This episode has two writers, which does not bode well.

Generic Scientists are working on something Very Dangerous. Starscream and another ‘Con bust in, and they’re about to steal some power cells. Megatron calls Starscream a putz and grabs the cells. Apparently if one of the cells explodes, it can “set off a chain reaction that will destroy the earth”. Starscream blows up the lab, but manages not to kill the scientists. Megatron blah blah book blah.

Cliffjumper, who was apparently looking for the cells, finds them over the area Mirage was patrolling yesterday. He thinks Mirage found them but didn’t say. Mirage is sad.

Starscream, putz that he is, turns on the cells and they go all wonky. Megatron is about to blast him, but the Autobots show up on a conveniently located cliff overlooking the Decepticon cell location, and load ‘a mighty we got us a Robot Fight. Cliffjumper will not get off Mirage’s case. Starscream blasts Cliffjumper, but gets tricked with a “look behind you” and smacked down. Insecticons show up, and fight. Mirage tears of Skywarp’s Decepticon badge, and now it’s on him. Shrapnel, living up to his name, accidentally shoots the cells and they start to blow the hell up.

Break.

Megatron uses nitrogen to freeze the cells. Mirage is seriously hurt. Autobots Transform and roll out, shouting at Megatron as they leave. Megatron’s pithy one-liner leaves a little to be desired.

Back at the Ark, Cliffjumper won’t shut up about Mirage being a traitor. Why won’t Cliffjumper shut up?

Cliffjumper is about to snipe Mirage, but Starscream shows up behind him. He gets blasted, and I’m confused as hell. Megatron and Starscream shoot at Mirage, and the Insecticons show up. Megatron and Starscream argue over who missed Mirage worse, and the Insecticons shoot down Mirage, then they turn him into their slave using a cerebro-shell, and have him shoot at the Decepticons. I can’t stop crying.

Break.

Optimus has had enough of Cliffjumper’s shit, and says so. Cliffjumper still won’t shut up. Prime says SHUT UP CLIFFJUMPER and Autobots Transform and roll out to kick some Megatron ass.

Bombshell gets captured by Megatron and Starscream, who thinks that Mirage was working for the ‘Cons when he grabbed the cells. Megatron talks some sense into the Insecticon and they join forces. Bombshell is about to shoot Mirage, and Megatron stops him, because Megatron Has A Plan. “Hear me out.”

The Autobots show up at the site, and Mirage is there. CJ wants to shoot him in the robot face, but Prime stays his hand. Mirage explains himself, and says he turned the Insecticons and blah blah polygraph and blah blah Autobots Transform.

My skin hurts. Cliffjumper knew it was a trap, but nobody cares. Shut up, Cliffjumper. He beats down Mirage, Rachet saves his ass, and finds the cerebro-shell, and Mirage cries like a stupid little girl and I hate him.

Prime is making a run for the energy cells, and tells the other ‘Bots to cover for him. He does, and they do, and somehow it works. Prime confronts Megatron, and Megatron blows the place the hell up. Megatron is sad.

Prime explains to the scientists what happened, and they’re glad it didn’t blow up the earth and free me from this prison. Cliffjumper and Mirage wrestle and hug. Not kidding.

Moral of the story: I don’t know anymore.