Alpha Trion is one of the oldest living Transformers, and with that age comes a nuanced understanding of his race and their place within the universe. In his youth, he went by the name "A3", and in this time, he helped lead the enslaved Cybertronians in their rebellion against their cruel masters, the Quintessons. As a result, he was instrumental in first establishing Cybertron as an independent planet.
In his older years, he has found a comfortable role in serving as an advisor to other Transformers. Though not taking part in the battles of the Great War, he is firmly on the side of the Autobots, serving as a mentor and guide, especially to Optimus Prime and Elita One. He is an enigmatic old robot, though he is known to be the guardian of Vector Sigma and the custodian of its circuit key. His sage-like manner paints him in almost a mystic tone, and possible connections between Alpha Trion, Primus, and the history of Cybertron itself have boosted him into legendary status.
- Japanese name: Alpha Trin (except for "The Rebirth")
- Indonesian name: Alpa Trion
- Serbian name: Alfa Trajon
- Chinese name (China): Tai Shifu (钛师傅, "Master Titanium")
Gallery[]
Fiction[]
Cartoon continuity[]
The Transformers cartoon[]
Voice actors: John Stephenson, Corey Burton (War Dawn), Tony Pope (Forever is a Long Time Coming) (English), Osamu Saka (Japanese), Toshio Ishii (Japanese, War Dawn), Hiroshi Naka (Japanese, season 4)
Silverbolt never misses a chance to check out A3's rugged mustache.
11 million years ago, a mechanoid named A3 was part of the robot rebellion against the Quintessons on a factory world, creating a device called the Coda Remote that would stop their Dark Guardians. Due to a time rift created by Quintessons from the future, he was briefly pulled into the year 2006. Fortunately, his partner Beta managed to start the rebellion as scheduled, and A3 was soon returned by future Autobots to fulfill his role in Cybertronian history. Forever is a Long Time Coming
He grew a beard, picked up the Matrix, shaved his beard, and then built Optimus, apparently.
Years later, he would be given the Matrix of Leadership by a dying Autobot leader, but Alpha Trion himself did not become Autobot leader. It would sit in his possession, unused, until the coming of the next Autobot leader. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4 In the meanwhile, Alpha Trion developed plans to rebuild Autobots to better combat the escalating Decepticon menace.
The next Autobot leader would actually come to him when a group of time-travelers lugged a dying youth named Orion Pax to his repair center. Reluctant at first, Alpha Trion sensed a strong spirit in Orion Pax, and decided to rebuild him entirely... into Optimus Prime. When Prime asked if Alpha Trion could rebuild his fallen girlfriend Ariel as well, Alpha Trion agreed, and mused that Elita One would be a good name for a female warrior. War Dawn
"Yes, she is a girl."
When next seen - millions of years later - Alpha Trion was acting in an advisory role to the Female Autobots. When their secret base was discovered by Shockwave, he suggested they move their headquarters. During the following skirmish between the Female Autobots and the Decepticons, he engaged in holographic communication with Elita One, where he (somewhat randomly) reminded her to not use her time-stopping power, for its use would likely drain her lifeforce. When she immediately used this power to save her beloved Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader tracked Alpha Trion to his secret base. Alpha Trion repaired her to the best of his ability, but revealed to Optimus Prime that only Prime could save Elita by interfacing to her with his power filter. An astonished Optimus Prime stated that only his CREATOR could know that! The Search for Alpha Trion
Alpha Trion was one of the first generation Cybertronians created by Vector Sigma. Because of this, he was custodian of the supercomputer's circuit key—but his own circuitry also functioned as a key and would allow him to interface with Vector Sigma on his own. He did just that, sacrificing his own body in order to compel Vector Sigma to imbue life into the Aerialbots to counter Megatron's new troops The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2.
After this, Alpha Trion appeared mostly as a spirit-guide, and had the peculiar honor of residing both within Vector Sigma and the Matrix of Leadership. He knew of the important role that both Nebulos and the Plasma Energy Chamber would come to play in Vector Sigma's grand plan to rejuvenate Cybertron, and so urged Optimus Prime to help the plan become reality The Rebirth, Part 2.
Headmasters anime[]
Alpha Trion's Force ghost Spooooooky Ghost
In the Japanese cartoon continuity, 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, and although Alpha Trion then recharged it, turning Hot Rod back into Rodimus Prime, Prime still had to sacrifice himself by merging with Vector Sigma to stabilise it.
Universe: Featuring the Wreckers[]
Alpha Trion was a lion for all of two seconds.
