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Tripledacus about to hit you with that slam-dunk.
"The Combined Giant, Tripledacus" 合体巨人トリプルダクス () (Gattai Kyojin Tripledacus)
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS, Ashi Productions
Airdate	1 July 1998
Writer	Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
Director	Yukio Okazaki
Animation studio	Ashi Productions
Continuity	Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

A crashed ship brings some weird folk to Gaia.

Contents 1 Synopsis 1.1 Artemis & Moon II Report 2 Featured characters 3 Notes 3.1 Real world references 3.2 Trivia 4 Home video releases

Synopsis

An unknown spaceship approaches Gaia, to the wonderment of Artemis and Moon on the Moon. The ship is also detected by the Predacons aboard the Galvaburg II, and Galvatron orders Starscream and BB to investigate the ship after it has landed on the planet. If it turns out to be more enemies, they are to be destroyed. At the Yukikaze, the Maximals are having a relaxed day when NAVI alerts them to the incoming ship. It is unfamiliar to all present, so Lio Convoy orders the Maximals to move out to investigate.

The Maximals travel to the East Continent where the ship has landed. Bighorn becomes impatient during the search and knocks down a tree, soon finding the skidmark left by the ship. He, Tasmania Kid, and Diver follow the path and find the crashed ship. They investigate inside, finding no trace of life. Missiles from somewhere strike the ship, but the Maximals are able to escape in the nick of time. Outside, they encounter Starscream and BB, who tell the trio that the ships is theirs to investigate and to shoo away. After the Maximals reveal that they've already explored the interior and that there was nobody inside, the Predacons start blasting at their enemies. Diver suggests a retreat, but Kid isn't willing to let the Predacons take the ship. Starscream and BB take aim at the two, but the sudden appearance of the gigantic Tripledacus sends the two fleeing. The titan turns his attention on to the Maximals, attacking them! It's not till he spots the Maximal symbol on Diver that he realizes that the animals are actually his comrades! The combiner splits into three arthropods and they joyfully reveal themselves, with lots of Spanish words peppered into their sentences, as DJ, Gimlet, and Motorarm.

The trio are brought to Lio Convoy and are introduced as the Maximal Jointrons. Apache asks what brought them to Gaia and Tasmania Kid wonders if they're their reinforcements. DJ explains that they received orders from Maximal HQ on their way to the planet Trius, but their ship ran into trouble and was forced to land at the closest planet—Gaia. With that, they need to contact HQ, but cannot penetrate the magnetic storm around the planet. Their behavior, including their odd dialogue, enthusiastic introductory handshakes, "borrowing" the Maximals' oil, and DJ's habit of flying away and expelling oil when surprised, bother the other Maximals, but Lio Convoy implores them all to get along as Maximal comrades.

At the Galvaburg II, Galvatron and Megastorm are briefed on the new arrival, and the Predacons are dispatched to destroy him. Elsewhere, the Jointrons fly through Gaia's skies and agree they should take on the Predacons, boasting that the three of them can defeat them. Bighorn asks Tasmania Kid where the three have gone to, and Diver replies that he overheard that they were planning to storm the Predacon base. Bighorn drags along the other two to stop the Jointrons, not out of any concern for their safety, but because they want the credit for defeating the Predacons. Lio Convoy, on the other hand, worries for the Jointrons and asks Scuba to keep an eye on them.

Seeking out the giant, Dirge and Thrust spot the Jointrons on their patrol, but don't believe that the trio are the robot they're looking for. Not wanting to waste their time or get scolding from their superiors, the two fly off elsewhere to continue their search. The Jointrons let them go, as they're small fry. Soon, Starscream and BB also spot the trio and also don't believe them to be the giant robot they fought. The Jointrons recognize the two from before, and Starscream asks them if they've seen the giant! Not getting any sensible answers, the Predacons fly off, confusing the Jointrons as to who they're looking for. At the Moon, Artemis and Moon comment on how absurd the new arrivals are. Bighorn and his friends run into Dirge and Thrust, who shoot at them, believing they have information on the new robot. Elsewhere, the Jointrons are still looking for the Predacon headquarters when it appears in the sky above them. They go into hiding behind boulders and strike at the Predacon who departed the ship—Megastorm. They tussle for a bit before Starscream and BB arrive, reporting that they couldn't find the robot they sought. The two start blasting at the Jointrons, prompting them to combine into Tripledacus, who the Predacons realize is whom they're looking for! The Predacons immediately fire on the giant, but it seemingly has little effect. Dirge and Thrust are called to the Galvaburg II, and the Maximals realize that the Predacons have engaged in battle with the Jointrons. Tripledacus find himself starting to be overwhelmed by the Predacons, but Scuba, Lio Convoy, and Apache arrive on the scene, and all of the Maximals together force the Predacons into retreat. Bighorn's group finally arrive, which gets a bit of ribbing from Apache. Aboard the Galvaburg II, the Predacons bemoan the additional Maximal forces.

After the Maximals regroup, Lio Convoy and Apache comment on the events of the day. When they try to credit Lio Convoy and Scuba for saving the day, the Jointrons reject this interpretation, claiming all the credit for chasing the Predacons away while performing a "victory dance". The other Maximals are exasperated at their antics, but Lio Convoy tells them they'll just have to learn to get along.

Artemis & Moon II Report

Artemis and Moon interview the newly arrived Jointrons, who introduce themselves. DJ is asked how long he had his odd habit of expelling oil, but he just replies that he realizes it when it happens. Artemis asks the trio if they ever have any worries, but they take a cheerful view of the world and treat every day as a festival. Artemis admits to being unable to understand them at all and the report ends as DJ drops from the ceiling onto the two androids.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

Real world references

• In a piece of blatant product placement, Kid is shown playing with a Maximal branded yo-yo, just like the one available in stores now, kids!

Trivia

• The vehicle model for the Jointrons' ship would be reused for Crazybolt and Bazooka's ship in the Beast Wars Neo cartoon episode "The Stolen Gung Ho".

Home video releases

VHS

1998 — Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers — ACT. 5 (Pioneer LDC)