Autobots

Biodata

Background / History

The Autobots and Decepticons divided Cybertron in a war over ownership of the planet. By the opening of the story, the Decepticons have captured more than half of Cybertron and pushed the Autobots into their final strongholds. 3 4

The Autobots once governed Cybertron during a peaceful era. Their elder leadership established a long-term infiltration program within the Decepticons; Starscream is revealed as one of its surviving agents, though only Sentinel Prime and a few elders originally knew his identity. 5 26

Under Decepticon pressure, the Autobots suffer severe attrition. Fewer than one in ten are said to remain, and many surviving soldiers wear civilian-grade or inferior armor compared with the Decepticons' advanced equipment. 12 18 19

After Fortress Maximus forces a temporary Decepticon retreat but collapses from energy depletion, Optimus Prime formally orders an evacuation from Cybertron. Fallen Autobots whose Sparks remain active are to be carried away for possible rebirth, while fully extinguished warriors are to receive cosmic burials rather than be captured and converted by the Decepticons. 12

Organization and Resources

• Leadership — Optimus Prime commands the remaining Autobots; Ironhide, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, Elita-1, and other senior warriors support the resistance and evacuation effort. 10 12 17
• Civilian population — The final base contains nearly a thousand Autobots, most of whom are civilians without professional military training. 14
• Armor disparity — Many Autobot soldiers use second- or third-generation armor, while opponents such as Shockwave possess Type-3 Heavy Armor made from Fifth-Generation Alloy. 18 19
• Arks and escape pods — The Autobots prepare large Arks for civilians and smaller individual pods for the covering force. Fortress Maximus channels his remaining power into an Ark to enable the evacuation. 17 23
• Communication security — Optimus Prime provides only encrypted, temporary destination data to Starscream and limits knowledge of his Autobot allegiance to a small group of trusted Autobots. 26

Major Arcs

Final Resistance on Cybertron

The Autobots launch an unusually large offensive while Elita-1 is trapped behind Decepticon lines. Optimus Prime, Ironhide, and Elita-1 confront Megatron's forces, while Fortress Maximus arrives and shifts the battlefield balance in the Autobots' favor. 8 10 11

Fortress Maximus cannot sustain combat due to a critical energy shortage. Recognizing that Cybertron can no longer be defended, he offers his Spark and remaining energy to power an Autobot Ark, accepting that the Autobots must abandon their homeworld. 12 17

Ultimate Evacuation

Megatron establishes an air, ground, and space blockade to prevent the Autobots' escape. Optimus Prime organizes a final defensive force to carve a route for the civilian Arks, while Starscream covertly weakens the Decepticon interception force and manipulates commanders into withholding their full effort. 15 17 23

Fortress Maximus and Starscream arrange a deception: Starscream appears to destroy the colossal Autobot's command cabin, allowing Fortress Maximus's Spark to teleport to Optimus Prime while leaving his body behind as a trophy for Megatron. 22

The evacuation succeeds only partially. A few dozen Arks escape, with fewer than two hundred Autobots—warriors and civilians included—reaching the designated route. Most ordinary Autobots believe Starscream caused Fortress Maximus's fall and remain unaware of his assistance. 23

Search for a New Home

After the evacuation, Optimus Prime records more than twenty possible destinations for Autobot survivors. Named options include the M96 System in the Andromeda Nebula, T78 Planet, and the Milky Way world designated C53, also called Starvation. 27

Optimus Prime keeps Starscream's assistance secret to protect both the scattered Autobots and Starscream's cover within the Decepticons. To most Autobots, Starscream remains an enemy and is to be treated accordingly. 26

Notable Members

• Optimus Prime — Final leader of the Autobots; directs the evacuation and leads the final defense on Cybertron. 12 17
• Elita-1 — Optimus Prime's partner; protects civilian Ark passengers during the evacuation preparations and fights beside Optimus Prime. 7 10 16
• Ironhide — Veteran commander and Optimus Prime's trusted companion; remains loyal despite severe injuries. 10 17
• Fortress Maximus — Colossal Autobot warrior whose intervention enables the initial retreat; sacrifices his body and energy to support the evacuation. 10 12 22
• Ratchet — Logistics officer who urges Rodimus Prime to accept responsibility for preserving the Sparks of fallen Autobots. 12
• Ultra Magnus — Autobot leader who organizes a prison uprising from the Ninth Exile Zone and escapes with Starscream's covert help. 27 28
• Bumblebee — Highly agile Autobot warrior who is sent to confront Shockwave during the final battle. 19
• Swoop — A Dinobot encountered on Starvation; remains wary of Starscream despite being shown an Autobot insignia. 45 46

Relationships

• Decepticons — Primary enemy faction; their conquest of Cybertron forces the Autobots into evacuation. 3 12
• Starscream — Publicly a Decepticon commander, but secretly an Autobot infiltrator who assists the evacuation, provides an escape route, and protects selected survivors. 5 22 23
• Fortress Maximus — A revered symbol of Autobot rule over Cybertron; his apparent fall is used to create an escape opportunity. 12 22
• Dinobots — Ancient Autobot-affiliated warriors represented by Swoop, who remains active on Starvation and cautious toward Starscream. 45 46