Recaps

Chen Changsheng recruited Starscream to manipulate the newly awakened Megatron and turn him against the Autobots, promising Starscream authority over surrendered Transformers. Megatron accepted Starscream’s account of events and announced that they would retrieve the AllSpark before confronting Optimus Prime.

• Chen Changsheng told Starscream to earn Megatron’s trust and misdirect his hatred toward the Autobots, promising him command over Transformers who surrendered.
• Starscream requested elite subordinates to help carry out the plan, and Chen Changsheng assigned veteran defectors to him, prompting Barricade’s displeasure.
• Chen Changsheng left after Unicron completed his calculations, and the base’s freezing system was deactivated to awaken Megatron.
• Megatron woke among the Transformers and grew less wary when he recognized Starscream, who greeted him with a fawning smile.
• Starscream claimed that Optimus Prime’s Autobots had fled to Earth and that the Decepticons needed Megatron’s leadership.
• Megatron dismissed the Decepticons’ failures and said they would retrieve the AllSpark from Section 7 before dealing with Optimus Prime.

Megatron visited Section 7 to verify that the AllSpark was there and began planning his ambitions on Earth. Starscream then showed him a fake human message claiming that The Fallen had been recovered from the moon along with energy pillars, stirring Megatron’s memories of their past agreement.

• Starscream told Megatron that the Decepticons had found the AllSpark before the Autobots attacked and defeated them.
• Megatron traveled with Starscream and other Decepticons to Section 7 to see the AllSpark, then summoned his army to Earth.
• Shockwave received Megatron’s summons on Cybertron and began gathering troops to head for Earth.
• Megatron saw the AllSpark and decided to begin his ambitions on Earth, while considering how to use humanity as allies.
• Starscream presented Megatron with Chen Changsheng’s fake message claiming that humans had recovered The Fallen and more than a hundred energy pillars from the moon.
• Megatron was shocked by the report and recalled the secret agreement he had made with The Fallen.

Megatron led the Decepticons to seize the dormant Fallen and planned to use Section 7 as a base, while Optimus Prime mobilized the Autobots to stop him. The Fallen was carried away as Megatron and Optimus Prime fought, with the Autobots' larger force arriving to overwhelm the Decepticons.

• Megatron led his battered Decepticons toward Chen Changsheng's convoy to retrieve The Fallen, and Optimus Prime mobilized the Autobots to intercept them.
• Colonel Phinix reported the Autobots' departure, and the Secretary of Defense went to warn the President.
• Megatron reached the convoy, took The Fallen, and planned to return to Section 7; the human escorts fled without fighting.
• Optimus Prime recognized The Fallen as his former teacher and attacked Megatron in a rage.
• Megatron fought Optimus Prime while his soldiers carried The Fallen away, as Starscream hesitated to join the battle.
• The Autobots' main force arrived, leaving Megatron unable to gain the upper hand against Optimus Prime.

Barricade arrived with Decepticon reinforcements, but the Autobots overwhelmed them and Megatron ordered a retreat. After the Autobots were called back by the military, Megatron went to Section 7 and began using Chen Changsheng’s device to activate the AllSpark.

• Barricade brought Decepticon warriors into the battle and gave Megatron a chance to recover.
• Bumblebee and the other Autobots defeated Barricade’s forces, so Barricade urged Megatron to retreat.
• Megatron ordered the Decepticons to withdraw, leaving their remaining warriors to be killed by the Autobots.
• Colonel Fenix ordered Optimus Prime and the Autobots to return with the Rapid Response Unit, and they went along without resistance.
• Megatron escaped to Section 7 and began activating the AllSpark with Chen Changsheng’s energy extraction device.

The Fallen awakened with the AllSpark’s energy and told Megatron that he needed Earth and the Cosmic Bridge to revive Cybertron, in exchange for sparing the Autobots. As Megatron confirmed the preparations on the Moon, Starscream and Barricade competed for his favor, while Optimus Prime’s confrontation with the Secretary of Defense escalated at the base.

