
Realizing that Mixmaster would probably try to escape them, Ratchet reveals he placed a tracker on the Decepticon when he was captured. Ironhide's normal weapons are not strong enough to pierce Mixmaster's shields, so he uses his "Heavy Iron" rifle to cause a large metal platform to land on Mixmaster trapping him underground. Ironhide battles his way to find Mixmaster who has knocked out and injured Ratchet.

Ironhide makes his way into the city's main construction zone where he receives word that Ratchet has been captured by Mixmaster. When the Decepticons attack the city of Detroit, Ratchet is ordered to help civilians evacuate while Ironhide goes off to wipe out the attackers in the city. The virus allows the Autobots to track down and eliminate Decepticons across the globe. Waves of Decepticons land in the city hoping to destroy him, but Optimus and Sideswipe, who have been searching other villages, show up and help Bumblebee fight off the attackers. Bumblebee tracks the Decepticons down to a small village where he destroys all the long-range transmitters trying to contact Megatron. However, he is discovered by a Decepticon party who flee in an attempt to alert their leader Megatron. He succeeds, and plants a virus prepared by Wheeljack into the transmitter that will allow them to monitor the Decepticons.

Bumblebee is sent to South America to find and investigate a Soviet relay facility being used by the Decepticons to monitor NEST-Autobot communications. However, Optimus Prime knows better and is constantly searching for Megatron and his forces. It is three years since the Decepticons were last seen and, humanity believes they have fled Earth.
