On the planet Regalis V, aka "Botanica," Prowl uses his vamparc ribbon cannon to clear a path through the attacking beasts so that Wheelie and Garnak can exfiltrate the wounded Throttlebots. Stardrive, meanwhile, takes on their flying opponents with a grotesque new trick she has picked up since we last saw her: she has become partially infected with Dire Wraith biomatter, and shapeshifts into a monstrous, biomechanical form to rip the airborne beasts to shreds. Stardrive takes no pleasure in the deed, having only ever wanted to be left alone; she is resentful of Prowl for pulling her into the conflict, but he reminds her that every opponent she puts an end to is a life saved. Prowl de-cloaks their ship, the Peaceful Revolution, and everyone gets aboard, where Goldbug marvels at the collection of weaponry and artifacts Prowl has amassed.

On Cybertron, chaos reigns in the outback as the rampaging Slug (secretly under the control of Bludgeon's Void Scepter) attacks his fellow Dinobots, while Sandstorm attacks Optimus Prime, blaming him for Slug's actions. The Dinobots recognize that Slug is not himself, but that doesn't do anything to minimize the danger he poses; under orders from Strafe to "protect the newcomers," Sludge breaks off from the battle, and an intrigued Arcee follows him as he disappears into a nearby cave. Once inside the cave, Arcee is suddenly tackled from behind by a small robot, who knocks her through a hole in the floor leading into an underground cavern. Arcee is shocked to discover that her attacker is one of the missing protoforms—the rest of whom are all holed up in the cavern under the protection of Trypticon, who warns Arcee against harming his protoform "children!"

Back on the surface, Centurion has forcibly separated Prime and Sandstorm. As a transmission from Arcee comes in informing Prime of what she has discovered, the Autobot leader quickly puts a cunning plan together. Prime directs Garrison Blackrock to return to Iacon and fetch Marissa Faireborn, while he turns his attention to Slug, singeing the Dinobot with a warning shot to get his attention, and then attempting to convince him to stand down, urging the Dinobot to move past old grievances. Watching through Slug's eyes from his lab back in the city, Bludgeon scoffs at Prime's pleas and is about to order Slug to kill him when Starscream suddenly bursts into the room. Having been informed of Bludgeon's duplicity by the "ghost" of Bumblebee, Starscream snatches the Void Scepter from his hands and destroys it, freeing Slug from its control. Starscream does not want Prime killed; he just wanted him to find the protoforms, which he would have to hand over to the government, but thanks to Bludgeon's impromptu attempt on his life, things have all gone wrong...

With Arcee still riding atop his head, Trypticon bursts up through the ground, demanding an end to the fighting. Prime greets the giant dinosaur in peace, whereupon Blackrock returns with Faireborn. With all parties present, Optimus announces his plan: just as Metrotitan serves as the Cybertronian embassy on Earth, they will have Trypticon serve as the Earth embassy on Cybertron. As this means that the protoforms dwelling within Trypticon (including the one who attacked Arcee, who she affectionately dubs "Sideswipe") are technically on "Earth soil," and hence under Prime's care, they will not have to be handed over to Starscream. Sandstorm balks at Prime's use of Cybertron's new generation as a political move, but Centurion silences him; it's a low move, but one undertaken in the name of peace. The Dinobots reconcile and welcome Slug back into the fold, but Prime is certain that they have all been the victims of outside manipulation...

...and through Slug's eyes, Bludgeon continues to watch the whole scene, disappointed at how things have played out... but confident nonetheless that this failure will do nothing to impede the plans of his coming "master."

Back on Earth, in Autobot City, Aile

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