Beast Wars: Transformers (1996 - 1999)

Dinobot challenges Optimus for leadership of the Maximals, but while they fight the Predacons launch an ambush.

The Maximals are preparing to place out a Predacon detection system, but Optimus postpones it due to a fierce storm. Cheetor is however again out to prove himself, and starts setting it up anyway - ignoring the storm until a freak lighting somehow transports him into the Predacon base.

A stone circle, showing abnormal energon readings, is activated during a Predacon attack and attracts an alien probe. While investigating it, Optimus is disintegrated, leaving the Maximals bickering over who's in charge, while the Predacons prepare to attack.

Terrorsaur comes across a mountain of energon floating in mid air. He chances robot mode to get a sample, but instead of damaging him, the energon supercharges him. With his newly gained powers he sets out to depose Megatron and then destroy the Maximals.

One of the Maximal stasis pods, put in orbit before the crash, falls down in the north, and Optimus rushes out to retrieve it. Unfortunately, Megatron anticipates this and sets up an ambush that nearly kills the Maximal leader. Without a flyer, the Maximals race to the pod in hope of getting it before the Predacons reprogram the dormant robot inside.

After repeated ambushes by the Predacons, this time costing the Maximals a stasis pod, Optimus calls Rattrap's loyalty into question, and sends him off into Predacon territory to look for energon. Once there, he is attacked by Terrorsaur, and offers to surrender... and become a Predacon.

While the Predacons are preparing to strike at the Maximal base by creating a hole in the ground below it, Dinobot accidentally activates the Maximal's new defense system before it's learnt to recognize the Maximals as friendlies.

Scorponok infects Optimus with a virus supposed to make him a coward, but it turns him into a battle-crazed berserker instead. Filled with fury, Optimus attacks the Predacon base alone.

Rhinox detects a Cybertronian probe entering the star system, but is unable to contact it though the energon fields. The only option is build a more powerful transmitter before the probe leaves, but the nearest suitable place is in the middle of Predacon territory.

After installing a hidden camera in the Predacon base, the Maximals watch them destroy themselves during a power-struggle between Terrorsaur and Megatron. Investigating, they find no signs of life, so it looks like they won, and can go back to Cybertron with salvaged parts from the remains of the Predacon ship.

After Rhinox thwarts a Predacon trap, Megatron decides it's time to test Tarantulas' newest device on him - reprogramming the Maximal into a Predacon. Megatron is certain that the new ally will make overrunning the Maximal base easy, though it seems like the new Rhinox has other ideas.

Megatron creates a clone of Dinobot's beastmode, and sends him off to deactivate Sentinel while Terrorsaur traps the real Dinobot in a cave.

Rhinox spots a falling stasis pod while surveying unused Predacon territory. He is the first to arrive, but the pod is damaged and he is unable to activate the DNA scanner. Unless he can get it working again soon, the protoform's spark will be extinguished.

Tigatron discovers a floating island, with a giant obelisk in its center. When the obelisk fries Waspinator and Terrorsaur with a single blast, Megatron decides he wants that power and sends out Scorponok and Blackarachnia to seize it.

Optimus and Rattrap race to the island to assist Tigatron and the wounded Airrazor, while Scorponok and Blackarachnia make their way towards the obelisk.

Predicting the next stasis pod's landing, Tarantulas knocks out both the Preds' and the Maximals' computer systems. He plans to recruit the protoform robot for himself, but has to let Blackarachnia tag along when she discovers him scheming.

The Predacons steal the Maximals' rectifier-coil, leaving the Axalon without Energon shielding. Forced to remain in beastmode, the Maximals' mentality becomes closer and closer to that of their organic counterparts.

A Predacon attack sets off a large energon explosion, leaving a group of Maximals with their optic-sensors non-functional while they try to make it back to the base.

During a fierce storm, the immortal spark of the Deception Starscream lands on the planet and takes control of Waspinator's body. He convinces Megatron to let him help with an attack on the Maximal base, which he knows to be offline. His skills are after all considerable... but then again - so is his treachery.

Tarantulas infects Rhinox with a virus that causes him to sneeze raw energon, rapidly depleting the Maximal's power cells. Optimus sends out Dinobot and Rattrap to look for an antidote, and they end up having to follow the spider into its underground lair...

Tigatron accidentally blows up a Predacon ammo storage, and the resulting avalanche kills a feline friend. Tired of fighting, he sets of alone, renouncing his membership from the Maximals.

Inferno retrieves a golden disk hidden inside a glowing mountain. When Megatron sees it, he decides there are far more important things to worry about than the Maximals, and offers Optimus a truce. Meanwhile, Tarantulas is even more determined to leave the planet than ever.

An alien spacecraft lands and captures Airrazor while she's examining it. Optimus and Rattrap enter to rescue her, while the Predacons stand outside, ready to break the truce at a moment's notice.

The spacecraft leaves, but not before revealing the second moon's true purpose - planet destruction. As it gets ready to fire, Optimus and the others return to the Axalon only to find Rhinox and Dinobot off-line... and spiders in their basement.