energon-universe

[energon-universe]

Void Rivals #4

Solila changes course, and sends a Zertonian access code. Handroid manipulates Darak enough to hold her at gunpoint and demand she change course, only to realise she has put him at a stalemate, if it blasts her Darak will die. Thus, she forces it to behave, having confirmed attempting to remove it will damage her.

In Zertonia, Premier Zalilak has granted audience to a representative of a food hub, requesting more water, when he is interrupted by the detection of the vessel. As soon as he hears it is broadcasting their codes he knows it is Solila.

Solila has Darak in restraints, ready to disembark. Darak is naturally upset, having though they had become friends, Solila feels there is too much at stake for her people, and they agree to rivals instead. She warns him strongly not to reveal he knows the Zertonians are desperate enough to send Warriors instead of pilots, and especially not that he's seen her face.

Crowds watch as they disembark, she surrenders Darak to guards, crowds horrified to see an Agorrian as a prisoner, and Zalilak welcomes her back, and rejects the idea of punishing her failure, given the gift she has brought.

Skuxxoid has brought the Prosecutor to Cybertron, to the indignation of Shockwave, who has no resources to trade, there is barely enough Energon for himself, the other Deceptions are in stasis. Skuxxoid annoyed leaves.

Zalilak explains that Darak, as their top pilot, will be held hostage for resources, but grows suspicious when Solila expresses relief he won't be harmed, and asks directly if she saw his face.

Darak sits in the cell, Handroid unable to detect any means of escape, but reassures him, when the door is suddenly opened, and Solila is thrown in. The Premier had her thrown in without even waiting for her answer, the secret is kept at the top. Darak finds her winding up with him amusing.

Zalilak enters a secure chamber, removes his helmet, and opens a secure channel to someone on Agorria. He informs his counterpart that they saw each others faces, and he will deal with the Zertonian as arranged. As for the Agorrian, he wouldn't normally have bothered his counteropart, but as he is Minister Dulin's son, he thought it best to make contact. Dulin claims his son was already lost and ends communication, then stands in silence.

(I am going to read the next two issues now, but post in publication order.)

[energon-universe]

Void Rivals #3

They refuse to be prisoners, the Skuxxoid tells them no matter what he will keep the ship, as they engage him. Darak is hit, and tells Solila to save herself. Instead she is able to summon her spear back and knock the Skuxxoid down, something Darak is shocked by, Solila is not a simple pilot, and carries him into the ship, as the Skuxxoid shoots after them, arguing he is simply earning a living, and that there are greater dangers than he aboard.

They try to seek food and shelter, the Handroid attempts to detect food signs. Solila refuses to elaborate further on her status, only that the Zertonians sent someone who wouldn't fail, for all the good it's done. The Handroid notes they are being monitored, and a door opens, naturally they all anticipate a trap, as a giant robotic scorpion emerges. Solila works to force it back into its cell, enabled Darak and Handroid to shut it inside. A voice here's them talking, and offers to help them, a captive itself. Solila decides they may as well, only to be terrified by the tentacles of the creature, a Quintesson Prosecutor, which the Handroid does not recognise, and the Prosecutor starts leading them to his ship.

The Prosecutor has dealings across the universe, but Quintessons have many enemies, being blamed for the Age of Wrath, and often meet hostility from sentients. It promises a debt of seeing them safely where ether choose once away in his craft, and admits he didn't come aboard a prisoner.

They come to the dick, only to be confronted by the Skuxxoid, who declared their adventure within the Rockeroid over. Skuxxoid tells them the Prosecutor is untrustworthy, and having determined that, unlike the Quintesson, there are no bounties in the pair, and even offers a bargain, as their ship contains rare alloys his friend Slizardo has been seeking, he is prepared to give them a Pre-Hive Nebulon ship. The Prosecutor protests.

They take the ship. Skuxxoid even threw in some food. Solila is still negative though, even after Handroid gives and ETA of 2 days, 16 hours to the Sacred Ring.

Later Solila approaches Darak as he exercises. She is concerned about how they'll handle bringing the truth, Darak intending to bring it straight to his father, but Solila points out there are people on both sides ensuring the war goes on. He feels she's overly pessimistic, while he seems overly optimistic. With 3 hours until arrival, Darak decides the best way to arrive is to take escape pods to their respective halves of the Sacred Ring, leaving the ship.

They arrive at the Sacred Ring. Handroid reports they are detected, and will have to send out signals as soon as their pods launch. Solila takes a moment to thank Darak for ensuring they got this far by cooperation, as if she had killed him the survivor would surely be dead by now. He wishes her luck, but she tells him he's the one who'll need it, and knocks him out using her spear.

