During Shadowplay I was rather disappointed that we didn't get a reveal on who took the data slug containing the footage of Overlord from Rung, and who could have quite possibly tried to kill Red Alert if it turns out that Red didn't actually attempt to kill himself. But with mtmte 12 Someone speaks to a depressed Chromedome through the wall.

"You in there? Chromedome, it's me. Open up. C'mon... open up. Chromedome, what happened this morning - Temptoria - it changed things didn't it? It proved that there are Decepticons out there, and they still pose a threat - to innocent people. To us. To everyone. What would you say if I told you there was a way to give us the upper hand, once and for all? A way to tip the balance definitely in our favor... No more Decepticons, Chromedome. No more threats. And what happened to Rewind? It would never happen to anyone else If you're interested. just open the door. There's somone in the basement I'd like you to meet."

Now I myself tried reading over certain characters dialogue in the book, tried to see if I could come up with who it was. I found those who I knew couldn't have been the witness. those being

First Aid
Whirl
Cyclonus
Tailgate
Chromedome
Rewind

And the rest I did process of elimination to see who would be most likely. Top 5 bots who I think are likely candidates on who said it are.

1. Brainstorm
2. Swerve
3. Ambulon
4. Ultra Magnus
5. Rodimus

Yeah I know all of these seem very unlikely but given the other characters and how much harder it would be to picture letting overlord on the loose... Anyways these are -what I think anyway- are the 5 most likely candidates. But I would like to see what other people are thinking is the witness as well and why. So if you'd please list your ideas on who it is below.

 

Can't be Swerve as he was in the Medibay without a face when Chromedome was being talked to. Rodimus, no. That speech didn't contain the phrase 'Til all are one!'

Magnus? Not the way it was written, seemed too companiable and easy going, that's not Magnus. Which leaves from your list Ambulon and Brainstorm, and it could easily be either of those. At this point my money's definitely on Brainstorm.

 

Almost certain it's Brainstorm.

 

How about Ratchet? As chief medical officer, he could tinker with a lot of things: medical drone, one's brain, etc.

 

No clue, but what I did take away from that speech was the possibility Red Alert did kill himself. Why kill Red Alert and then approach Chromedome?

Maybe Red Alert was recruited and the plan is so monstrous he couldn't handle knowing about it, kinda like what happened with Comedian in Watchmen. Comedian didn't kill himself, but he was a hell of a lot more stable than Red Alert was.

 

I think someone used Institute programming left in Red Alert's mind to order him to commit suicide. It was shown in Shadowplay that someone had been inside of Red Alert's mind, as there were mnemosurgery marks on his neck.

 

I'm pretty much reading it as Brainstorm at this point...

 

Brainstorm could work as we know he smuggled something aboard quite openly in his suitcase. It may sound ridiculous to think he smuggled Overload aboard in his suitcase, but remember we learned in the annual he had access to a shrink ray.

 

Oh wow, I had completely forgotten about that, and when the Sparkeater was heading towards Rung, he did meet Brainstorm with his suitcase at the bottom of the ship. Good thinking there!

 

EXCELLENT thinking...

 

Brainstorm smuggling Overlord on-board inside a suitcase, in an attempt to brainwash him into an Autobot weapon? Sounds like something he would do. Also: perfect!

 

So would that also open up the possibility of Brainstorm being the one who took data slug from Rung's body? And on top of that, maybe he either is or was an Institute guy? I mean, he did identify Skids' gun as being from the Institute, which brings up the question of how he would know.

 

Brainstorm did say that he was working on something he claimed to be his "masterpiece" in MTMTE #7, and that was after the red-eyed medical droid observed Red Alert...

 

yeah, it all seems to fit, it also explains how he is in the ship, below the bottom deck, which is beyond weird science-->Brainstorm

 

if he was carrying overloard in his suitcase....well....thats just sounds silly to me.

 

So you prefer the explanation that if he opens the briefcase it will destroy the universe?

 

I still hope at some point overlord gets his fight with megatron

 

Actually, I got that wrong, The briefcase supposedly contains an MCP. Malevolent Counterintuitive Pathogen. It's based on the Uncertainty Principle. When you open this case you'll find whatever you least expect. And then it'll kill you.

Would you expect to open the briefcase and find Overlord?

 

We know from the cover of issue 14 that chromedome is going to stick his needles his mnemosurgery fingers into overlords head, and it is going to go horribly wrong for chromedome.

So maybe brainstorm (or whoever it was on the other side.of the.door) needs Chromedome's needles to kickstart overlord out of stasis? And either he thinks he'll be able to control overlord, OR he knows overlord.is going to go.apeshit and kill a bunch of people, and the plea to chromedome is just a lie.

Good thought about the shrinkray, props.

does anyone remember offhand all the names on the necrobots list, in order?

Flywheels
Hound
Chromedome
Ultra Magnus
Drift?

Was that the whole list?

 

that could have been a lie, to keep anyone from pressing the issue, like, seriously, dont open this briefcase cause you'll die a terrible death. Ok brainstorm, whatever u say.