Prime Suspect

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Prime Suspect

Next: TBA

Prime Suspect is a Spotlight Mission featuring Prowl and Optimus Prime that ran from August 28.

Synopsis

A Missing Leader, An Ally Caught in the Crosshairs

Commanders!

Optimus Prime is missing. The Autobot leader has vanished, and the only Bot that can track him down is the one that all of the Autobots suspect of a brutal act of malfeasance. All suspicions point at Prowl, who is hot on the case.

It’s up to you to help Prowl prove his innocence in this month’s Spotlight Mission: Prime Suspect!

Changes/Rewards

Same as previous Spotlights.

Transcript

This Spotlight was written from Prowl's point of view

Chapter 1: The Touch

Mission 1: Instruments

Part 1

Prowl: Evidence Log 917-84: Recent assault on Autobot base of operations being investigated...

...Nose Cone impacts and a partial Grill print indicate a combined assault from Decepticons Ramjet and Motormaster.

In pursuit of suspects. Decepticons think they can become vandals just because the world is ripping apart.

Part 2

• Prowl: Suspect Ramjet has been spotted. He is, unsurprisingly acting erratically...
• ...suppose if he had any sense to his circuits he wouldn't be a Decepticon.
• Ramjet: OH! So you know all about me? See a decal on my nose-cone and you got my WHOLE story?
• Prowl: I can judge a book by its cover when the title is "Destroy the innocent".
• Ramjet: See, you already got it wrong, I wanna destroy EVERYBODY. Innocent is just more fun.

Part 3

• Motormaster: Back down Mr. Goody-Two-Axles. Before I run ya' off the road.
• Prowl: Put it in park Motormaster. Behave and maybe I can let you off with a warning or community service.
• Motormaster: Warn about what? Pulling a hydraulic line as I pound you into dust?
• Prowl: You don't want to test me.
• Motormaster: So ya' scrapped Optimus, you think ya' can take down the King of the Road?
• Prowl: OPTIMUS? What are you talking about?
• Motormaster: Yeah, play dumb. It suits you.

Mission 2: Hunger

Part 1

• Prowl: Log 917-84 continued: As expected, Ramjet and Motormaster paint chips matched those found scraped off against our base...
• ...however, the case is far from closed. The head-butting buddies got it in their tchick domes that we were without leadership.
• Starscream: Oh, I heard more than just that...I hear that a certain good cop has gone delightfully bad.
• Prowl: You have the right to remain silent, Starscream. I suggest you make use of it.
• Starscream: Strong silent type isn't my brand.

Part 2

• Starscream: I know a thing or two about your case. Prime is missing and they found a siren at his last known whereabouts.
• Prowl: Circumstantial evidence that will be cleared up when I show up in fully working order.
• Starscream: Yeah, but if I punch a few of your lights out...that'd complicate things wouldn't it?
• Prowl: You talk better than you fight and you know it. Tell me where you got this intel.
• Starscream: I told you everything I want to. I'm not sharing one bit more.
• Prowl: Log 917-84 continued: Witness is hostile. I'll have to try some more drastic interrogation.

Part 3

• Starscream: Fine, I'll help you. But when I come back I'm going to be expecting some payment.
• Ratchet: PROWL! I came to see that the rumors weren't true but...Starscream doesn't work for anyone with good intentions.
• Prowl: It's not what it appears to be Ratchet, I'm finding answers and following protocols.
• Ratchet: You want protocol? Fine...shut down so I can run a full diagnostics on you. Maybe scan your optic save-files and see what you've been looking at.
• Prowl: We don't have time for that, the real suspect is getting further away as we argue.
• Ratchet: Never been like you to avoid the rules Prowl, think it's time for a forced reboot to your core systems.

Chapter 2: The Power

Mission 1: Dare

Part 1

• Prowl: Log 917-84 continued: Ratchet is overzealous but not incorrect. Protocol is failing me. No more dealing with henchmen, I'm going straight for their bosses...
• However as I approach a known lair of Megatron, a 10-16 may be in progress.
• Megatron:
  A CORRUPTION IS WHAT YOU ARE! YOU STINK OF UNICRON!

• Galvatron:
  JEALOUSY! YOUR PATHETIC FORM IS WHAT FAILED US!

• Megatron:
  THESE ARE THE HANDS THAT SLAYED PRIME!

Part 2

• Prowl: Megatron you're wanted for questioning in connection the the disappearance of Optimus Prime.
• Megatron: FOOL! I haven't meddled with that pathetic junkyard reject. I was speaking only when I first bested him.
• Galvatron: Hot Rod had more claim on that victory than you did, you were a limping wreck ready for the scrap heap.
• Megatron:
  WHO ARE YOU TO SAY!?

• Galvatron:
  I WAS THERE! I KNOW THE BITTER STING OF OUR DEFEAT!

• Megatron: You want to see a scrapped Autobot? Watch as I turn Prowl to powder!

Part 3

• Galvatron: As expected, failure. Galvatron is the only true power around here. No Megatron shall ever rule.
• Megatron: Megatronus will hear of your snide remarks.
• Prowl: Megatronus has slain Primes before...is he behind this?
• Galvatron: You're still here? I'll crush you and toss you in the Tomb that your Autobot compatriots used to delay Megatronus.
• Prowl: The Tomb of Relics...he was in there for months.
• Galvatron: Enough chatter! You shall be reduced to atoms!