[energon-universe]

Void Rivals #2

We flashback to the Sacred Ring, where Jump Jet Pilot Darak reported to Director Elander, who sent him on a mission to retrieve approximately 4000 tons of ice before he Zertonians, reported to be suffering a water shortage, can do so. To both of their surprise, Minister Durin, Darak's father is there, merely telling him to continue to be the best pilot there is, or not return at all. To mask his sadness Darak equips his suit, is told by Elander that they have an approximately 6 minute lead on the Zertonians in detecting the ice, but by now they will be readying a Star Wing. Darak makes checks, and tells the Handroid to revive him as soon as they cross the event horizon, something it knows well to do. They clear the event horizon of the black hole the Sacred Ring straddles, and the Handroid administers a Reviver, but Darak doesn't respond.

He experiences a vision of two thriving worlds in eternal war, but a dying star meant they must come together or perish. Salvation was the Sacred Ring, an effort of the labours of 1000 generations on both worlds, and the two halves came together to surround the new black hole their star had become, but peace would not last, war resumed, and over centuries their shared history would be forgotten in all but the faintest of legends. All the while the Handroid tries to get Darak to respond, who merely, against it's advice, removes his helmet in his freakout. The Agorrians and Zertonians hated and feared eachother, for their differences, and fought over dwindling resources. Truth was lost. But Goliant is coming, and this joining must come again, represented by an image of an Agorrian and a Zertonian overlapping, their gems mixing. Darak awoke, with only seconds to prepare to share the comet.

Darak has recalled hearing this voice to Solila, a voice both organic and artificial. Solila understands the voice to be Zerta, believed by the Zertonians to be a voice of truth to those who listen, but the Agorrans consider this enemy superstition. Darak had been excited for the implication if his vision, but now regards it as a burden, knowledge of the truth of their peoples, kept from them in a war of lies, probably by people on both sides. Solila wants this knowledge to spread, it can't if neither survives. Darak takes her helmet, prepared to retract his blaming spies for the compatibility of their technology,

To the Handroid's annoyance, Darak begins aiming to use their technology to jumpstart the Jump Jet, their one thruster should be enough to break this atmosphere. The cockpit will be cramped, but barely functional, but won't seal completely, so their flight suits will need repairing.

Over days they work together, Darak notes his strength comes from Edgewalker work in his youth, rebelling against his father, they see a comet, valuable resources, sail past.

On day 20 the work is done as much as it can be, though Solila feels they will die, and when Darak thanks her for her help she has an attack of pride, feeling a traitor to her people for this collaboration and admits that in failing to acquire the comet she may well have doomed her people, and they are both traitors. Darak points out they're extremely unlikely to get home, even if the cobbled together Jump Jet and Star Wing launches they're in uncharted territory, and will probably die in spaces. She goes with him.

They launch, the vain hope being the Handroid can point them towards the Sacred Ring and Solila's transponder can signal rescue. After a few days, the Handroid reports they are 12.4 years out from the Sacred Ring, it will take about 8 days for their signal to reach it, and 3-10 for it to actually be noticed. Something suddenly starts heading straight for the ship, following their movement.

The giant vessel pulls them in with giant claws. Solila emerges first, ready with her spear, Darak follows with his blaster ready. Solila is impressed by the technology blended with the asteroid pleasing their captor, the Skuxxoid, who claims them and their technology.

[energon-universe]

Void Rivals #1

Since this universe launched I have tried to largely avoid reading up, waiting instead until have the trades in hand, so while I know the very basic premise, and this issue's big twist, I am reading fresh. Void Rivals is itself original to the Energon Universe, but is apparently considered a Hasbro property.

Here is a collection of most covers from before the 2nd printing (If I read the wiki right) after this post I will reblog with the later ones plus the one spoilery one, although by this point everyone knows anyway.

Story

An orange vessel crashes on a desolate planetoid, it's occupant emerges. The red clawed arm, or Handroid, addresses the pilot, and on determining they are at least immobile, drags them to a Medipack and forcibly injects a Reviver. With the pilot, Darrak, now awake, it insists on following protocol to not refer to him by name to avoid forming a bond. Darrak feels protocol is pointless now, what rations his ship did have are now strewn across the planet after the crash. The Handroid reports they are in an unknown sector after the crash, caused during conflict with an enemy Zertonian ship, the ship cannot be fixed, but hopefully the Zertonian isn't there.

So the Zertonian is there. Darrak and his ship both have primarily orange colours, the Zertonian is more teal. When Darrak's blaster fails the two engage in a fist fight, Darrak prepared to smash her head with a rock when she begs for mercy, and after she admits her people would probably never spare one of his, he drops the rock. Darrak is an Agorrian, and the Handroid reminds Darrak he is duty bound to kill any Zertonians, doubly so for the heresy of hearing a Handroid speak. After it confirms that parts of his ship could repair hers, and he couldn't achieve this alone, he eschews this duty for the sake of both of their survival.

They get to work, tense at first, and the Zertonian notes how odd it is how compatible their technology is, Darrak assuming it's due to Zertonian subterfuge, but then the Zertonian makes a wrong connection and overloads the ship, Darrak pushes her away from the flames, she in turn extinguishes him, and gives her name, Solila, he gives her his, noting it's taboo for both sides to give names to the enemy, but they now feel compelled by mutual saving. All hope seems lost, and Solila runs off, not wanting to die with an Agorrian. The Handroid sees if there is any salvaging the situation, when Solila runs back having spotted something.

