The Decepticons have learned that the Earth has an abundant amount of fuel and decide that in order to win their battle against the Autobots they should capitalize on these resources. They first send Ravage to spy and collect data on the Harrison Nuclear Power Plant. Finding its atomic energy resources a boon to their cause, Megatron orders his troops to attack the power plant. The Decepticon's firepower easily sends the plant workers running for cover and they have no opposition in stealing the components that they have come to take.
Meanwhile at the mechanic shop of Sparkplug Witwicky, his son Buster pleads to his father to help him save the Autobot Bumblebee from bleeding out his fuel following his clash with the Decepticons. Explaining what happened to his father, Sparkplug finds the story of robots fighting a war at the drive-in a little hard to swallow but agrees to help fix the car. When Sparkplug succeeds in repairing Bumblebee, he is shocked when the VW Beetle transforms into a robot and confirms Buster's story, and explains that he is from the planet Cybertron. When he explains their plight of needing fuel Sparkplug suggests trying to find a way to convert Earth fuel sources into the kind that the Autobots can use. Liking the idea Bumblebee transforms and takes Buster with him (despite protests from Sparkplug) to propose the idea to Optimus Prime.

As Buster drives through the city, Bumblebee explains to him how the Transformers came to be on Earth and why they are there. The Decepticon Ravage is prowling the city and recognizes Buster's friends Jessie and "O" as the ones from the theater and transforms into his cassette mode and hides in "O"'s boombox. When Buster spots them, they tell him about reports of robots attacking the Harrison Nuclear Plant, leading Bumblebee to theorize that the Decepticons are after the same thing as they are, a means of converting Earth's fuels into a source that the Transformers can use. During their conversation, Ravage overhears Buster explain to his friends that his father is making an attempt to crack the secret, leading the stealthy Decepticon to report back to his master Megatron.

While deep inside Mount Saint Hillary, inside the Ark the Autobots take inventory of their fuel supplies and realize that they are running low. Optimus Prime is convinced that they need to make an alliance with the people of Earth and offer them Cybertronian technology in exchange for the resources to convert Earth's fuels. They are then contacted by Bumblebee who reports back about Sparkplug's offer to make fuel. Accepting the offer Optimus leaves the base with a number of the Autobots.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have constructed a base out of the materials they salvaged from the Harrison Nuclear Plant, he is told by Ravage about Sparkplug's offer to convert Earth's fuels into fuel that is usable by Transformers and sends his Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Buzzsaw and Laserbeak to collect Witwicky and bring him back to their base.

When the Autobots arrive at the Witwicky Garage, Optimus Prime introduces himself to the Witwicky family. Festivities are soon cut short when they are attacked by the Decepticons, led by Megatron and a fight over Sparkplug begins. As Optimus Prime and Megatron battle it out, Starscream manages to nab Sparkplug while the other Autobots are occupied battling the Decepticons. With Sparkplug their prisoner, the Decepticons retreat.

When Buster begs the Autobots to go after the Decepticons they all begin to collapse due to low energy levels, leaving Buster to wonder what is going to have to be done to rescue his father.

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