Within the Junkions' space cruiser, Rumble and Frenzy are certain they are about to meet their end in the jaws of the Sharkticons when suddenly, the monstrous robots all lose interest and shamble off. The two confused Decepticons go on to make their way through the ship's corridors and soon come upon Arcee, who is attempting to force Wreck-Gar to hand over the positron core she needs to save Sideswipe, but the pair elect to watch the fight rather than get involved.

Outside, the Junkion ship remains held fast in the grip of Metrotitan. Aileron evacuates the President of the United States to the G.I. Joe camp on the Matterhorn below, there to await the arrival of Joe reinforcements, as all around the world, the Sharkticons break off their attacks to gather above the mountain and help Optimus Prime and his Autobots in battling the Junkion horde. In Italy, Marissa Faireborn and Thundercracker watch them leave; Thundercracker is surprised that Marissa doesn't want to go with her father to help, but Marissa isn't interested in fighting any more.

Flashback: Four million years ago, Orion Pax and Prowl burst in on the arms deal Decepticons Needlenose, Horri-Bull, and their two enforcers are conducting with Pax and Prowl's mole, Jetfire. When one of the enforcers pull his gun, Pax shoots him dead on the spot. Pax and Prowl take off after the fleeing Needlenose and Horri-Bull, and when the second enforcer tries to shoot them, Jetfire is the one to take up arms and kill him before he can get off a shot. Jetfire does not have long to let his actions sink in: suddenly, the Decepticons' entire cache of weapons explodes in the Autobots' faces, courtesy of a remote detonator planted by Starscream for just such an emergency. Soundwave is repulsed by Starscream's violent and duplicitous tactics, but Starscream assures him that Megatron believes the ends justify such means.

Present: The Sharkticons flood into the Junkion ship, right into the middle of Arcee and Wreck-Gar's battle, with Prime and the rest of the Autobots right behind them. Colonist soldier Slide is particularly hungry for vengeance for the death of her twin brother Oiler, and her bloodthirstiness gives Optimus pause. Then, amid the fighting, a stray shot hits the positron core, which explodes dramatically, reducing Wreck-Gar to a disembodied (but still-living) head. The blast takes the remaining fight out of Rum-Maj, who cradles Wreck-Gar's head and laments their failure to build a new future for their race.

Flashback: Orion and Prowl cordon off the crime scene, and are soon joined by Outback, the officer who kicked off their investigation when he killed Hefter. The traumatized Jetfire renounces his Decepticon allegiance, but is still ready to throw a punch at the callous Outback until Orion stops him. Orion invites Jetfire to continue working with him to stop the threat of the Decepticons; Jetfire observes that not everything the Decepticons are attempting to do should be stopped, but Orion has been convinced by the day's events that violence is the only way to deal with them.

A safe distance away, Needlenose and Horri-Bull emerge from the sewers and are met by Soundwave, who Needlenose immediately rails against for the detonation of the weapons cache. After a moment's pause, Soundwave quietly accepts the truth of Starscream's words, and lies to the pair, telling them that the explosion was the work of the Autobots, meant to foment distrust among the Decepticons, and that they must fight back.

Present: Optimus Prime has Soundwave order the Sharkticons to stand down, then lays down his own weapon. Victorion believes he is surrendering, but Optimus, Matrix of Leadership glowing brightly for all to see, explains that he is choosing the path that will save the most lives. He hopes the Cybertronians, Sharkticons, and Junkions can all find some way to live peacefully, and Rum-Maj, moved by the display, agrees to help find that way. As Aileron, Jetfire, and the President watch Met

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