In the aftermath of Trypticon's rampage, Cybertron is experiencing a lull in the burgeoning Autobot-Decepticon war. At Maccadam's Old Oil House, Hot Rod, fresh out of the Autobot Academy, tries and fails to convince an acquaintance that Optimus Prime and his government aren't just as bad as what came before. Leaving the bar, the freshly-minted Autobot encounters an old friend – Slinger, his co-conspirator from his days as an insurgent in Nyon. Hot Rod's old friend has never forgiven him for killing that city's inhabitants to prevent them being drained by the vamparc ribbons and has joined up with the Decepticons. Declaring that his new comrades are the "real power" on Cybertron, Slinger leaves his former ally with a warning to watch his back.

In Cybertron's southern polar region, Optimus Prime and Ironhide scale the Grav-Haraan glacier, the Autobot leader having taken a sabbatical to clear his mind after the recent battle. Ironhide nearly slips from the icy cliff, but eventually the duo reach its summit. Against the odds, though, they are not alone – on the horizon, Ironhide spies a large object with a significant energon signature.

In Metroplex, deep in the heart of Iacon, Kup and Ultra Magnus anxiously await the completion of Ratchet's operation upon Grimlock. Arriving late, Hot Rod learns that Grimlock was the last of the Dynobots to receive this treatment, purging him of the tainted energon that brought on his atavistic alternate mode. Emerging from the operating theater, Ratchet gives Grimlock a clean bill of health, and reveals that he's managed to restore the Dynobots' original alternate modes, bringing them up to the same fighting shape they were in when they served in the Primal Vanguard. Upon meeting him, Hot Rod voices his admiration towards the Dynobots, knowing of them from tales of the Primal Vanguard's glory days. Grimlock rebukes him, saying that a recruit fresh from the academy will have to earn his respect, or even simply his trust.

In the ruins of Harmonex, a fully repaired Megatron waxes loquacious over the inert form of Trypticon. Calling upon the stolen spark of Pentius that they have each borne in turn, Megatron manages to rouse the gargantuan beast, only to find that it now bears the consciousness of the slain Quintesson. However he finds that his former guide has found new purpose within this engine of destruction, a purpose he shares with Megatron: the breaking of a world.

Traversing the glacier, Optimus and Ironhide approach a monolithic structure, only to find it to be the source of the energon signature they'd detected. As they near the structure they find it to be the watchful form of an Omega Sentinel.

Megatron is skeptical of Trypticon, knowing the treachery Pentius was capable of. Trypticon confesses that his memories are a confusing tangle, of which he is uncertain of the source. However through the spark bond that they share, Trypticon shows Megatron what he recalls: Cybertron, desolate after a "battle of gods"; another world, broken asunder; the Quintessons, and the death and destruction they have wrought on others. This overwhelms the revolutionary, for while his ruthlessness is known, the sheer depths of such evil are not something he can stand. Trypticon assures him that he will understand in time.

Hailing the Omega Sentinel, Optimus discovers that it has stood vigil since the disappearance of Nova Prime. The Sentinel turns Optimus and Ironhide away, saying he awaits the return of the Prime. Optimus reveals that he bears the Matrix, and the Sentinel reacts with disbelief and despair when he learns that Nova is long gone. Regardless, he is prepared to serve this young Prime, and ferry him back to civilization. As the Autobots board his alternate mode, the Sentinel reveals his name to them: Omega Supreme.

Back in Harmonex, Megatron musters the Decepticons around Trypticon. He announces to them that he wishes to prepare for an all-out assault, but due to Scorponok many abandoned the D

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