Cassettes, Decepticon
Able to fit inside of Soundwave's chest cavity, the Decepticon cassettes make
excellent spies, and also perform well as fire support, truly making Soundwave
a one-robot army. The list of Decepticon cassettes are as follows: Buzzsaw (condor),
Laserbeak (condor), Rumble (robot), Frenzy (robot), Ravage (panther), Ratbat (bat),
Overkill (two-legged dinosaur), Slugfest (Stegosaurus), Squawktalk (parrot), and
Beastbox (ape). The latter two are able to combine to form the robot Squawkbox.
Rumble is blue and grey in the cartoon, but red and black in the comic.
Laserbeak
Laserbeak was used countless times as a reconnaissance platform, uncovering
key plans of the Autobots throughout the war. Originally transforming
into something that resembled a flying disk, he was also used to pursue
and take out individuals attempting to escape (eg. Hound and Cliffjumper,
who were discovered after Cliffjumper tried to snipe Megatron.
On that occasion, Laserbeak made use of a self-guided
cannon to take care of Cliffjumper while he shot Hound and caused him to
crash). He has also captured several humans during his stay on Earth.
Ratbat
Ratbat did not have a very illustrious history in the cartoon. He was used as a generic
spy (despite his function), and he was also a member of the Primitives who were
sent to counter Tornitron. He also participated in the attack on Autobot City.
Ratbat was unable to speak.
Ravage
Ravage was one of the Decepticons who crash landed on Earth aboard the Ark 4 million years ago. When revived, Ravage was given the ability to transform into a cassette tape and had a panther [Ed: Ravage's package claims he is a jaguar. However, note that a jaguar is light brown and spotted.] robot form. It is doubtful the panther form was Ravage's Cybertronian form. Ravage was used mainly as a spy for Megatron and was prominent in many of the Earth-based adventures.
In 2006, Ravage, along with other "Primitives" (ones that had animal forms) were banded together to stop Primacron from destroying the universe.
Beast Wars Addendum:
By the 25th century, Ravage had been rebuilt into a Predacon. Ravage had a more humanoid panther form, was still able to transform into a cassette tape, and was able to talk. He was equipped with laser-targeting hand guns and a cloaking device.
When the transwarp explosion that destroyed Optimus Primal's original body reached 25th century Cybertronian space, the Predacon Tripredicus Council detonated a satellite to divert the energy wave away from Cybertron in hopes it would not alert the Maximals to Megatron II's whereabouts. They sent Ravage to stop Megatron from whatever he was doing.
Ravage arrived on prehistoric Earth and helped the Maximals capture Megatron. Ravage locked up Megatron, took control of the Predacon base, and allowed the Maximals to pursue the rest of the Predacons.
Desperate to get out, Megatron revealed to Ravage the reason he sought out prehistoric Earth. On the Golden Disk fragment that Megatron still had was a message encoded onto it by the original Megatron, requesting help if he failed. As a result, Ravage freed Megatron and they made an attack on the Axalon. In the fight, Rattrap broke into Ravage's ship and planted bombs on Tarantulas inside. The ship exploded, tearing Ravage apart.
Article submitted by Nick Peron.
Rumble
One of Soundwave's cassette troops (nicknamed "Casseticons" by some), Rumble
is famous for his piledrivers,
which can break open dams, cause earthquakes, or shake apart Devastator.
Rumble and Hound hit it off very well in a spectacular
underwater battle. Rumble also led a ground assault into the Autobot city communications
tower, but was intercepted by Blaster and his "Cassetabots" (although not before they succeeded in destroying the communications dish). Rumble was often joined by Frenzy,
a seemingly less stable version of himself. Small,
strong, and carrying a chip on his shoulder, this half-pint is not afraid
to defend himself or Soundwave.
Buzzsaw
Buzzsaw is one of Soundwave`s Decepticon cassettes.
He crash landed on Earth with the other Decepticons and has
fought the Autobots since then. However, Buzzsaw and a
group of Decepticons were injured and captured by Omega
Supreme during a fierce battle. Buzzsaw remained captive for over
a year, until he was freed by the Constructicons during a battle
on the Earth's moon. But, no more than
two months passed before Starscream gained the power of the
Underbase and eliminated, among many others, Buzzsaw. He has not been
seen since, though it is unlikely he is irrepairably damaged.
