Inside their base, Decepticon leader Megatron plots to intercept the Autobots, and leaves his first lieutenant Shockwave in charge of Cybertron. Starting a long, long tradition of Transformer ships crashing on Earth. Having heard all they need, Laserbeak and Soundwave depart. Optimus confers with Jazz, Prowl and Trailbreaker on the plan to leave Cybertron on a mission to search for energy elsewhere. Also returning to Iacon is Jazz, who reports to Autobot leader Optimus Prime that he was unable to find any energy in Cybertron's lower regions. As they enter the fortress, a nearby sensor lamp reveals itself to be Soundwave, who dispatches Laserbeak to do some spying. Wheeljack manages to evade the two Decepticons by heading underground and arrives at Iacon. The pursuing Decepticons manage to hit Bumblebee with their lasers, and the smaller Autobot is forced to drive aboard Wheeljack. The pair manage to escape the flames and ram their way through the Decepticons, two of whom give chase. Wheeljack's attempt to drive through is cut short by enemy fire, and they're soon literally surrounded by a ring of fire, thanks to the Decepticons' flame throwers. However, as they reach the bridge to home base, they run into a Decepticon patrol.
Bumblebee loads the conductors into Wheeljack and they head back towards Iacon. Autobots Wheeljack and Bumblebee have managed to find a scant few energy conductors and muse that what they've found won't last very long. Eons of war with the Decepticons, their bitter enemies, have drained the planet's once plentiful resources. On Cybertron, many millions of years ago, the Autobots are on the verge of extinction.