*Last time on transformers universe...
Trapped outside of normal space and time, a badly damaged Unicron lurks, searching for a way to capture the Transformers' very sparks throughout the multiverse. Unicron spits fiery seeker comets out to find his latest victims. In the 23rd century, we join the transformers race at the dawn or a new age as they celebrate the first anniversary of the recently reformatted techno-organic Cybertron. This freedom from the rule of Megatron came with a high price, though, with the death of the heroic Optimus Primal. At the memorial spaceport, a group of Maximals gathered to welcome the passengers of a returning Autobot shuttle returning from a deep space voyage. The happy reunion of the Autobots with their Maximal descendents was a short lived one as Unicron’s comets rained down and in a flash of light, abducted Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Roulette, Shadow Striker, Trailbreaker, Silverbolt , and Blackarachnia!
Deep within the heart of Cybertron, Primus is still online and attended to by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion. Recognizing this attack as just being part of Unicron’s opening salvo in their latest battle, Primus prepares his own champion to take the fight to Unicron. Meanwhile, the abducted Autobots and Maximals undergo a painful reformatting procedure inside Unicron, and transported to a hellish environment. They are soon attacked by faceless drones, who are composed of molten metal. Overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, the abducted heroes are subdued and taken to a dark arena where they're all put in holding pens.
Here Unicron’s own minions: Razorclaw, Tankor, Obsidian, and Reptilian reveal themselves as the ones in charge on this prison, and that they themselves all hail from alternate realities. They also inform the prisoners that they all must fight one another and die in the arena. The Autobots watch in horror as two crazed alternate versions of Smokescreen come out and battle to the death. After one Autobot is destroyed in combat, Unicron feeds upon most of the spark energy to slowly become stronger. The victor in battle gains a portion as well, becoming stronger and more corrupted by Unicron with each death.
Back on Cybertron, Primus is pained as Unicron consumes the tiny part of him that resides in every Transformer's spark. He calls forth his own champion to counter Unicron's latest gambit - Optimus Primal! *Source: Inside Cover.