Cloudburst

ALLEGIANCE: AUTOBOT
SUB-GROUP(S): PRETENDER
FUNCTION: SPACE DEFENCE
“You can't tell a bot by his cover!”

First Appearance: Transformers 163
Significant Appearances: Transformers 163, 213-220, 235, 243-244, 248, 250, 253, 263, 306, 308, 311, 317, 319-320, 323

A Pretender in more than appearance alone. Cloudburst has a tough time trusting and is wary of everyone and everything. As such, keeps himself to himself and exudes a dull persona to others. Saw the Pretender process as a means to hide his personality as well as himself. The result: charming, witty and aggressive — but only when hiding in his outer Shell. Feels much more secure and confident when others cannot see the “real” him. Only his partner, Landmine, who also suffers from self-doubt, truly knows and understands Cloudburst. Whether in his Shell or not, Cloudburst is very courageous and is determined in his primary role of space defence. While his comrades find the prospect of continually orbiting whatever planet or asteroid the Autobots’ may have an operations base circuit-numbingly boring, Cloudburst relishes the opportunity to be on his own and not have to pretend.

Abilities: Cloudburst can transform — expanding as he does — into an interplanetary star cruiser. In this mode, he can accommodate his Pretender Shell and one other (usually Landmine, the only one he trusts enough) in his cockpit. Can travel at speeds of 80 000 km/h and has an extended range by utilising planetary gravitational fields to slingshot himself across the galaxy. In both robot and vehicle modes, armed with a particle beam cannon. His humanoid Pretender Shell is armed with a lightning whip and a thunderbolt laser pistol. The destructive potential of these weapons are increased three-fold during thunderstorms.

Weaknesses: Reluctant to leave his Pretender Shell, especially in crowded situations. Always watching his own back instead of concentrating on his enemy, leaving himself vulnerable to attack. His battle potential can be severely hampered when engaged in combat with two or more foes.