast blasts her with his acid spray, killing her as it severs her laser core. Greenlight rushes to her mentor, but before Aquablast can take her offline as well, Lancer arrives and blasts him through the head, which sends Rage running. Lancer yells at the rattled Flipsides to activate the auto-cannons, and grieves over the corpse of her mentor. Outside, the remaining Decepticons flee, with Strika, Brawl, and Onslaught close behind, radioing Over-Run and the others to be prepared. Unfortunately, the Autobots outside are soon attacked byTerror-TreadandCement-Head,massive Decepticon twins. The two attack, and Terror-Tread steps on Over-Run's drone. As the remaining Decepticons escape, the twins break off their attack, transforming into vehicle mode and ramming into each other, forcing Onslaught and the others to swerve off. Regrouping, a cognizant Metalhawk is able to track where the Decepticons are going, thanks to the debris from Over-Run's drone lodged in Terror-Tread. Lancer reveals that Glyph was killed, while Swindle wonders why the auto-guns didn't activate. Flipsides suddenly appears, seemingly no longer upset, and claims that the auto-guns must have malfunctioned. Flipsides tells them that Ironfist and Vortex have been recovered, and that Strika will escort Greenlight and Lancer back toIacon,although Lancer insists on staying with the Elite Guard to get revenge. Flipsides, meanwhile, tells them she has plans, unnerving the rest…

Soon, the Elite Guard and Lancer are on the move, tracking down the signal. It isn't long before the signal reverses, and Terror-Tread and Cement-Head arrive to take care of them. Remembering their earlier move, Onslaught has the others bait them while Swindle fires Vortex'sglue gun.After ramming together, the twins find themselves stuck, and argue about which way to go, as the Elite Guard continue to the Metrotitan. Upon arriving, the group are faced with a new challenge: half-beast, half-vehicle creatures. A loud speaker appears on the lead beast, and Rage's voice reveals that these beasts are hisMinotorons,led byBuffalo Dump,and produces a loud whistling noise that sends the Minotorons into a rage. The Autobot's blaster fire proves useless on the beasts, but the quick-thinking Dion remembers a frequency-amplifying device Swindle found earlier, and has him use it to produce a noise that sends the Minotorons running. Metalhawk has Dion, Blast Off, and Swindle get on one the beasts, and once inside, they exit from the Minotoron's pen, deactivating perimeter defenses and letting them in. Elsewhere, Rage has Hydradread hurry his installment of the "Heart of the Dragon" into a new test body, deviating from his original plan, something which bothers Drench. Elsewhere, the Elite Guard has become lost, the constant conversion of the Metrotitan's insides confusing them, when Rage announces that he has unleashed the ultimate weapon, and the "Heart of the Dragon," now whole once more, proclaims his true name, once long forgotten:Brimstone!Unfortunately for him, his new body does not even reach up to Lancer's knees, causing the Autobots to laugh. Their humor is short-lived, as his small body is still the ultimate weapon, unleashing a ball of energy that decouples the molecules in the walls. The Autobots run, and Brimstone begins the hunt once more. In the control room, Drench is concerned, not believing that Rage can control Brimstone, but his commander ignores his concerns, deciding to skip stage 2 and have Brimstone placed into the Metrotitan. Pleased with himself, Rage does not even notice as his lieutenant leaves the room, heading for the Autobots. Brimstone, meanwhile, seemingly does not flinch at even Ironfist's explosives, continuing to attack. Drench, having grown disillusioned, rushes to the Autobots, revealing that Brimstone's small body is not able to contain his energy, and is going to explode soon. Confirming his claims with a thermal scan, Onslaught orders everybody to run, and the Autobots flee, as Brimstone explodes, vaporizing himself and Metrotitan.

Back at HQ, Magnum debriefs Metalhawk and Onslaught. Lancer has returned to Greenlight and Strika, helping to set up a memorial service for Glyph, while Drench has defected to the Autobots, retrofitted and repainted into anew body.Magnum, impressed with the two teams, has another assignment for them out inPraxium.AtDeathsaurus' fortress,Lyzackreports on Rage's failure to her commander. Pleased, Deathsaurus tells her to haveFalconcompile a report from Flipsides information, having his eye on the Combaticons…

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Wow, if even Brawl doesn't want to stand and fight, you know that running's the better option!"

—DiondoesFurmanismswrong.

Metalhawk:"L-Lancer! T-The... fuzzy... The fuzzy p-petro-rabbits taste like... yellow..."
Lancer:"That... That's not good, is it?"
Dion:"They had some kind of chemical weapon that knocked him out cold. He's having a little problem rebooting."
[a few moments later]
Metalhawk:"Grishy boushy makes vroom..." *passes out again*

—Metalhawk is not here right now. Please leave a message after the beep.

Magnum:"You really expect me to believe all this? Gods, dragons... and here it says that you all died!"
Metalhawk:"Well, I may have taken a few liberties..."
Onslaught:"Perhaps you should read my report, it's probably more... accurate."
Magnum:"Hmm, Median, monsters and Metrotitan. It's all there. Minus the artistic license, of course. Well, at least it's better than Ironfist's single sentence, or Swindle's report that read like romance holo-pulp. With him being the hero and love-interest, of course."