What they find appears to be an ancient vessel, one not in the Handroid's database. They test if it responds to a power transfer, and the ship stands and concerts into a robot, unsure of where it is. It tries to calm the shocked aliens, introducing himself as the scientist Jetfire, who is both confused about where he is and realises with horror he has been immobile for millions of years, and feels he must return to Cybertron, and with merely an apology, converts to vehicle mode and flies away.

Darrak still wants to work on the ship. They've determined the planetoid has a breathable atmosphere, and suggests using components from their flight armours to effect repairs, hoping they can work quick enough to avoid the worst of the solar radiation. This naturally goes against more scared oaths, and the Handroid protests, as does Solila, but Darrak would prefer seeing a Zertonian face to death, so both remove their armour.

To find they are both orange skinned humanoids. Darrak has purple hair and an orange gem in his forehead, Solila's hair is green or blue with a teal gem. Darrak is stunned to see they are the same, just like in his vision, to Solila's confusion.

Continuity Notes: Agorria and Zertonia are at war, and both peoples have multiple tenets about not allowing the enemy to live for various things.

Jetfire, as in the classic G1 cartoon, is a Cybertronian scientist who has spent millions of years inert. He possesses no faction symbol.

[energon-universe]

Void Rivals #1

Since this universe launched I have tried to largely avoid reading up, waiting instead until have the trades in hand, so while I know the very basic premise, and this issue's big twist, I am reading fresh. Void Rivals is itself original to the Energon Universe, but is apparently considered a Hasbro property.

Here is a collection of most covers from before the 2nd printing (If I read the wiki right) after this post I will reblog with the later ones plus the one spoilery one, although by this point everyone knows anyway.

Story

An orange vessel crashes on a desolate planetoid, it's occupant emerges. The red clawed arm, or Handroid, addresses the pilot, and on determining they are at least immobile, drags them to a Medipack and forcibly injects a Reviver. With the pilot, Darrak, now awake, it insists on following protocol to not refer to him by name to avoid forming a bond. Darrak feels protocol is pointless now, what rations his ship did have are now strewn across the planet after the crash. The Handroid reports they are in an unknown sector after the crash, caused during conflict with an enemy Zertonian ship, the ship cannot be fixed, but hopefully the Zertonian isn't there.

So the Zertonian is there. Darrak and his ship both have primarily orange colours, the Zertonian is more teal. When Darrak's blaster fails the two engage in a fist fight, Darrak prepared to smash her head with a rock when she begs for mercy, and after she admits her people would probably never spare one of his, he drops the rock. Darrak is an Agorrian, and the Handroid reminds Darrak he is duty bound to kill any Zertonians, doubly so for the heresy of hearing a Handroid speak. After it confirms that parts of his ship could repair hers, and he couldn't achieve this alone, he eschews this duty for the sake of both of their survival.

They get to work, tense at first, and the Zertonian notes how odd it is how compatible their technology is, Darrak assuming it's due to Zertonian subterfuge, but then the Zertonian makes a wrong connection and overloads the ship, Darrak pushes her away from the flames, she in turn extinguishes him, and gives her name, Solila, he gives her his, noting it's taboo for both sides to give names to the enemy, but they now feel compelled by mutual saving. All hope seems lost, and Solila runs off, not wanting to die with an Agorrian. The Handroid sees if there is any salvaging the situation, when Solila runs back having spotted something.

What they find appears to be an ancient vessel, one not in the Handroid's database. They test if it responds to a power transfer, and the ship stands and concerts into a robot, unsure of where it is. It tries to calm the shocked aliens, introducing himself as the scientist Jetfire, who is both confused about where he is and realises with horror he has been immobile for millions of years, and feels he must return to Cybertron, and with merely an apology, converts to vehicle mode and flies away.

Darrak still wants to work on the ship. They've determined the planetoid has a breathable atmosphere, and suggests using components from their flight armours to effect repairs, hoping they can work quick enough to avoid the worst of the solar radiation. This naturally goes against more scared oaths, and the Handroid protests, as does Solila, but Darrak would prefer seeing a Zertonian face to death, so both remove their armour.

To find they are both orange skinned humanoids. Darrak has purple hair and an orange gem in his forehead, Solila's hair is green or blue with a teal gem. Darrak is stunned to see they are the same, just like in his vision, to Solila's confusion.

Continuity Notes: Agorria and Zertonia are at war, and both peoples have multiple tenets about not allowing the enemy to live for various things.

Jetfire, as in the classic G1 cartoon, is a Cybertronian scientist who has spent millions of years inert. He possesses no faction symbol.

[energon-universe]

This is mostly for my own benefit. I read up extensively on the previous Hasbro Universe, but could never follow it. This however, provides an opportunity to follow this saga from the start.

As of right now there are 2 ongoing series, one of which is on hiatus, and 2 in-progress minis. My copy of the first volume has just arrived, so I am keen to get started.