Alpha Trion was seemingly resurrected and/or reformatted as a lion by the Oracle to guide Primal Prime and his Wreckers in much the same way as he aided many previous Autobot leaders. DepartureIt is unclear whether this new form ever existed physically; its only appearance was as a vision in Primal Prime's head. Betrayal
You know, screw this lion thing.
However, he did not make an appearance after this enigmatic reintroduction until Unicron posed a new threat to the balance of the multiverse. Alpha Trion, though technically still merged with Primus/Vector Sigma/Whatever, was again in his original body (but now with a cape!). He/they pulled Cybertron's greatest hero, Optimus Primal, back from the dead in order to rescue recently abducted Cybertronians from the center of the Chaos Bringer. Abduction
When Primal succeeded at this monumental task, Escape he confronted the Maximal Elders with one of his overblown speeches and was thrown in jail. Alpha Trion sent Snarl to stage a small rescue of his own, and Primal was returned to the center of Cybertron. Here, Alpha Trion presented Primal with a window into the past, present, and future of the Allspark, from which he could pluck any warrior, whether they be living or dead. Primal chose Depthcharge and Rhinox, the former of whom rejected Primal's calling. Alpha Trion quieted Primal's disappointment, letting Depthcharge go, expecting him to return of his own accord. To take his place, Alpha Trion pulled Omega Prime from the Robots in Disguise universe. Homecoming
Dreamwave comics continuity[]
Most people kill their prizes before hanging them on their wall. Shockwave is not most people.
Eons ago, Alpha Trion kept watch over the Transformers when Primus entered his eternal sleep to hide Cybertron from Unicron. However, a nomadic alien race eventually conquered Cybertron, and Alpha Trion was forced into hiding. Thousands of Transformers were slaughtered, and Alpha Trion was unable to act.[1] What exactly happened afterwards is unknown, but it is implied that Alpha Trion eventually drove the invaders off Cybertron.
Alpha Trion was last seen hanging on Shockwave's wall. This was apparently meant to be very important to the huge, overarching plot of the entire universe, but odds are we'll never learn why. War and Peace
Devil's Due[]
Trukk... and munky?
When Serpent O.R. downloaded some of Soundwave's memories, he saw Alpha Trion and his role in the rebellion against the Quintessons. The Art of War
IDW comics continuity[]
Alpha Trion attended the funerals of Bumper and Fastback, accompanied by Orion Pax, Ariel, and Ultra Magnus. Megatron Origin issue 3
War For Cybertron Trilogy[]
The Alpha Trion Protocols chooses Bumblebee and speaks to him. Alpha Trion reveals that the Protocols are a collection of information and strategies designed to protect Autobots in times of great crisis. Their history and collection is only to be passed down to someone that can be trusted to ensure the good of all. Optimus and Magnus agreed that no one Cybertronian should possess both the Matrix of Leadership and the Alpha Trion Protocols, so they agreed to share the power. Bumblebee simply wants peace, which is why he was chosen. Alpha Trion tells Bumblebee that Optimus will experience great victories and great defeats. He must be there for both. Episode 4
Toys[]
Unreleased[]
You'll never own me.
A redeco of Beast Machines Snarl was planned as Alpha Trion for the OTFCC Wreckers storyline, but this concept never made it past the paint mock-up stage.
A redecoed Lio Convoy was also considered by 3H for Alpha Trion around the same time, and it was sort of this version that briefly appeared in the comic book (see above). Though the toy mock-up used Snarl, 3H hoped they could finagle the use of the Lio Convoy mold. "Alpha Lion"'s wireframe appearance in Wreckers #1 used Lio Convoy's body, but Snarl's head, hopefully allowing 3H to fudge either way, should they come to a decision. They didn't!
 Proceed on your way to oblivion. |
Merchandise[]
- Alpha Trion (Super Collection Figure)
Notes[]
- Interestingly, Alpha Trion is one of the very few Transformers to show signs of aging and hair growth.
- According to a note in Japan's Comic BomBom magazine, Alpha Trion was the first successful Cybertronian after Alpha Monon and Alpha Dion were failures. However, the presence of Cybertronians within the Matrix of Leadership older than Alpha Trion (as seen in The Return of Optimus Prime) makes the actual canonicity of this questionable.
- In Robots in Disguise, an Alpha Trion is mentioned as an Autobot elder who created Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus.
- The Unicron Trilogy has another nigh-identical Alpha Trion. In fact, BotCon 2007 Alpha Trion's bio suggests many continuities have him, and they are all pretty much the same - old.
References[]