• Megatron stopped the AllSpark energy and spoke with the weakened Fallen, who recalled his plan to revive Cybertron by sacrificing a living planet.
• The Fallen urged the Decepticons to conquer Earth and asked Megatron to spare the Autobots after Cybertron was revived.
• Megatron said the transmission pillars were hidden on the Moon, and The Fallen prepared to open the Cosmic Bridge between the Moon and Earth.
• Starscream glared at Barricade over their competition for leadership of the Decepticon army, while Megatron approved of their rivalry.
• At the base, Colonel Phinix and the Secretary of Defense challenged Optimus Prime over leaving without permission and causing destruction.
• Optimus Prime transformed and stared at the Secretary of Defense without responding.

Optimus Prime secured humanity’s help to reach the moon and investigate the Ark, while the Decepticons prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth through the Cosmic Bridge. The chapter ended with Optimus learning that Megatron had returned and discovering the Decepticons’ location.

• Optimus Prime confronted the Secretary of Defense about the Ark’s pilot being on Earth, then accepted that humanity had not deceived the Autobots.
• Optimus asked humanity to build a spacecraft and provide intelligence support so the Autobots could investigate the Ark and the Decepticons’ plans.
• The Decepticons brought the wounded Fallen to the Lincoln Memorial Hall, where Megatron destroyed Lincoln’s statue and sat on its throne.
• Megatron told The Fallen that he had placed thousands of teleportation pillars on Cybertron, and The Fallen prepared to open the Cosmic Bridge between Earth and the moon.
• Optimus Prime learned the Decepticons’ whereabouts from the Secretary of Defense and realized that Megatron had returned.

Shockwave brought tens of thousands of Decepticons through the Cosmic Bridge, and their overwhelming assault defeated and captured nearly all the Autobots on Earth. Starscream and Barricade secretly took The Fallen to Chen Changsheng, where Starscream addressed Chen as his master, shocking The Fallen.

• Optimus Prime joined forces with Colonel Phinix and the human military to confront the Decepticons at Lincoln Memorial Hall.
• The Decepticons activated the Cosmic Bridge, and Shockwave led tens of thousands of soldiers from Cybertron to Earth.
• Megatron directed the Decepticon army against the Autobots while Colonel Phinix's troops called for reinforcements.
• The Decepticons overwhelmed the Autobots, captured nearly all of them, and left Megatron considering whether to recruit them.
• Starscream and Barricade took The Fallen to Chen Changsheng, and Starscream called Chen his master.

Chen Changsheng negotiated with The Fallen, trading the Leadership Module for the Cosmic Bridge technology. The Fallen accepted, while a US Military missile attack disrupted the Decepticons’ plans to capture the Autobots.

• Chen Changsheng reassured Starscream that he would help him become leader of the Decepticons after Megatron finished installing the teleportation pillars.
• Chen Changsheng showed The Fallen the captured Autobots and offered to save them in exchange for the Cosmic Bridge technology.
• The Fallen refused until Chen Changsheng revealed the Leadership Module and threatened to give it to Megatron.
• The Fallen agreed to the trade, uploaded the Cosmic Bridge technology, and received the Leadership Module.
• The US Military launched a missile bombardment after discovering that a large Decepticon force had arrived on Earth.

The Fallen restored his body with the Leadership Module, but Chen Changsheng used his artificial Transformers to force him into a cooperative truce and secured Cosmic Bridge technology. Meanwhile, Megatron's forces suffered heavy losses, then occupied New York as the Decepticons prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth.

• The Fallen attacked Starscream and Barricade, but Chen Changsheng revealed dozens of artificial Transformers and persuaded him to cooperate while keeping their deal secret.
• Megatron's forces lost more than two thousand soldiers to US missiles, and some Autobots escaped while Optimus Prime was captured and badly beaten.
• Starscream reported that The Fallen was safe, and Megatron ordered Decepticons to scatter into populated cities and prepare transmission pillars.
• Megatron met The Fallen at Trump Tower, where Decepticons were assembling the transmission pillars.
• Megatron fought US aircraft attacking New York while The Fallen continued assembling the pillars.