Mission 2: Stand

Part 1

• Prowl: Log 917-84 continued: Entering abandoned Tomb of Relics. Small particles of shattered glass on the ground...
• ..Glass is replicated from an automobile windshield. White metal flakes also present.
• Can't jump to any conclusions just yet. This Tomb has seen more than its share of battles, could be from a previous encounter.
• Tracker I planted on Starscream indicates he's headed towards my location. Hopefully with valuable intel...and not deadly intent.

Part 2

• Megatronus:
  LEAVE THIS PLACE.

• Prowl: When a sinister force yells that, it always means you should stay.
• Megatronus: I am working towards a goal that will change worlds. I have not the time for your distraction.
• Prowl: What did you do to Optimus Prime?
• Megatronus: You chase 13? He is an afterthought, a weak whimper in the roar of my glory and unworthy of my attention.
• Prowl: You'll forgive me if I don't take your word on that.
• Megatronus: Know this, I may be struck down but shall soon be returning in a form that will melt the optics from your head to gaze upon.
• Prowl: I'll take that into consideration.

Part 3

• Prowl: Log 917-84 continued: Megatronus held no answers, just more questions. His Energon signature seems to indicate that--
• Starscream:
  PROWL! BEHIND YOU!

• Shockwave: Starscream? Truly you are a traitor to all causes.
• Starscream: Spare me your false indignity Shockwave. As though you don't turn towards whatever power is in charge.
• Shockwave: I prioritize self preservation. Now stand aside.
• Starscream: I need this Autobot to continue functioning.
• Shockwave: Pointless squabbles on a world waiting to destroy us all. So be it, I shall end your struggles this day.

Chapter 3: The Heart

Mission 1: Escape

Part 1

• Starscream: I may double cross, but Shockwave manages to triple or quadruple cross on this world.
• Prowl: Starscream, with your constant urge to defeat other Decepticons...It could be you're on the wrong side.
• Starscream: Are you calling ME an...AUTOBOT?
• Prowl: I'm saying, you keep this up you can be something besides a Decepticon.
• Starscream: Thanks...I hate it.

Part 2

• Prowl: What intel did you gather? You said you had information for me.
• Starscream: What ABOUT you than FOR you. There's a bounty on your head. I can only collect it if you're not scrapped.
• Prowl: THIS is why you stepped in with Shockwave?
• Starscream: Can't profit if you're in pieces, not until they've taken what they need.
• Prowl: Speak plainly, who is seeking me out?
• Starscream: You'll find out soon enough.

Part 3

• Starscream: Just...like I planned it.
• Prowl: I've changed my opinion on you Starscream. Your spark is black as midnight on a moonless night.
• Starscream: Your friend paid well for this reunion...
• Grimlock:
  JET BOT BRING POLICE BOT! YOU COME WITH GRIMLOCK NOW!

• Prowl: Grimlock? There's no way you took out a bounty on me...
• Grimlock:
  GRIMLOCK DO JOB! KNOCK DOWN POLICE BOT!

Mission 2: Death

Part 1

• Prowl: Log 917-84 Continued: Grimlock unlikely to be the mastermind of this, he is a blunt instrument..but who was wielding him.
• Megatronus claimed to be working on something bigger. Could be a lie. Could be a smoke-screen or some darker plan.
• ...still this world is tearing itself apart. Time itself is unraveling, it's hard to tell what's coming next.
• Arcee: Prowl...help.
• Prowl:
  ON MY WAY!

Part 2

• Prowl: Arcee? Where are you? What's happening?
• Arcee: As expected, you fly in to battle without looking, like a white knight.
• Prowl: ...you sound different.
• Arcee: Different doesn't scratch the surface. I've passed through some doors that can't ever be shut again.
• Prowl: You're not Arcee are you?
• Arcee: Awww, look at you piecing things together. It's cute.

Part 3

• Prowl: Log 917-84 Continued: A duplicate, or possessed, or ...altered Arcee seems to be behind this plot. Will be taking her back to base for questioning.
• Arcee: You think I did this all alone? We have been sneaking through since the time-space gates shattered.
• Prowl: ...You're from another timeline?
• Arcee: Another DIMENSION. We have been replacing you, replicating you, we ARE you. Look to the shadows, Prowl.
• Prowl: Log 917-84 Continued: There's a reflection here. Something is wrong. I...by the Primes...
• IT's ME! ... but one of his lights is cracked...
• THEY WERE RIGHT! PROWL DID DO SOMETHING TO PRIME!
• TRUST NO ONE!

Gallery

Trivia

• For some reason, when this Mission first launched, a player can actually play each chapter separately. For example, they can play Chapter 1, Mission 1, then skip to Chapter 3, Mission 2.
  • Which you'll probably go chronologically anyway if you're into the story.
  • This was patched some time later.
• The chapter and mission names are references to The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, more specifically:
  • The chapter names are a reference to Stan Bush's "The Touch".
  • Ch. 1, Mission 1's name is a reference to NRG's "Instruments of Destruction"; Mission 2's name is a reference to Spectre General's "Hunger".
  • Ch. 2, Mission 1's name is a reference to Stan Bush's "Dare"; Mission 2's name is a reference to Spectre General's "Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way".
  • Ch. 3, Mission 1's name is a reference to "Escape".
• The title of Prowl's log, Evidence Log 917-84, is a reference to September 17, 1984, the date the first episode of the Generation 1 cartoon first aired.

Special Missions

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