The Autobot leader, Sentinel Prime is killed in battle and the Council of Ancients select Optronix, an undistinguished archivist as the new Autobot leader. At first unwilling, Optronix finally accepts the Matrix of Leadership. However, the war is going badly for the Autobots. Knowing how bad it is, Grimlock calls Jazz, Prowl, and others to the ruins of Praxus, where he declares that if the new Prime is unable to take the fight to the Decepticons, they will take control of the war... and take out the Prime. However, Megatron has other ideas...