As Decepticons devastated New York, Chen Changsheng found the badly injured Bumblebee and offered to save him in exchange for the method of controlling the AllSpark. Bumblebee refused until Chen showed him that Optimus Prime and the captured Autobots were in danger, then agreed, and Chen ordered Starscream to close the net on the Decepticons.

• Decepticons invaded New York, and Black Watch troops joined the fighting as Chen Changsheng worked to eliminate Decepticon forces.
• Chen Changsheng found Bumblebee among the ruins, badly injured and missing a leg, and offered to help him in exchange for the AllSpark's control method.
• Bumblebee refused to reveal how to use the AllSpark, insisting it belonged to the Transformers and that protecting it was his mission.
• Chen Changsheng showed Bumblebee footage of Optimus Prime and twelve other captured Autobots in terrible condition and promised to rescue them if Bumblebee cooperated.
• Bumblebee reluctantly agreed, and Chen Changsheng ordered Starscream to close the net on the Decepticons.

Chen Changsheng took the AllSpark from Bumblebee after allowing him to restore the Autobots, then joined Optimus Prime in opposing Megatron and The Fallen’s plan to bring Cybertron to Earth. As Cybertron emerged through the Cosmic Bridge and Earth began to quake under its gravitational pull, Chen Changsheng rushed to destroy the bridge.

• Chen Changsheng brought Bumblebee to the AllSpark, and Bumblebee compressed it into a small cube and asked to use its power to revive the Autobots.
• Bumblebee healed Optimus Prime and the other Autobots, then gave Chen Changsheng the AllSpark and taught him how to control it.
• Chen Changsheng warned the Autobots that Megatron and The Fallen were preparing to destroy Earth and revive Cybertron, so Optimus Prime agreed to attack them at Trump Tower.
• The Cosmic Bridge opened, Cybertron appeared in the sky, and the US military and Autobots launched an assault on the Decepticons.
• Optimus Prime fought Megatron while Bumblebee and the other Autobots moved to destroy the Cosmic Bridge; when Earth began to quake, Chen Changsheng charged in to stop it.

Chen Changsheng destroyed the transmission pillars atop Trump Tower, cutting off the Cosmic Bridge and causing Cybertron to collapse inward. Megatron attacked him in fury, but Chen Changsheng pierced Megatron’s chest and stopped his sword near his spark.

• Optimus Prime led the Autobots in an attack on The Fallen and the Decepticons near the Cosmic Bridge.
• Chen Changsheng raced to Trump Tower’s rooftop, where The Fallen attacked him to protect the transmission pillars.
• Chen Changsheng crashed into the transmission pillars, destroying them and damaging the upper floors of Trump Tower.
• The Fallen fell from the collapsing tower as Cybertron began collapsing inward after the Cosmic Bridge was disrupted.
• Megatron pursued Chen Changsheng and attacked him, blaming him for Cybertron’s collapse.
• Chen Changsheng blocked Megatron’s assault and pierced his chest with a sword, stopping just short of his spark.

Chen Changsheng defeated Megatron and The Fallen, took the Leadership Module, and sent his forces to collect Transformers and debris from the ruined battlefield. Optimus Prime and the Decepticons fled Chicago, leaving the US Military to face the prospect of thousands of Decepticons scattering across Earth.

• Chen Changsheng severed Megatron's head to keep him from resisting and contacted his artificial Transformers to collect him.
• Chen Changsheng fought The Fallen, retrieved the Leadership Module from his chest, and severed his head.
• Optimus Prime fled before Chen Changsheng could deal with him, then ordered the Autobots to retreat and left the US Military and Chen Changsheng's forces under pressure.
• Shockwave lost contact with Megatron and ordered the Decepticons to break into scattered units and flee across the world.
• Chen Changsheng's artificial Transformers and Black Watch forces collected famous Transformers and scattered parts before leaving the devastated Chicago.
• The US Military faced the Decepticons' escape despite suffering heavy losses, with thousands of Decepticons now loose across Earth.