—The Elite Guard engages in Rashomon Style mission reporting.

Notes

• Characters mentioned who do not appear include:Landshakespeare,Thunderblast,The One,thecreators,one of Dion'sfriends,theCovenant,Ariex,Capricun,Geminator,Libras,Scorpius,Taurotron,Virgol,Leonicus,theConstructicons,Megatron,awhite and green Autobot,abig green Autobot,agolden dragon,Traachon,Lyzack'sbrother,andFalcon.

Continuity notes

• The beginning of the story takes place right after the end of "The Coming Storm: Part 2",with the Combaticons greeting their new comrades.
• Dion's launchers were noted to useReverse-Higgs mechanismin his profile in the Diamond Edition of the "Wings of Honor"comic.
• The Transformers belief in The One(s) as their creator originally appeared in the "Wings of Honor" comic.
• The factory in this story is obviously one of those seen byRodimus Primeduring his vision inside theMatrixinThe Transformersepisode "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4".The concept that the Autobots were created by the Quintessons as service robots and the Decepticons as military units also originates from that episode. Additionally, Brimstone mentions the original Transformers attacks that forced the Quintessons offworld, and his part in it.
• Alpha Trion knows what the factory is, as he was one of the original Transformers created during the Quintesson reign, as seen in "Five Faces of Darkness" and "Forever Is a Long Time Coming".
• Glyph and Strika's appearances in this story are based on two generics seen in Rodimus' vision of Quintesson-held Cybertron in "Five Faces of Darkness". Author Jesse Wittenrich interpreted the vision as more allegorical than a recording of actual events, which would make their mission moot. It also serves as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the shoddy animation quality of "Five Faces of Darkness", which reused both pre-existing and new models for multiple generics.
• Greenlight and Lancer are the two generic members ofElita One's squad of female Autobots from "The Search for Alpha Trion".finally given names after 25 years.
• Dion is reminded of "an old friend" when he and the others learn that the archaeological team are all female; obviously, this is Ariel, who worked at the docks with him andOrion Paxin "War Dawn".
• Swindle brings up theLightning Bugwhile talking about ancient weapons, seen in "Cosmic Rust".
• Personality components were introduced in "Starscream's Brigade",while laser cores were originally mentioned in"Divide and Conquer";later fiction has indicated that a laser core is related to the spark, although the type of relationship varies. Here, the laser core contains the spark.
• The planet ofGoo,from "Five Faces of Darkness", is mentioned at one point.
• Drench remembers having encountered Thunder Clash and his Elite Guard team, having been ripped to pieces by Landshark.
• Over-Run'sheli-droneis out of commission, its circuits having been shorted out by the fluids of theVirulent Clonesin "The Coming Storm: Part 2".
• One of the engravings on the urn containing the Heart of the Dragon depicts Brimstone defeating a golden dragon; this is theGolden Onefrom the extradimensional world ofMenonia,seen in "Madman's Paradise".
• The personality components different depictions from "Starscream's Brigade"and"B.O.T."are explained here; the energon cube-like depiction from the former is the result of it glowing with" transformative energy "which reformats the vessel it is placed into a new form, like the Combaticons' components did with the WWII-era vehicles they were placed into. It loses that energy afterwards, which causes it to look like the box covered with dials and switches seen in the latter.
• During Metalhawk's hallucinations, he mentionspetro-rabbit,a species originally mentioned inThe Transformers: The Movie.
• Glyph fades to grey as she dies, as Transformers were depicted to do inThe Transformers: The Movie.
• Outback briefly appears at the end of the story; he would show up as Magnum's aide again in next year's "Battle Lines" comic storyline.
• Magnum gives Onslaught and Metalhawk's teams a new assignment inPraxium,setting up "The Coming Storm: Part 3".
• Deathsaurus promises to help Lyzack free her brother, Leozack, who was captured in "Wings of Honor".

