Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship

For once we get to see an episode that doesn't start with the narrator telling us that the Autobots are chasing the Decepticons. No, this time we are shown a new planet simply called "Pirate" where two Decepticons are searching for something. These Decepticons are called Pounce and Wingspan, who look identical in robot mode but each have unique transformations. They're looking for the other half of a key since they already have the other part of it, but then...
 

...the Autobot clones jump out from behind a rock. They're called Cloudraker and Fastlane, and they have the other piece of the skull key. The Decepticon clones demand that they hand it over unless they want to get killed, but everyone ends up transforming and getting into a fight.The Autobots appear to have the upper hand in the battle...
 

...until Sixshot arrives and takes on the Autobots clones by himself. After knocking Fastlane out of the way he transforms into cannon mode and blasts Cloudraker. With the Autobot clones being no match for Sixshot they transform and retreat. Before Pounce and Wingspan can follow them Galvatron appears and tells them not to go after them yet, instead asking if they know where the energy hidden by the space pirates is. They don't know as they can't find it without the other half of the skull key. Galvatron takes the half they already have and then sends them back after their Autobot counterparts.
 

The Autobot clones manage to send a message to Fortress and tell him that the Decepticons are currently on planet Pirate. Telling the other Autobots the news Daniel asks Highbrow if real pirates are on that planet, and Highbrow says that he isn't sure but there used to be a gang of space pirates who invaded planets and took energy from them, just like what the Decepticons are doing now. The other Autobots are getting pumped up at the thought of battering the Decepticons, although are a little annoyed that Highbrow hasn't found Scorponok's weak spot yet. Such talk ends suddenly though when the ship enters...
 

...something called the "space graveyard". Highbrow explains to Daniel that this is a dangerous place to be in as it contains all the wreckage of old or destroyed spaceships, some of which are so large they have a gravitational pull which can destroy unwary travellers. Daniel points out what appears to be a sailing ship, which Highbrow zooms in for a closer look at. The ship has rocket boosters and solar sails which collect sun energy. They also notice a skull on the front, and a computer picks up a signal emitting from it, but Highbrow keeps this to himself. The Autobots then land on Pirate.
 

The Autobot clones are heading towards Fortress but the Decepticon clones and the Horrorcons intercept them and another battle begins, but with the Autobots outnumbered they end up being blasted, and Apeface rams right into Cloudraker who ends up dropping his key, which the Decepticons get a hold of and head back to Scorponok before the Autobot clones can stop them.
 

The Decepticon clones give Galvatron the other half of the key piece. Galvatron puts the two halves together and the top of the key starts to glow, and then reveals a map. Galvatron reckons that the energy plundered by the space pirates must be where this map is showing, so they head out towards it.
 

With their piece of the key lost to the Decepticons, the Autobot clones meet up with the other Autobots who've recently landed on the planet. The clones explain about the key and that when the two pieces are placed together, it reveals the location of the proton-energy that the pirates hid years a go. It's also revealed that this proton energy is a strong as plasma energy making it very deadly if it got into the hands of the Decepticons. Chromedome then asks the Fastlane and Cloudraker what their story is, as they were once friends with the Decepticon clones.
 

The Autobot clone's back story is then shown through a flashback. The clones all used to be friends and before anyone had joined either the Autobots or Decepticons, they got along fine. They decided to improve their skills and the clones went there separate ways. During this time, Cloudraker and Fastlane found the two pieces of the skull key, but before they could use it their former friends appeared and then unexpectedly attacked them, stealing one piece of the key. Pounce and Wingspan had joined the Decepticons after meeting Galvatron, and that was that.
 

Having told the others what happened, the Autobot clones say that they can't let the Decepticons get the proton energy. Twincast then reports in saying that Counterpunch has told him where the proton energy is supposed to be and that Galvatron and the other Decepticons are heading there right now. The Autobot Headmasters transform and roll out too.
 