After the Battle of New York, humanity cooperated against the scattered Decepticons as Umbrella Corporation gained influence and Cybertronian refugees continued arriving on Earth. Chen Changsheng dismantled the Star Extractor Tower and discovered he could study its components, leaving him in control of key Cybertronian technologies.

• The United States disbanded the United Response Unit, and the Secretary of Defense took the blame for the disastrous battle.
• The United States disclosed information about the Transformers, and countries cooperated to research their technology as Umbrella Corporation expanded its mercenary operations.
• Decepticons and Cybertronian refugees spread across Earth, while Chen Changsheng continued preventing Megatron and Sentinel Prime from carrying out their plan because Earth could not withstand Cybertron's gravity.
• Chen Changsheng and Mechanical Emperor dismantled the Star Extractor Tower, allowing Chen Changsheng to understand its individual components.
• Chen Changsheng held the Leadership Module, the Star Extractor Tower, and the AllSpark, while Transformers who promised prosperity and better living conditions gained support in some small countries.

Chen Changsheng learned that the bounty hunter Lockdown had arrived on Earth to capture Optimus Prime and offered to contact him about working together. The chapter left Lockdown's potential partnership with Chen Changsheng undecided.

• Small countries sought alliances with the Transformers, while the United States and KSI captured and exploited them for technology.
• The Skynet informed Chen Changsheng that a large Cybertronian spacecraft had landed on Earth, and he suspected its owner had a hidden purpose.
• Lockdown contacted governments around the world and offered technology and weapons in exchange for cooperation in capturing Optimus Prime.
• Chen Changsheng contacted Lockdown first, hoping to hire the bounty hunter by offering valuable Cybertronian supplies and currency.

Chen Changsheng strengthened the Umbrella Corporation’s control over Cybertronians and went to meet Lockdown in the Arctic. Lockdown offered the gathered human intelligence agencies and Chen Changsheng rewards for helping him capture Optimus Prime.

• Chen Changsheng used threats and pressure to obtain scarce Spark Coins from an unscrupulous trader, then arranged the trader’s protection and legal residence through the Umbrella Corporation.
• Chen Changsheng kept Starscream and Barricade under control with Three Corpses God Brain Pills, while Starscream led the Decepticons and helped Umbrella capture Autobots and Decepticons.
• Chen Changsheng learned that Shockwave had begun making moves and had summoned his pet, Drill Worm, but Umbrella had not found them.
• Chen Changsheng arranged to meet Lockdown in the Arctic and brought a squad of small artificial Transformers.
• Chen Changsheng arrived to find representatives from intelligence agencies including the CIA, FBI, MI6, KGB, DGSE, and Mossad waiting on Lockdown’s ship deck.
• Lockdown told the gathered representatives that he had been hired to capture Optimus Prime and offered technology, weapons, or other payment for their help.

Lockdown offered his bounty-hunting services and proposed trading rare items with Earth’s representatives, then agreed to let Chen Changsheng tour his spaceship. Chen Changsheng and Lockdown began discussing cooperation, with Lockdown keeping his collection off the market.

• Lockdown revealed that he was a bounty hunter who accepted jobs and traded for rare life-forms and other valuable items.
• The human representatives left to prepare possible trades after Lockdown’s ship blocked their communications.
• Chen Changsheng stayed behind and proposed working with Lockdown, offering money, supplies, and Cybertronian goods in exchange for rare extraterrestrial treasures and a tour of the ship.
• Lockdown said he would accept paid work but would not sell his collection, though he agreed to show Chen Changsheng his spaceship.
• Chen Changsheng saw that Lockdown’s spaceship surpassed any other vessel he had encountered on Earth.

