Release:
Some time after the visit to Delphi, the Lost Light takes a hit from space debris, and several of the crew spring into action. Trailbreaker assists with a hull breach, but in the aftermath is snubbed when Rodimus hands out accolades, which come in the form of badges designed after himself. When Trailbreaker decides to drink away his misery he is approached by Whirl, who bugs him until he finds out what's wrong. Whirl then takes it upon himself to try and cheer him up, starting by asking Rodimus - loudly - why Trailbreaker got passed over for a medal. Rodimus explains that he doesn't see the point in rewarding Trailbreaker for something he can do naturally. Whirl goes on to give Trailbreaker a few tips about how to care a little less about these ridiculous Rodimus Stars and feel a bit more confident about himself, starting with changing his name.
However, Whirl's well-meaning attempts to help just don't work, and Trailcutter goes to recharge, his last conscious thought being a desire to be normal and for everybody to just shut up. When he wakes up, he notices something isn't right. Everyone on-board ship is frozen in place. On making his way to the bridge, Trailcutter finds that a Decepticon ship has appeared next to the incapacitated Lost Light. He is then attacked by two Decepticons, Venom and Ransack, and quickly finds his forcefields aren't working. Fortunaly, he manages to improvise with the use of a gun, his trusty magna-wheels, some resuscitation pads and a very large door. Immediately after taking out his attackers, their boss calls in from the storage bay. The same storage bay, in fact, where the debris from the day before is being kept. Doing a quick headcount, Trailcutter finds far more Decepticons are present than he can fight. So he decides to try another approach.
In the cargo bay, Trailcutter meets the 'bot in charge, Lockdown, and using Whirl's technique of acting confident even if you aren't confident, manages to convince them he's captain of the ship. Lockdown reveals the debris is part of a Titan, as in the living city-bots the Titans. He and his crew are going around the galaxy looking for pieces of Titan to acquire for an employer. Using some equipment borrowed from Brainstorm's lab, Whirl's tips on talking big, and the power of suggestion, Trailcutter manages to bluff Lockdown and his crew into thinking he could kill them by messing with the gravity and making their sparks explode with his forcefields. Cowed, the 'cons leave without a fight, and the crew return to normal thereafter, or as normal as they ever get.
Later, Trailcutter's roommate Hoist returns to find Trailbreaker has finally gained a Rodimus Star for his deeds... only for Hoist to reveal Rodimus has made a new award for everyone else, including Brainstorm, the one responsible for the entire crew freezing up in the first place. Angered, Trailbreaker decides two things: first he's going to kick the crap out of Rodimus, then he's going to get very drunk.
Tropes:
- Amusing Injuries: Smokescreen got something stuck in his chest while Trailcutter was out, much to Ambulon's confusion.
- An Arm and a Leg: As Trailcutter wanders the ship, he finds Dipstick in the med-bay, having somehow severed his arm.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Trailbreaker wants to get a break from his forcefields. He gets his chance at the worst possible opportunity.
- Bizarre Alien Biology: We get a little exploration into the Titans here, with the explanation that even fragments of them can be used to track them, and since they're all connected, one can "use a Titan to find a Titan", as Lockdown puts it.
- Bowdlerization: This comic was also released as a tie-in with the Generations Trailcutter toy. That version excludes all mention of the name Trailbreaker, any mention or implication of death, or alcohol.
- The Cameo: During Whirl's "mentoring" of Trailbreaker, there's a panel showing him in a face-off with a huge lumbering Decepticon who is never verbally identified, though the fact that this bot is carrying a wand indicates it's the previously mentioned Killmaster, famous for nothing other than said wand.
- Chekhov's Gun: That piece of Titan will be important during Dark Cybertron.
- Continuity Nod: The issue takes place between issues 5 and 6, with a few pieces of evidence
- Rewind can be seen arguing with Rodimus about the Golden Disks in his possession when Trailcutter comes to the bridge, with Red Alert standing in the background looking pleased with himself.
- Whirl is on the bridge, presumably summoned to speak to Rodimus about his therapy.
- Fortress Maximus is wandering around the ship freely.
- Ratchet can be seen with Pharma's hands, still painted in their original owner's colours.
- Deadpan Snarker: Trailcutter gets in one against Lockdown when they meet.Lockdown: We're Decepticons.Trailcutter: What's the opposite of "oh, snap"?
- Whirl, as usual.
- Deuteragonist: Trailcutter is the main character, but Whirl has some interesting Character Development even this early on.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Trailbreaker.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Trailbreaker, in spades. Everyone tends to focus on his forcefields, rather than the 'bot behind them.
- Hidden Depths: Whirl knows a lot about psychology, and he shows a lot of empathy in this issue. The advice he gives Trailcutter is pretty reminiscent of an actual confidence seminar - give yourself a new look, act confident even if you aren't feeling confident, and if that's not working, go out and treat yourself. With a new gun.
- It's All About Me: Rodimus. His ridiculous Rodimus Stars made in his own image. Even his speech, meant to congratulate Brainstorm, Chromedome and Highbrow for their deeds ends up focusing on himself.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Whirl is his usual obnoxious, loud self, but he's also very good to Trailcutter in this issue, in a genuine attempt to help Trailcutter out.
- Meaningful Rename: Trailbreaker becomes Trailcutter at Whirl's suggestion.
- Merit Badges for Everything: The Rodimus Star. Even Whirl's got one, and he seems to realize that handing them out to everybody for just about anything makes them pretty much worthless. He's defaced his own with a little mustache and broken tooth.
- In forthcoming issues we find out they're still being used as a little morale-booster - Megatron has one for not returning to his wicked ways, while Ultra Magnus has one for neatest hand-writing.
- Pet the Dog: Whirl gets a good-sized one when he takes it upon himself to try and cheer Trailbreak- I mean, Trailcutter up and get him to stop caring about these silly Rodimus Stars.
- The Bus Came Back: Lockdown returns from his last appearance back in the Drift miniseries, now working for someone else, along with a crew of Decepticon flunkies.
- Wall Crawl: Trailbreaker's magna-wheels allow him to do this. It's the other thing people tend to remember about him. At the end, Rodimus wonders why he's the only 'bot who seems to have them.