The Decepticons arrive at the place first and Galvatron says that according to the map, there should be a large pyramid somewhere around here. Before they can start to look for it though the Autobots launch a surprise attack, and Chromedome does a flying kick to Galvatron with such force that he drops the skull key. The Decepticons fly away whilst Chromedome collects the key.
 

Highbrow does a few readings on the key and leaves the other Autobots to do a quick search of the area. He finds a skull in the ground and places the skull key into it, and this sends out a signal as well as revealing a gigantic pyramid which was buried in the ground. However, the door leading inside of it cannot be opened, the only clue being that there is a headless skeleton next to it.
 

But before Highbrow can consider the situation and further the Decepticons return and Galvatron shoots him in the back. With Highbrow out of the way the Decepticons run towards the pyramid only to find the locked door. Galvatron decides that there must be a switch or something that opens it and orders the other Decepticons to go and look for it, not seeing Twincast take Highbrow away.
 

As Highbrow is quickly repaired on Fortress' ship, the other Autobot Headmasters watch as Galvatron summons Scorponok to try and batter down the door with his pincers, but the door proves to be even too powerful for him. Meanwhile Highbrow's repairs are complete and he says that he knows how to open the door, but it requires heading to the space graveyard, so he and Daniel leave on two of the Trainbots, unaware that Soundblaster watches them depart.
 

The Autobots arrive at the wreckage of the space pirate ship, and Daniel goes on the deck to explore it whilst the others take the skull from the front of the ship. Before they can return to Pirate though Soundblaster suddenly appears, telling them not to move or he'll kill them.
 

Soundblaster tells Highbrow to tell him what this second skull is for and how to use it, as Daniel sneaks around the back of the ship. Highbrow sees him and whispers to Daniel, telling him to shoot Soundblaster with his toy laser gun, explaining that on the way here he swapped the ammo cartridge for a real one. Daniel jumps out and nails Soundblaster right in the chest, giving the Autobots time to head back to Pirate.
 

Having heard that Highbrow has been successful, Fortress blasts off and heads towards the other Autobot Headmasters, who then start attacking the Decepticons. Highbrow and the others land back on Pirate and Galvatron sees that Highbrow has something and attempts to shoot him, but the Trainbots merge in Raiden and push the Decepticons back.
 

This gives Highbrow enough room to get to the headless skeleton he saw earlier and put the skull onto it. As he thought, this opens the door up and he and Daniel go inside, but before they can find anything the Decepticon clones appear...
 

....but they are blasted out of the way by their former friends, forcing them to run back outside. With Highbrow and Daniel unhurt thanks to the Autobot Clones the battle between Fortress Maximus and Scorponok continues outside the pyramid.
 

Scorponok transforms and so does Fortress, and the two engage in a battle. Chromedome, Hardhead and Brainstorm all attack Scorponok and distract him long enough to give Fortress an advantage, as he slashes Scorponok straight across his chest, sending energy leaking everywhere. Galvatron sees this and orders for all the Decepticons to pull out.
 

With the bad guys seen off once more, the Autobots assemble inside the pyramid where Highbrow tells them that there actually isn't any energy. At all. All that's left is a message from the space pirates, who say that the energy they have collected is stored inside the planet, and that anyone who misuses it will be destroyed and the planet turned into a wasteland. And since that has already happened, someone must have gotten there before them only to meet their end. With everything being a total waste of time, the Autobots leave Pirate.
 

On the ship the Autobot clones decide to join up with Fortress and the others in fighting the Decepticons, whilst the Headmasters talk about the proton energy and that the Decepticons have managed to store up quite a bit of energy on their planet plundering mission. Twincast says that the Decepticons are no heading back to Earth so the Autobots start to head back their as well, as the real war is just about to begin.

First appearance of the Autobot and Decepticon clones.


For some reason Galvatron's head is drawn very oddly at certain points in this episode, although this is the only episode to do this.