Ark II

The Ark II is a ship from the Generation 1 continuity family.

The Ark II, continuing the proud tradition of making the Autobots' insurance company cry.

The Ark II was a ship constructed through a joint effort between the Autobots and Human governments, meant to transport the Autobots and a few humans to Cybertron.

Fiction

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Following the defeat of the Decepticons during Operation Liberation, the governments of Earth helped the Autobots construct a giant spacecraft named Ark II so the Autobots and their Decepticon prisoners could return home. In exchange for Earth's assistance, the Autobots offered to bring a small crew of humans, guaranteeing their complete freedom to roam Cybertron and study it as they deemed fit. Nicknamed 'the Magnificent Seven', the humans were allowed to stay as long as they wanted and bring back any and all findings deemed 'useful' to the progression of humanity. They were touted as representing the dawning of a new age.

Tragically, on June 24th, 1999, the Ark II exploded minutes after liftoff, apparently killing all on board. The official explanation given was "mechanical failure". Prime Directive #1 In reality, the ship was sabotaged by General Robert Hallo, head of Military Development of the United States in his scheme with engineer Adam Rook to reprogram the stasis locked Transformers salvaged from the explosion and make them into weapons for the United States military. Prime Directive #5

Shockwave later claimed he had a hand in the destruction of Ark II, but then, he was pretty much responsible for everything. War and Peace

Classics

The Ark II was an Autobot headquarters located somewhere in Canada. Buster Witwicky, Ratchet, Perceptor, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Blaster were stationed there. (And possibly Rescue Roy.) It was possible the Ark II was renovated from the original Ark, given its location. Invasion

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

A joint crew of Autobots and G.I. Joes used the Ark 2 [sic] to travel to Quadrant X in search of the Quintessons. The War Never Ends

Notes

• An "Ark II" animation model was designed for the Generation 1 cartoon as the ship that would take the Autobots back home after the events of "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3," but the craft was cut from the mini-series: the finished episodes only ever imply the Autobots are planning to repair their existing ship, not build a new one (the final scene of the episode shows fuel trucks with hoses leading to the Ark and the Autobots loading it up with supplies). Dialogue cut from "Transport to Oblivion", the first episode of the regular series, alluded to the ship's existence by noting that the Autobots were preparing to launch, despite their existing ship still being lodged in the volcano, but in any case, the return of the Decepticons' meant they had to stay and defend Earth, and the idea was soon forgotten.^[1]

References