Transformers #18 (1986)

Continued from last issue... In northern Oregon, a couple is out driving and enjoying the scenery when they spot a strange, gigantic metallic bridge that they have never seen before. Driving on it, they are horrified when a robot materializes on the bridge and suddenly explodes, sending them fleeing from the scene as the bridge suddenly vanishes. This is the first test run of the Decepticon's new Space Bridge, and it is a failure. Lord Straxus is not impressed and sends another warrior across which leads to the same results, much to Lord Straxus' infuriation. The Decepticons continue their tests unaware that they are being spied on by Blaster who is intercepting the data transmissions until he is picked up by Powerglide. Returning to Autobase, he provides Perceptor his findings on the Decepticon Space Bridge. They all agree that they need to rescue the kidnapped scientist Spanner, who is clearly being forced to make the Space Bridge for the Decepticons and prevent them from breaching the distance between Cybertron and Earth. On Earth, in a coal mine in Wyoming which has now become the Decepticons new base of operations, Donny Finkleberg completes another Robot Master transmission and demands to be fed. Megatron sends Ravage out and the panther returns with a vending machine full of candy bars. When Donny complains about the nutritional value of living off candy bars, Megatron angrily crushes the vending machine and warns Donny about further complaints. Just then Laserbeak and Buzzsaw return from their mission to collect Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercrack. When Megatron realizes that Shockwave has come along, he is furious. The two are then about to battle each other to determine who is fit to lead the Decepticons when they are interrupted by a holographic transmission from Lord Straxus. Straxus explains his tails with the Space Bridge. With this new revelation, Shockwave and Megatron agree to put aside their differences and come up with a means of creating Energon Cubes for the Decepticon war effort back on Cybertron. Overhearing this, Donny doesn't like what is about to happen and begins considering a way to escape to warn the Autobots. Meanwhile, on Cybertron, the Autobots spring a two-pronged attack: While Powerglide, Perceptor, Seaspray, Cosmos, Beachcomber and Warpath tunnel under Darkmount, Blaster infiltrates it from above to plant explosives. Ambushing the Decepticon base, they are caught off guard when Darkmount is suddenly detonated. Furious, Straxus decides to take the matter into his own hand, transforming into cannon mode and entering the battle. Blaster makes it to his next target the Space Bridge where he is rigging up explosives. He is surprised when the Space Bridge transforms and to his horror realizes the Bridge is alive, and that it has been made out of Spanner himself. Blaster is hesitant to kill Spanner, however, Spanner begs him and is forced to revert to bridge mode because it's too painful to remain in robot mode. The Space Bridge is activated and the Decepticons then begin attacking Blaster, bringing his Autobot comrades to his aid. On Earth, the reappearance of the Space Bridge brings about the police who speed toward it. As the Autobots battle on the Space Bridge, they just barely avoid being blasted by Straxus, sending them landing on the Earth side of the bridge. Battling Straux one-on-one, Blaster is on the defensive but avoids the Decepticons blows. Straxus hits the Space Bridge's fuel line before Blaster knocks him into the interdimensional energy between both points of space, causing Straxus to be completely obliterated. With the Space Bridge running out of power and closing up, the Autobots are forced to flee down the Earthside to avoid being destroyed by the remaining Decepticons. As they reach Earth the Bridge disappears, and they find themselves stranded on Earth and are greeted by police and military officials.