Transformers: Exiles
 | |
| Author | Alexander C. Irvine |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | science fiction |
| Published | October 4, 2011 Del Rey Books |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Preceded by | Transformers: Exodus |
| Followed by | Transformers: Retribution |
Transformers: Exiles is a science fiction adventure novel by Alexander C. Irvine. Transformers: Exiles is the sequel to Transformers: Exodus, and existing in the same continuity as Transformers: Prime, Transformers: War for Cybertron, and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
Synopsis
Velocitron
Following their mass exodus from their home planet Cybertron, Optimus Prime and the Autobots are lost in deep space on board their spaceship, the Ark. The Matrix of Leadership projects a star map leading to Velocitron, one of the planets the Transformers colonized during Cybertron's golden age. When the Ark reaches Velocitron, Optimus Prime and a small group of other Autobots (including Jazz, Bumblebee, Silverbolt, and Perceptor) venture onto the planet's surface to investigate. They discover the planet is still inhabited by a population of Transformers, who have developed a culture centered on racing.
Travelling to the planet's capital city, Delta, the Autobots meet Velocitron's two rulers, Ransack and Override. The Velocitronians falsely assume the Autobots are their saviors, and Override explains their sun is reaching the end of its life and the planet is low on resources. The other Autobots land the Ark in Delta for repairs, and the Ark crew is invited to watch the Great Speedia race. Meanwhile, Ransack is approached by a shadowy figure named "777", who intrigues him by talking about Megatron and the Decepticons. Visiting the ruins of Velocitron's Space Bridge, Optimus communes with the Matrix of Leadership, which shows him a cryptic vision and leads him to a strange metal shard. Returning to Delta, he discusses the shard's significance with the other Autobots, and they discover a similar shard embedded within the Speedia winner's trophy. The Ark's repairs are mysteriously sabotaged, and Ransack and his followers try to wrest leadership from Override. As the Autobots leave in the Ark (taking two Velocitronians named Clocker and Mainspring with them), the Velocitronians begin a civil war.
Junkion
Eventually, the Autobots find another planet, Junkion, which is covered in garbage and scrap metal. The Transformers inhabiting Junkion are scavenging tribes led by the eccentric Wreck-Gar. The Junkions are friendly towards the Autobots and set to work fixing the Ark. Meanwhile, the Decepticons on board the Nemesis detect the Ark’s signal and land on Velocitron in search of the Autobots. Ransack and several other Velocitronians pledge their allegiance to the Decepticons, but the Nemesis leaves shortly after arriving to continue tracking the Ark. The Matrix of Leadership projects another map leading to a working Space Bridge on Junkion, and Optimus makes plans to travel to it.
Prowl discovers the dead body of Shearbolt (a trader he spoke to earlier), but Ratchet determines Shearbolt died long before Prowl spoke to him, so they suspect there may be a Shifter (a Transformer able to transform into anything and anyone) hiding among the crew. Prowl interrogates Axer (a Decepticon who became stranded on Junkion after a Space Bridge malfunction), and from the information given, Optimus and Jazz deduce that Hound is the Shifter. Sure enough, Hound is revealed to be 777 - whose true identity is the Decepticon spy Makeshift – and he is responsible for sabotaging the Ark's repairs on Velocitron. The Autobots and Junkions lure Makeshift into a trap, and he is imprisoned.
On Cybertron, Alpha Trion and Wheeljack experiment with Space Bridge technology. They succeed in opening a Space Bridge to the Ark's current location, and an Autobot named Chaindrive is sent through. Optimus, Bumblebee, Jazz, and Silverbolt travel through the Junkion Space Bridge and find themselves on an asteroid, where they discover the tomb of Solus Prime, a deceased member of the original Thirteen Transformers. Chaindrive arrives and gives Optimus two more shards identical to the ones he found on Velocitron. Optimus realizes the shards are the Blades of Time, and assembling them correctly he contacts Vector Prime (another member of the original Thirteen), who tells him the location of the Requiem Blaster, an ancient weapon with devastating power.
Final Battle
The Autobots return to Junkion, but Megatron and the Decepticons arrive and launch an assault. As the two sides battle, Axer escapes into the depths of Junkion and finds the Requiem Blaster, which is holding the planet together with its strong gravity. He tries to move it, but the gravitational disturbance starts to tear Junkion apart. Clocker, Mainspring, and Chaindrive, along with the Junkions Cannonspring and Pinion, reveal their true identity and combine into Nexus Prime, another member of the original Thirteen. Nexus gives Optimus a legendary sword called the Cyber Caliber, which he uses to duel with Megatron. Optimus wins the fight, but has a vision of the AllSpark's location and retreats to the Ark with the rest of the crew. The Autobots and Decepticons leave Junkion, and the search for the AllSpark continues.
Throughout the story, a crew of space pirate Transformers called the Star Seekers (who have a vendetta against the people of Cybertron) are pursuing both the Ark and Nemesis. After the battle on Junkion, the Star Seekers take Axer, Wreck-Gar and several other Junkions hostage, and continue to follow the trails of both Cybertronian ships.
Characters
Autobots
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Silverbolt, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Ratchet, Prowl, Perceptor, Bulkhead, Jazz, Alpha Trion, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack, Springer.
Decepticons
Megatron, Starscream, Shockwave, Slipstream, 777/Makeshift, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Lugnut, Soundwave, Axer.
Velocitronians
Override, Ransack, Blurr, Hightail, Backfire, Syncol, Armco, Blueshift.
Junkions
Wreck-Gar, Shearbolt, Arclight, Detritus.
Star Seekers
Thundertron, Brimstone, Sandstorm, Cannonball.
Other Transformers
Nexus Prime (composed of Clocker, Pinion, Chaindrive, Cannonspring and Mainspring), Vector Prime, Solus Prime.