Chen Changsheng manipulated Lockdown into capturing Autobots and Decepticons, then watched Lockdown capture Optimus Prime for Quintessa. When Chen Changsheng visited Lockdown’s ship to inspect the prisoners, he discovered the CIA was trading for a Seed Bomb and decided to take it before it reached the United States.

• Chen Changsheng arranged for Lockdown to receive a Black Watch contract, and Lockdown enlisted the Umbrella Corporation to locate Autobots.
• Lockdown captured Autobots and Decepticons at high speed, filling his ship with prisoners and drawing more bounty contracts from human governments.
• Chen Changsheng sent Lockdown Optimus Prime’s location, and Lockdown ambushed and captured Optimus Prime for Quintessa.
• Chen Changsheng visited Lockdown’s ship to inspect his goods and saw a CIA representative trading Lockdown a Cybertronian Seed Bomb.
• Chen Changsheng resolved to seize the Seed Bomb before it was delivered to the United States, then continued inspecting Lockdown’s ship and reached the prisoner exhibition hall.

Chen Changsheng exploited an attack on Lockdown’s ship to free its prisoners and drive Lockdown away. He then claimed the ship, while Optimus Prime faced a growing threat from the Decepticons and chose to make concessions to Chen Changsheng.

• Chen Changsheng arranged a missile attack on Lockdown’s ship, forcing Lockdown to leave the prison block and investigate.
• Chen Changsheng persuaded the imprisoned Transformers to agree to serve him in exchange for their freedom, then tore open the Autobot cells in his Blacklight Body.
• The freed prisoners rescued their comrades and united against Lockdown, who abandoned the mothership in an escape craft.
• Chen Changsheng claimed ownership of the ship and gained the support of most of the Decepticons.
• Optimus Prime realized the Decepticons were surrounding the injured Autobots and, knowing Chen Changsheng’s strength, prepared to make concessions.

Chen Changsheng defeated Lockdown’s remaining forces, captured Transformers for the virtual world, and tried to study Lockdown’s ship. As he investigated enormous tendrils emerging from Earth, he suspected Unicron was awakening and sent a giant Willow Tree’s roots down alongside one of them.

• Chen Changsheng defeated the Autobots and extracted their sparks, intending to keep the Transformers in passive hibernation in the virtual world.
• Chen Changsheng had Mechanical Emperor study Lockdown’s ship, but Starscream explained that it was bound to Lockdown’s spark information and would be difficult to unlock.
• Chen Changsheng returned to the base with Barricade and Starscream, captured Transformers who refused to submit, and ordered Starscream to broadcast a message attracting more Transformers to Earth.
• Enormous, indestructible Cybertronian tendrils emerged from the water in several places, and Chen Changsheng recognized them as valuable active metal and a possible sign that Unicron was awakening.
• Chen Changsheng checked that the Gate was safe, then grew a giant Willow Tree beside a tendril and sent its roots deep underground to investigate.

Chen Changsheng worked to contain the buried Unicron and planned to reach its spark while keeping captured Transformers pacified in a virtual world. He visited Megatron, Optimus Prime, and The Fallen, who remained trapped and resentful despite their uneasy peace.

• Chen Changsheng planted giant Willow Trees beside several antennae and discovered that Unicron’s enormous mechanical body was fused with Earth.
• Chen Changsheng strengthened the Willow Tree’s roots to bind Unicron and absorb geothermal energy, slowing its recovery.
• Chen Changsheng organized people to dig tunnels toward Unicron’s spark as another way to stop it.
• Megatron, Optimus Prime, The Fallen, and other captured Transformers spent decades in a virtual world, where Chen Changsheng’s solitary-confinement punishment finally curbed their fighting.
• Bumblebee suspected that the Transformers were in a virtual world, though he was unsure because it felt so real.
• Chen Changsheng visited the Transformers, and Megatron mocked him before Chen Changsheng insulted Megatron’s subdued behavior.