Ratbat
Concerned with the fuel efficiency of the Terran Decepticon fuel-gathering operation,
Cybertron Fuel Auditor Ratbat took matters in his own hands, figuratively speaking,
of course. He ordered the Throttlebots sent to Earth to destroy either the Scraplets
or the Transformers infected with them. As it turned out, a cure was found, making his
plan to annihilate the planet unnecessary. He ordered Astrotrain to plant a hypnotic
device on G.B. Blackrock (see Carwash of Doom). He ordered for Trypticon to cross
the space bridge and attack the Ark, a plan thwarted by the Dinobots. Finally, he
himself arrived on Earth to personally
oversee Shockwave's operation. Unimpressed, he continued with the Carwash
plan, which also failed due to the intervention of Buster Witwicky.
The Decepticons eventually built a giant starship and, under Ratbat's orders,
kidnapped Buster and brought him aboard as a hostage. During the launch, Shockwave
lost a battle with Fortress Maximus and plummeted into the planet. Assuming that
Shockwave was dead, the Decepticons accepted Ratbat as leader. His reign was
unremarkable, mostly known for two incidents.
While the Autobots were on the surface of the moon, watching Grimlock and Blaster
duel, Ratbat had the Decepticons launch a full-scale attack on them. Had Blaster
and Grimlock not put aside their differences and crippled the mothership, the plan
may have succeeded. In any case, they did fulfill one mission objective: the retrieval
of the Decepticons captured in the first assault on Omega Supreme, including
Starscream.
Ratbat discovered that the Underbase, an object of immense power, was passing
through the Sol system. Wishing to obtain it for himself, Starscream tricked Ratbat's
army into fighting Scorponok's troops. To further delay them, he also called in the
Autobots. However, Ratbat realized in the midst of battle that he had been tricked and
forced a truce between all parties. Unable to stop Starscream from obtaining a minute
amount of the Underbase's power, the combined force found it necessary to fight
Starscream on Earth. However, Ratbat suspected Optimus of self-interest and
deserted Blaster in battle. When he confronted Optimus aboard the Ark, Scorponok
fired upon him, knocking him out. He was never heard from again.
Ravage
Ravage was one of Megatron's original supporters, and apparently had his panther form even before coming to Earth. He has the ability to absorb electromagnetic radiation to some extent, able to practically disappear to all sensors in shadow. He was also able to talk.
Since arriving on Earth, he has been very effective, and while intelligent, Ravage somehow lost the ability to speak. Ravage discovered in his cassette form that Sparkplug Witwicky would be capable of converting Earth fuel into a Cybertronian form. He was later used to guard the human Danny Finkleberg. When Finkleberg escaped, he went in pursuit, stopping only to stop the Autobot Skids from escaping as well. Eventually, Skids, Finkleberg, and Ravage all met up in a deserted area, and Skids tricked the Decepticon into falling down a deep well.
Years later, Ravage appeared with Shockwave, ready to subtly force Scorponok to step down as leader of the Decepticons. Scorponok's soaring popularity (due to an Autobot surrender) forced the rebel Decepticons to attack.
Rumble
Rumble was one of the Decepticons who were accidentally revived by the Ark in 1984. His
first major act was using his ability to emit low-frequency groundwaves via his feet to
loosen the foundations of the power plant the Decepticons were taking. Later, in battle,
Rumble again used his abilities to knock the Autobots off their feet, but was taken out
by Brawn. He was avenged and taken back to base by Frenzy.
In Omega Supreme's first encounter, he repelled an invasion force led by Megatron,
destroying Skywarp, Thundercracker, Starscream, Frenzy, Rumble, and Buzzsaw. These
Decepticons would later be rescued by the Constructicons during a mammoth battle on
the Earth's moon.
Later, Rumble was among the Decepticons attacking an undefended Earth for the purpose
of attracting Prime's attention. When Autobot reinforcements arrived, Rumble managed
to shake the ground enough to knock Hot Rod off his wheels. Rumble was one of the
last Decepticons to evacuate the Warworld when it was overrun by Jhiaxus's troops.