History Recap / TransformersPrimeS1E16OperationBreakdown

** Bulkhead refuses to help Optimus rescue Breakdown from human terrorists. Optimus understands his judgment and has him stay at home base. It takes Miko pointing out that [[TheOnlyeOneAllowedToDefeatYou he will never get a rematch with Breakdown if he dies]] for Bulkhead to change his mind.

** Bulkhead refuses to help Optimus rescue Breakdown from human terrorists. Optimus understands his judgment and has him stay at home base.

* KidnappedForExperimentation: The signal that both Bulkhead and Breakdown were following was set up by MECH to lure a Cybertronian into a trap so they could capture and dissect them (Silas picked Breakdown as their "patient", leaving Bulkhead because they lacked the means to transport two Cybertronians).

* PragmaticVillainy: Silas decided to disable Breakdown's pain receptors so he wouldn't scream. A small mercy, though, seeing as how he had to watch them ''pull his body apart''.

* FeelsNoPain: PlayedForHorror. Silas orders Breakdown's pain receptors to be turned off so he won't have to hear scream, but this provides no comfort to the Decepticon when he has watch himself get dissected alive and conscious.

* FeelsNoPain: PlayedForHorror. Silas orders Breakdowns pain receptors to be turned off so he won't have to hear scream, but this provides no comfort to the Decepticon when he has watch himself get dissected alive and conscious.

* EnemyMine: Optimus claims that Autobots and Decepticons share a common enemy in MECH.

* UngratefulBastard: In future episodes, Breakdown goes back to attacking Bulkhead.

* IncrediblyLamePun:
-->'''Silas:''' We're going to take you apart. ''Break you down'', if you will.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Starscream is clearly shocked by Megatron's willingness to leave Breakdown to his fate.

* EyeScream: Silas removes one of Breakdown's eyes, and ''converts it into a camera.''

* PragmaticVillainy: Silas decided to disable Breakdown's pain receptors so he wouldn't scream.

* HealFaceDoorSlam: For a moment after Starscream shows up, it looks like Breakdown will refuse to hurt Bulkhead (he even seems shocked that Starscream would have him kill someone who saved his life), but ultimately he chooses to follow orders. Thanks to [[KilledOffForReal Airachnid in the next season]], we never learn if he [[AbortedArc would have gotten a redemption arc]].

* {{Expy}}: ''Dino-Lizard vs. Five-Headed Ape'' is one, of classics such as ''Godzilla vs. King Kong.'' And Godzilla's trademark roar does play during the movie.

* FlatWhat: Ratchet's response when Optimus reveals his intent to rescue Breakdown.

* PragmaticVillainy: Silas decided to disable Breakdown's pain receptors so he wouldn't scream.

Bulkhead is fighting Breakdown in a ghost town on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia after the two have a run-in while tracking an Energon signature. Though Bulkhead fights valiantly, Breakdown lays him flat with a hammer blow. As Breakdown prepares to finish the unconscious Bulkhead off, he's zapped by a blast of energy from a helicopter, which lands and disgorges Silas and a pack of MECH troops. Silas instructs them to take Breakdown. Bulkhead comes around to find Breakdown missing and Miko calling out to him on the comm. After he Bridges back to base for repairs, everyone's confused about what happened to Breakdown. Agent Fowler has an idea who might be behind it.

On the ''Nemesis'', Starscream relays news of Breakdown's capture to Megatron. Starscream is keen to hunt down the humans responsible, but Megatron intends to leave Breakdown to his fate for being captured by those he considers weaker.

In MECH's current workshop/headquarters, Breakdown recovers to find himself firmly attached to a metal slab. Silas introduces himself to the captive. Breakdown asserts that Megatron will never pay a ransom, but Silas reveals that they're not after money, just the technology in Breakdown's body.