Chen Changsheng explained the origins of Primus, Unicron, and the AllSpark to Megatron, Optimus Prime, and The Fallen, then revealed his plan to use Unicron’s remaining energy to revive Cybertron. The three Transformers considered the audacious proposal as Earth faced destruction from the awakening mechanical giant within it.

• Chen Changsheng projected Unicron’s form and described how Primus created the Transformers before falling into a deep sleep, while Unicron remained buried and injured.
• The Fallen identified Primus, Optimus Prime named Unicron, and Megatron recognized the AllSpark in Chen Changsheng’s account.
• Chen Changsheng showed metallic tentacles emerging from Earth and warned that Unicron’s awakening could destroy the planet.
• Optimus Prime asked about Earth’s fate, and Chen Changsheng proposed transferring Unicron’s remaining vitality to the ruined Cybertron.
• Megatron, The Fallen, and Optimus Prime watched the projection show Cybertron restarting and exchanged glances at Chen Changsheng’s plan.

Chen Changsheng formed an agreement with Megatron, Optimus Prime, and The Fallen to save their home planets, then learned that Quintessa’s Knights were hiding in Britain. As he prepared to investigate them in Europe, Megatron and Optimus Prime faced trouble on Planet Cybertron, where Optimus Prime went mad at the sight of its impending destruction.

• Chen Changsheng offered to help the Transformers contact Quintessa and revive Planet Cybertron, and Megatron, Optimus Prime, and The Fallen negotiated a cooperation agreement with him.
• Megatron and Optimus Prime left Earth in spacecraft supplied by Chen Changsheng to seek Quintessa, while The Fallen stayed behind and taught Chen Changsheng more about Cosmic Bridge technology.
• Megatron reported that Quintessa had long known Unicron was buried on Earth and had sent her Knights there as scouts.
• Chen Changsheng learned that Quintessa’s Knights were hiding in Britain and decided to travel to Europe to find them.
• On Planet Cybertron, Megatron and Optimus Prime suffered as the planet neared destruction, and Optimus Prime went mad.

Chen Changsheng recruited the Green Knight, a refugee and former Guardian Knight, as his guard. The Green Knight accepted after Chen Changsheng gave him a Spark Coin to recover from his injuries, but Chen Changsheng refused to hear his former name.

• Chen Changsheng ordered Barricade to bring the conspicuous, bronze-green Transformer before him.
• Barricade and his subordinates beat the Green Knight and dragged him to Chen Changsheng.
• Chen Changsheng questioned the Green Knight, who claimed to be a Cybertronian refugee seeking a chance to survive.
• Chen Changsheng ordered the Green Knight to serve as his guard, and the Green Knight accepted despite his suspicions and reluctance.
• Chen Changsheng gave the injured Green Knight a Spark Coin, allowing him to recover quickly.
• When the Green Knight began to introduce himself, Chen Changsheng cut him off and declared that his name was Green Knight.

Chen Changsheng arrived in Britain and met Earl Folgan and Vivian, Merlin the Sorcerer’s descendant, whose genetic information he needed. He secretly collected genetic samples from Vivian’s mother and left Vivian’s mother enthusiastically encouraging him to take Vivian home.

• Chen Changsheng arrived in Britain with a large group and was welcomed by the king, nobles, and Transformers.
• Chen Changsheng recognized Earl Folgan, guardian of the Transformers’ secret, and spotted Vivian, the descendant of Merlin the Sorcerer.
• Chen Changsheng approached Vivian and introduced himself as Jack, while Vivian’s mother eagerly asked for his autograph and a photograph.
• Chen Changsheng absorbed Vivian’s mother’s genetic information while she held his hand, intending to compare it with Vivian’s and isolate Merlin’s genes.
• Vivian’s mother received a signed photograph and urged Chen Changsheng to take Vivian home.