Transformers: Retribution

Transformers: Retribution is a science fiction adventure novel by David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams. It is final installment of the trilogy which consists of this novel, Transformers: Exodus (the first novel), and Transformers: Exiles (the second novel), and exists in the same continuity as Transformers: Prime and Transformers: War for Cybertron. It differs in some respects from the previous installments in the trilogy, mostly in bringing the series closer to matching the established lore of Transformers: Prime.

Continuing their search for the AllSpark, the Autobots and Decepticons encounter the Quintessons. The Decepticons also have a brief battle with the Star Seekers, with the pirates using the Requiem Blaster against the Decepticon flagship Nemesis before being forced to jettison it. They then follow the Autobots to the planet Aquatron, a planet that doesn't appear in any of their records, where they find an apparently peaceful race who trade in Energon and welcome the arrival of the Autobots. This is all a front, however, as the planet is secretly dominated by the Quintessons, who aim to destroy all the Cybertronians in revenge for the defeat they previously suffered at their hands.

Back on Cybertron, Alpha Trion is captured by Shockwave, who attempts to use him to access Vector Sigma so that he may create a Decepticon Matrix of Leadership. Unbeknownst to the Decepticon scientist, the Quintessons have created their own Matrix replica which they have been using to manipulate Optimus Prime and cause him to doubt himself as leader of the Autobots. Furthermore, the Quintessons are aware of Shockwave's efforts and using him to help lay the groundwork for their invasion of Cybertron by reactivating a long dormant spacebridge. Claiming to be a peaceful, benevolent race, they disable both the Nemesis and the Autobot Ark and bring both parties together for negotiation, but in reality seek only to capture and enslave them.