Meanwhile, Agent Fowler fills the Autobots in; his intel has reported MECH activity in the Kamchatka Peninsula. While the other Autobots are happy for MECH to have Breakdown, Optimus Prime decides to mount a rescue mission. The others are surprised, and Bulkhead wonders if Optimus believes Breakdown will switch sides if the Autobots rescue him, but Optimus says while that's unlikely, they can't let MECH get Cybertronian technology.

In their workshop, MECH have disengaged Breakdown's pain receptors in preparation for the operation. Silas thanks their captive in advance for the service he is about to do for them, and the heavy machinery moves in to take the Decepticon apart.

At the Autobot base, Miko tries to talk Bulkhead into going on the mission, but he's not keen, and Optimus agrees that he would not be an asset on the mission. Optimus departs with Ratchet, Bumblebee and Arcee. Miko looks disappointed, and Bulkhead suggests they watch a movie instead.

Prime's team arrives in the Russian ghost town, only to find it deserted. Though Bumblebee spots some vehicle tracks, Ratchet reports he's got an Energon trace, and they go to look for the source.

At the Autobot base, Agent Fowler has already fallen asleep in front of ''Dinolizard vs. Five-Headed Ape''. Miko isn't watching the movie, though, as she's disappointed that Bulkhead isn't getting to face down his own arch-enemy. Bulkhead still doesn't want to rescue the 'Con, but Miko points out that if he doesn't, he won't get to have a rematch. Bulkhead decides to take the Ground Bridge to Russia.

In the ghost town, Prime's team finds the Energon reading — it's Breakdown's eye, sitting in the open.

Elsewhere in the area, Bulkhead follows a MECH car to a railway tunnel and, weapons primed, ventures inside.

Meanwhile, Ratchet hooks Breakdown's eye up to his scanner so they can retrieve the last images it saw, but it turns out that Silas has turned the eye into a two-way video feed. Silas is surprised to see the Autobots, but shows off the work they're doing on Breakdown and points out the bomb the Autobots are standing virtually on top of. Prime's team just manages to get clear before the bomb explodes.

In the MECH workshop, Silas passes on the news to Breakdown that his would-be rescuers are Autobots, much to the captive's confusion. At this point, Bulkhead breaks through an outer door and fights his way through the MECH goons to find Breakdown. Freeing the startled Decepticon, Bulkhead leads the way to the exit, but once outside, they're confronted by the bulk of the MECH forces. Bulkhead calls for backup, and the pair start fighting in earnest. Silas's 'copter begins firing bursts of energy, and Breakdown, in an uncharacteristic act of altruism, knocks Bulkhead out of harm's way. The fight continues, but Silas's co-pilot reports incoming signals, resulting in Silas ordering a general retreat. Arriving, however, is not Optimus' team, but Starscream and a squadron of Vehicons. Starscream orders Breakdown to destroy Bulkhead, and though Breakdown is initially reluctant, Starscream sways him, and he attacks his Autobot rescuer. Bulkhead soundly pummels Breakdown before smashing Starscream and taking out the Vehicons with Breakdown's body. The Decepticons are forced to retreat as Optimus' team finally shows up. Optimus is impressed that Bulkhead has risen above his petty rivalries to rescue Breakdown, but the moment is spoiled by Bulkhead asking if they all saw how he bashed the Decepticons.

While returning to the Decepticon ship, Breakdown is stopped by a hovering vehicle-mode Starscream. Starscream menaces Breakdown, declaring that the rescue mission is a debt he'll need to repay one day...when he must choose between Megatron's leadership and Starscream's.

Later on, Silas records that the information they gained from Breakdown was enough for them to start Project Chimera...

* YouOweMe: Starscream to Breakdown.

* SchmuckBait: An Enegron's trail that leads to Breakdown's eye that laying on some sort of pedestal right in the middle of the ghost city. It was a trap for Megatron but Optimus and his team fell for it instead.

* VillainousRescue: MECH for neutralizing Breakdown before he got the chance to finish Bulkhead at the beginning.

* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Miko insists that's why Bulkhead should go rescue Breakdown. [[ItsPersonal It works.]]