Alpha Trion

Alpha Trion is a fictional character in the various Transformers universes. Alpha Trion is one of the Original Thirteen Transformers, thus all his portrayals are considered to be the same individual. He is generally depicted as an ancient mechanoid with a link to Optimus Prime. Alpha Trion first appeared in the 1984 animated Transformers series as the titular character in the episode "The Search for Alpha Trion" where he was the father-figure for Optimus Prime. Versions of Alpha Trion have since appeared in nearly all retellings of the Transformers, even going so far as being added in to the series Robots in Disguise when the was imported from Japan as a dub of the animated Car Robots. Hasbro has registered the name Alpha Trion for Trademark in the U.S.

Transformers: Generation 1
A-3's voice, as heard in Forever is a Long Time Coming, is supplied by Tony Pope. The young Alpha Trion, as he appears in War Dawn, is voiced by Corey Burton. The modern-day Alpha Trion is voiced by John Stephenson. He is the appointed guardian of Cybertron.

Alpha Trion is a self-sacrificing character in the Transformers story.

Animated series
He is "a first generation product of Vector Sigma." Once known as A-3, he spearheaded the rebellion against the Quintessons, turning their 'slave brand' into a symbol of freedom. Due to an attempt by a Quintesson in the year 2006 to alter history, A-3 was temporarily transported to the future, while a group of Autobots travelled back to his time and helped in the pre-arranged attack on the Quintesson city. At first, A-3 thought the future Transformers were still Quintesson slaves until the Autobots saved his life. A-3 returned in time to activate the Coda Remote device hidden within his Autobot symbol, deactivating the Quintessons' Dark Guardians and turning the tide of the war. Eventually, the Quintessons were forced off the planet, and an age of peace began.

The consumer goods robots renamed themselves the Autobots, but their product line brothers, the military hardware robots, redubbed themselves Decepticons, and, lusting for power, began a civil war.

The Decepticons killed the current Autobot leader, and Alpha Trion gained possession of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, hiding it away until the next leader emerged. When Megatron attacked an energy warehouse, fatally injuring several young Autobots, including one named Orion Pax, the time-displaced Aerialbots searched for help - and they found Alpha Trion. He had been working on a way to rebuild Autobots into configurations truly designed for battle, and was convinced to first employ it on Pax, who was rebuilt into Optimus Prime, to whom Alpha Trion gave the Matrix. He also rebuilt Pax's girlfriend, Ariel, into Elita One.

Over the course of the next four million years, after Optimus Prime, Megatron and their troops were lost on Earth, Alpha Trion acted as a guide to Elita One's guerilla team of female Autobots. In the Earth year 1985, Elita One was captured by the Decepticons to lure Optimus Prime into a trap, but expended all her energy using her stasis powers to save Prime from death by acid. Knowing that only Alpha Trion could save her, Prime searched for the ancient Autobot, who knew that only Optimus's power supply could properly interface with Elita's. It became apparent that even though Trion remembered his hand in Prime's creation, Prime himself lacked that knowledge.

Later, the Decepticons attack Alpha Trion's workshop in search of the Key to Vector Sigma. Successfully obtaining it, Megatron uses Vector Sigma to give life to his Stunticons as Trion leads the Autobots into the depths of Cybertron. At Prime's suggestion, several Cybertronian shuttle craft are rebuilt to resemble Earth jets, to be used as a new team combat the Stunticons. Without the key, Vector Sigma could not be activated, and so Alpha Trion sacrificed himself to activate Vector Sigma and give life to these jets - the Aerialbots. Trion merged with Vector Sigma, but also apparently coexisted both within the computer to inform Optimus of the key's destructive power on Earth.

In 2007, Optimus Prime reactivated Vector Sigma with the Matrix's shell, and consulted Alpha Trion on the Plasma Energy Chamber, the key to which had become the centre of a battle. Alpha Trion told Prime that Vector Sigma itself had allowed Galvatron to learn of the key, as it would be instrumental in restoring the Golden Age of Cybertron.

In the Japanese Headmasters series, Alpha Trion's ghost appeared to Optimus Prime as he was fighting his way through Cybertron's underground defences, in order to reach Vector Sigma, which had grown unstable. Prime was without the Matrix, however, having used all its energy to stop the Hate Plague. Alpha Trion then recharged it, turning Hot Rod back into Rodimus Prime, but Prime still had to sacrifice himself by merging with Vector Sigma to stabilise it.

3H Enterprises
In Transformers: Universe Alpha Trion is revived to help Primal Prime and the Wreckers.

Devil's Due Publishing
In the third volume of the Devil's due G.I Joe vs the Transformers comics the android Serpentor downloads information on the history of Cybertron from Soundwave. Mentioned among that information is Alpha Trion.

Dreamwave Productions
Alpha Trion appeared as a prisoner of Shockwave in Dreamwave's Generation 1 comics. This series ended before this story could be concluded with Dreamwave going out of business.

IDW Publishing
Alpha Trion made his first appearance in IDW Publishing during Fastback and Bumper's funeral.