Transformer references

• According to the author, Dion'sNitronium launchersare named forNatron,the Autobot car from theTycoElectric Racing Set.They're noted to being susceptible to quasar jams without modifications;Cheetor'squasar riflehad the same problem in thefirst episodeof theBeast Warscartoon.
• Big Bang was an abandoned Japanese concept, intended to be the Autobot leader in the post-Zonetoyline, before being replaced byStar Convoyin what becameReturn of Convoy.
• Swindle's old flame, Thunderblast, is presumably aGeneration 1version of theCybertronDecepticonof the same name.
• Glyph was an exclusive toy sold atBotCon 2002.Strika was an Autobot-turned-Vehicon General fromBeast Machines,seen here before she became a famous general. Flip Sides was ane-Hobbyexclusive, sold with theCollector's Editionreissue ofTwincast.A sleeper agent for the Decepticons in her original bio, it's implied here that she works for Deathsaurus as an informant.
• Rage and the Stormtroopers were European exclusives toThe Transformerstoyline, released near the tail end of the line. Their water-squirting gimmick is treated as a chemical spray here.
• TheCovenantwere introduced in theReaching the Omega Pointstoryline, the firstBotConfiction to be published. A prototypical version of theThirteen,they were based on the astrological signs of the Zodiac; here, they are actual constellations, fulfilling the same roles as the Earth Zodiac.
• The Metrotitan, here a non-living fortress modified by the Stormtroopers to have a secondary mobile mode, is a version of theZoneDecepticon redeco ofMetroplex.
• Roadgrabber was the DecepticonPretenderVehicle released in the 1988 year ofThe Transformerstoyline. Although not explicitly called a Pretender here, he still has his shell.
• Terror-Tread and Cement-Head wereMicromaster Combinersreleased at the tail end ofThe Transformerstoyline with theCannon Transport.Here, they're full sized Transformers, towering even over Onslaught.
• Over-Run's back-up drone is based on the drone/ "Brute Mode"combiner armor ofEnergonQuickstrike,a redeco ofEnergonBulkhead,the mold of whom Over-Run is also based on.
• Lancer calls Metalhawk "Boss Bot," the appellationCheetorgave toOptimus PrimalinBeast Wars.
• Luggie'sis named forAnimatedLugnut.
• Stasis cuffs are a technology introduced in theAnimatedcartoon, used by the Elite Guard of that universe as well.
• Buffalo Dump originates from concept art for an unproduced subline ofThe Transformersfigures known as "Motor World". It's unknown what exactly this would have entailed, but judging by other concepts seen alongside it, the line would have continued theMicromastergimmick.
• Mechanometers, a unit of measurement introduced in "City of Steel"and hics from"The Magnificent Six!"are brought up several times in the story.
• Brimstone is repurposed from theUniverseMini-ConBrimstone.
• Drench notes that "Even at micro-size [Brimstone] has the power to surprise," riffing one of the taglines for Micromasters inThe Transformerstoyline.
• The body intended for Brimstone in the abandoned stage 2 is that ofRobots in DisguiseMegabolt,recognizable from its description as "green, gold, and teal".
• As seen in the quote section, Dion quips that "if even Brawl doesn't want to stand and fight, you know that running's the better option," riffing theFurmanism.
• Drench is reformatted into a new body after defecting, becoming the Autobot Drench fromGeneration 2.He's noted to hand over his weaponry for the Autobots to reverse-engineer, referencing how the Color Changer toys also had water-squirting guns.
• Traachon was an Autobot general introduced in the Marvel UK comics.

Real-world references

• The overall narrative of the story is loosely inspired by various Greek myths, most prominently being the legends ofJasonand theArgonauts.According to author Jesse Wittenrich, the decision to base it on the Greek myths came about when the Decepticon Rage was chosen to be the main villain, which reminded him of the first lines of the Greek epic poem, theIliad( "Rage: Sing Goddess, Achilles' rage, black and murderous..." ). Accordingly, there are references to Greek myths throughout the story.
• Sentinel comments that he's "a military 'bot, not some Landshakespearian" when the others question the Combaticon name; this indicates there's a Cybertronian equivalent toWilliam Shakespeare,presumably named Landshakespeare.
• Onslaught notes that he graduated at the top of his class atOmnihelix Academy,the name of which takes inspiration from the Omnitrix fromBen 10.
• TheAjax P-9000 Grade-B Jump Launch Acceleratortakes its name from the Greek mythological hero,Ajax the Great,who played an important role in the aforementionedIliad.
• Median is named forMedea,the wife of the aforementioned Jason from Greek mythology.
• Lancer's role in the story is inspired by the Greek mythological characterAtalanta,who joined the Argonauts after visiting her home island.
• Mount Helix(also known as the "Nest of the Gods" ) references the Greek myths aboutMount Olympus.
• The city ofHyperiousis named for the TitanHyperion.
• Swindle is noted to sound like a "usedtrillium-transportsalesman ";Trilliumis a genus of flower.
• TheKrystar iron-bearis named for the titular character from Marvel comic and Remco toyline,The Saga of Crystar.
• TheTressian Kajig—is named for voice actressTress MacNeilleand the euphemism "kajigger" fromFuturamaused by Hattie McDougal, who is voiced by MacNeille.
• Onslaught calls Roadgrabber the "purple 'bot-eater," after the song "The Purple People Eater"bySheb Wooley.
• TheSehlat Fuzz-Bearis named for the Sehlats fromStar Trek.
• The Minotorons are named for the mythological creature, theMinotaur.
• Hydrahead uses a hydrospanner while working on Brimstone's new body, a tool fromStar Wars.
• At one point, the narration states "Brimstone huffed and he puffed and blew the door down," paraphrasing the fableThe Three Little Pigs.
• TheTuresian Tumble Snakeis named for the Taresians fromStar Trek: Voyager.

Errors

• Many, many, many proofreading errors. Those were later fixed in an updated version of the story.
• Hydradread is mistakenly identified as Aquablast at one point. This was later fixed in an updated version of the story.

External links

• "Flames of Yesterday"at The Official Transformers Collectors' Club