Tftember: Divide and Conquer

   "Divide and Conquer", The Transformers, October 20 1984. 

The first episode written by Donald F. Glut.

Seems that the Earth is finally getting hep to the idea of defense, and a massive weapons factory has been built. Chip works at one of the larger ones and is touring it when the Decepticons attack. Chip manages to send word to the Autobots.

Optimus Prime and Spike are searching for the space bridge when they get the word. Optimus rushes to the plant and does a pretty good job of fighting, but some shots cause the computer banks to overload. Prime shields the workers with his body as the building explodes. The jets take the advantage and blast Prime before retreating. 

The Autobots manage to get him back to base but it's bad. Laserbeak, who snuck into the base, does a surprise attack and blasts Prime some more. His condition is now even worse and Wheeljack has a grim prognosis. Prime's laser core is damaged and he needs a transplant. 

The procedure is easy enough but the catch is the only spare they have is in Wheeljack's lab...back on Cybertron. They figure Chip is the only one can figure out the computers and he is. Yup, in less than a minute Chip figures out where the Space Bridge is and soon a team is assembled.

They attack as the Decepticons are sending supplies back but during the fight Megatron orders his troops to let the Autobots win as a thunderstorm kicks up. The Autobots plus Chip use the bridge to get back to Cybertron, just as Megatron orders Shockwave to end them with acid rain. 

The heroes get to the lab and get the part but they get taken down by the acid. Cybertonian acid doesn't seem to affect humans so Chip ignores it and rallies the bots. Trailbreaker remembers he has a forcefield and the bots manage to escape back to Earth where the Autobots are under attack. One operation later and 'cons are on the run.

Glut was always a favorite but honestly this episode feels a bit weak. The ideas are good (humans making defense plants) but never mentioned again. Also, Chip is smart, but somehow only he can do the math to figure out where things are? Plus he is somehow able to hack alien computers and ignore acid rain, which seems to be solid acid given the way it's melting the Autobots. We also get to see Spike rally the troops by picking up the gun of Jazz and leading the charge. 

Jazz, the robot the size of a house with a gun nearly seven feet long. Seriously, Spike just slings it over his shoulder (his entire arm fits in the trigger) and runs. I can see why his dad wanted him to work on an oil rig, boy could probably haul the entire thing if he had to.