Toys

 * Universe Deluxe Alpha Trion (unreleased)
 * There were plans to create a Transformers: Universe Botcon-exclusive toy called Alpha Trion who was a repaint of Beast Machines Snarl. Prototypes of this item were painted and shown on the Internet, but this item was never made. An original hand painted sample of this figure appeared on ebay in December of 2008 and fetched over $700 in bids.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise
In Transformers: Robots in Disguise a subtle nod is given to Alpha Trion's status when Optimus Prime mentions that both he and his brother Ultra Magnus were created by Alpha Trion.

Transformers: Energon
Another version of Alpha Trion appeared in the Unicron Trilogy continuity.

Dreamwave Productions
Alpha Trion appears in the Transformers: Energon comic series by Dreamwave Productions. In Transformers: Energon #19, Alpha Trion gives Optimus Prime a vision of Unicron.

Alpha Trion is one of the characters who were going to get a biography in the Transformers: Energon More Than Meets The Eye series by Dreamwave comics, but with the closing of the company the book was never released. Artwork for this biography page was displayed at TransformerCon 2005 in Toronto, Canada.

Fun Publications
Alpha Trion appears in the Transformers: Cybertron comic produced by Fun Publications. He leads the fight against Unicron in this continuity, summoning the mighty Vector Prime with news of the escape of Nemesis Prime and Ramjet, who were intent of resurrecting their master. It is he who suggests that they use the instabilities created by Unicron's death to find an ally - Sentinel Maximus, and bring him to the Cybertron universe. However, the two Heralds of Unicron chose that moment to attack, and Alpha Trion is badly wounded.

Placed in a CR tank by the two champions of Primus, it is hoped he would recover. The two evil warriors had another trick up their sleeves - Dark Scorponok, resurrected after his death at the hands of Megatron in the Energon comics, as a zombie-like creature that can drain the energy of others. Ramjet unleashes him on the chamber, hoping to kill Alpha Trion for good. The maddened creature is only defeated by the bravery of Sentinel Maximus and the autoguns controlled by the Mini-Con Over-Run, and Alpha Trion survives.

Transformers: Timelines
A mirror universe reflection of Generation 1 Alpha Trion appears in the Shattered Glass universe by Fun Publications. Alpha Trion is an ancient mech who seeks to unite Cybertron under his rule. His troops include many Autobots and Decepticons.

Fun Publications
In Transcendent Breakaway, Landquake and Skyfall arrive on a parallel Transtech Cybertron, in the city of Axiom Nexus. They are greeted by that world's Cheetor and Silverbolt, and are worried that Cliffjumper has gone missing. The arrivals are told that they are among many to arrive on this world and are brought to "processing." After processing the three Autobots are greeted by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion and taught in the ways of outworlders in Axiom Nexus. Breakaway is then abducted by Transtech Shockwave. When Alpha Trion's forces raid the lab to free Skyfall with Breakaway and Landquake they were opposed by Transtech Megatron. Trion's group escape to another dimension, but not before he stabs Skyfall in the back.

In Reunification the escapees arrive at to Alpha Trion's lab, where they are joined by several Autobots and Decepticons from his home world that are loyal to him. Alpha Trion's kills the Autobot Downshift, who discovers their lair. Although Alpha Trion claims that Skyfall was shot in the escape by the Transtechs, Breakaway notices that the wound was cause by a blade like Alpha Trions. Alpha Trion then orders his forces that Breakway, Landquake and Topspin be restrained. The three make an escape, taking the body of Skyfall with them. When Rodimus' agents fail in an attempt to kill Optimus Prime, Alpha Trion attempts to finish the job with the aid of Sky Lynx and Nightscream. Optimus then has Omega Doom shoot Alpha Trion.

Alpha Trion appears in a flashback in The Coming Storm.

Toys

 * Timelines Voyager Alpha Trion with Beta Maxx (2007)
 * There is a 2007 BotCon-exclusive repaint of Vector Prime that has a unique head mold that is shaped like the original Alpha Trion's. This repaint even comes with Beta Maxx, a repaint of Safeguard, with "A3" having a mainly purple paintjob with red, pink, and white highlights, and Beta Maxx being purple with some white and yellow. The sword of Alpha Trion is Purple as well. He came together with Timelines Weirdwolf. They were limited to only 1400 produced. After being sold at BotCon a limited number of Alpha Trion and Weirdwolf sets were sold on the Transformers Collectors Club web site.

Transformers Animated
This Alpha Trion appears to be based on the Generation 1 version of the character. According to Derrick J. Wyatt, he is head of all the civilian guilds that make up the non-military portion of the Autobot High Council.

Animated series
He first appears in the season three episode "Transwarped" where he is among the leaders of Cybertron under Ultra Magnus.

He next appears in "Decepticon Air", unsuccessfully attempting to convince Sentinel Prime not to take command in the wake of Shockwave's attack on Ultra Magnus.

During the episode "This Is Why I Hate Machines," Alpha Trion disagrees with Sentinel Prime's request to destroy Omega Supreme, and how his tyrannical rule as the new Magnus has affected Cybertron. Alpha Trion makes it clear the heroes of the day are Ratchet and Captain Fanzone, and openly states that if he could, he would remove Sentinel from office.

Transformers: Cyber Missions
Alpha Trion is mentioned by Optimus Prime as the Great Autobot Historian who preserves Vector Sigma.

Transformers: Prime
Alpha Trion is an archivist and one of the Thirteen Primes and is the archivist as well as Optimus Prime's mentor.

Books
Appears in Transformers: Exodus.