(Originally posted on DM.Net)

Just what it is. In bullet-point format. Apologies for the sloppy writing.

The sequel is all about the Transformers doing what they do best - hiding.
Let me explain:

• The sequel opens with a communications satellite orbiting the earth. The satellite slowly and silently orbits towards the camera, and as it does so we see that there is a Decepticon symbol on the side of it. The camera rotates slowly around the back of the satellite, and suddenly a familiar aircraft screams into view. An F-22 Raptor - Starscream! (we pick up from the credits of the last film).
• As he passes the satellite it seems to awaken - lights flicker to life, and it slowly starts to unfold into - SOUNDWAVE. He follows Starsceam.
  
  
• After the events in the first film, the world is totally aware of the existence of the Transformers. Despite the governments best efforts to keep the robots hidden they're all over the news, all over the internet...the conspiracy theorists are having a field day. It's all over the media - Are they aliens? Are they Weapons of Mass Destruction? Are they American? Are they good? Bad? What do they want?
  
• The Autobots have gone into hiding (robots in disguise). With the Decepticon threat temporarily stopped their primary concern is locating surviving members of their race. Prime and the gang are scouring the Earth (and scanning the stars) looking for Cybertronian survivors.
  
• Ratchet spends much of his time studying what remains of the Allspark. He has discovered that the fragment (still) contains great power and as a safety measure has built a containment unit around it to keep the energy under control. The containment unit looks like this: http://static.zoovy.com/img/gkworld/W204-H.../trans0000a.jpg
  
• Meanwhile Starscream makes his way back to base-camp (the Nemesis cloaked in the darkness of one of our neighboring planets) to rendez-vous with the Decepticon Second-in-Command SHOCKWAVE.
• We soon realize that the death of Megatron was no accident - It was all part of a plan - devised by Shockwave - to locate the leader of the Decepticons with the intention of destroying him and assuming command (setting up a revenge thread for Megs/Galvatron's return). Starscream (of course) jumped at the chance to help take out his old boss, so volunteered for the mission, alongside Soundwave (who has been silently monitoring the progress of the mission and reporting back to Shockwave aboard the Nemesis). (These story elements are designed to give the audience a better, clearer understanding of the mindset of the Decepticons. Each of the Decepticons has his own motives - to basically outdo the others. Shockwave has his own plan to rule - on his own (logical) terms. Starscream sees Shockwave as inferior to Megatron (and himself) - and one final hurdle to Leadership. Soundwave is manipulating them all, but is seemingly loyal to the cause - but his motives are unclear at this time - he may be the one to, in desperation, revive Megatron at a later date). Aboard the Nemesis are other Decepticons (which ones have't been decided upon yet).

The basic plot (or the beginnings of a plot to be precise) : The Decepticons - using stealth and subterfuge rather than Megatron's brute-force - plan to infiltrate Earth society and slowly take over the planet. They use Earth's media and the press to turn us against ourselves - spreading lies and hate and feeding disinformation to each country - trying to make us pick fights with each other. Exploiting our weaknesses and warmongering ways to destroy us.
The Autobots (with new recruits) quickly figure out what the Decepticons are up to and attempt to stop them, but the Decepticons use propaganda to turn mankind against them. They also align themselves with corrupt humans (possibly military, possibly rogue ex-Sector Seven agents) - so Prime and the gang have to tackle a human threat as well as a Decepticon one (kind of a reversal of the first film).

Possible plot points:

• Starscream aligning himself with Shockwave, while at the same time plotting to take him out (true to the character).
  
• The rest of the seekers could arrive - giving Starscream some soldiers to command. If not the seekers then possibly the Constructicons.
  
• Soundwave aligning himself with Shockwave, then - realising his mistake - attempting to reactivate Megatron (rebuilding him in a new body - possibly Galvatron) for the next film.
  
• Shockwave and Soundwave's evil plan to turn the humans against themselves and the Autobots. Possible mind-control idea. Using the media (this would be good for Soundwave).
  
• The Autobots going into hiding to protect themselves and the humankind (again - robots in disguise).
  
• The arrival/discovery of new Autobots.
  
• Corrupt humans joining forces with the Decepticons to gain power - Shockwave uses the humans as puppets.

Other ideas/concerns:

• The Autobots will need to take new alt-modes to stay hidden. Would they reformat more than once? Possible return to more G1 modes? This could mean new toys!
  
• Shockwave brings new recruits to the table - who though? The Constructicons perhaps?
  
• How does Sam and the rest of the original cast factor into this?
  
• Should Megatron be reactivated in the first sequel or the second (I think the second would be best)?
  
• What should Soundwave's earth-based alt mode be? Does he need one?
  
• What becomes of the Nemesis?
  
• None of these events take into account the prequel novel (which I haven't read). Is this important? Is it even canon?
  
• How can Barricade factor into this story?
  
• What do you guys think about my idea of the Autobots turning the remaining Allspark fragment into the Matrix Of Leadership? Prime would be the sole guardian of this important artifact of course.

I like the idea of our obsession with the media being an important factor in this story. I want the Decepticons to exploit our weaknesses - turn us against ourselves. The Decepticons should be liars and deceivers.

I also want to see the Transformers IN DISGUISE. I've tried to give them a reason to stay undercover - at least until the big action sequences and fights bring them out of hiding.


I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
Like I said, this is just me thinking aloud, so don't get too angry about some of my more controversial ideas.

first i like soundwave and shockwave being involved.... a satilite doesn't really seem able to have minions poppong out of his chest so it seems like it would be shockwave similar to his energon form.... it looks like you've got soundwave's earth mode in your signiture...

bay has said many time that he thinks robots in a spaceship is stupid so i don't think there will ever be a nemesis...

i think earth will still be very much in the dark to transformers existance.. yes they destroyed parts of a city but much of communications systems were down at the time.... i see it played as a roswell coverup shooter on the graasy knoll conspiracy theory.

of course all of the characters will get new modes... it's not like they re-release all of the same crap in two more years and expect to sell it all over again... how many versions of op did we get with this movie alone.... what's next, bat suit prime, and electro shock prime, and torn bat suit prime...

1. Good point. You'd accept Soundwave as a military vehicle?

2. I agree. But I think that the fans might like to see the Nemesis.

3. I like it that way too. I like the whole "robots in disguise" thing!

4. Totally agree. I collect the toys, so the more the merrier!

I'd accept Soundwave as anything. Character makes the character, not what they turn into. I'd buy an Optimus Prime that turned into a station wagon too, a Grimlock that turned into a wolf, and a Starscream that turned into a space shuttle.

I liked the idea from the leaked/fake transformers 2 treatment, with using the Nemesis and having it turn into an aircraft carrier. I say take it a step further and have the nemesis turn into an aircraft carrier and Trypticon. If the ship is going to have the ability to scan and change into something else, then it should have the ability to change from its altmode into something more menacing.