Command Center

The Command Centers (sometimes called the Command Centre or Commandie) are multi-use vehicles and the backbone of the Guardian fleet. Each is capable of faster-than-light travel and can hold a large number of GoBot soldiers, allowing them to be used both as transportation and mobile headquarters. It is generally well-matched with the Renegades' Thruster, which generally only edges it due to the presence of a stealth device.

Fiction

Challenge of the GoBots cartoon

Insert John Williams score here.

The mass-produced Command Center was at the core of the Guardians' efforts. Large numbers were used for the defence of GoBotron and for long-range patrol duties and transport duties. The ship also served as a mobile headquarters for Leader-1's team when on Earth, to the extent that at least one UNECOM base had a special landing and launch pad for the craft. The Command Center could traverse hyperspace and had a powerful array of blasters fitted to the nose. The ships are also equipped with tractor beams and reconnaissance cameras, as well as cutting-edge radar and tracking facilities.

The craft can also tow large quantities of cargo, though this limits their speed and manoeuvrability. Command Centers also have admirable durability, able to even access hyperspace, maintain a breathable atmosphere, survive underwater and preserve crew on crash landings despite considerable damage. The ship's retro rockets are located in the extendable legs; these can also be deployed in a walker configuration. Adding to the craft's versatility is its crew requirements - while the spacious ship can carry scores of GoBots it can also be controlled by a single pilot.

Facilities on-board include a medical bay, detention cells, a mess and quarters for human allies.

Fun Publications

"Echoes and Fragments"

When Gong met Sideways, the two debated between the Transformers and the GoBots, with Gong blending realities together to create a war between the Autobots and the Renegades. As a consequence of this merger, the Autobots utilized Commander Centers as their ships, Cy-Kill attacking and boarding one bound for Autobot City. The hull breach however managed to alert the city's guards, allowing them to mount a defence.

Sideways fired back by tampering with universes so that now, Guardians fought Decepticons before all four factions co-existed with Autobots and Guardians pitted against Decepticons and Renegades. After Unicron had devoured Cybertron's moons, the Autobots and Guardians raced to Command Centers 09 and 33. While Galvatron managed to destroy Command Center 33, Command Center 09 was able to feign destruction and made a fiery crash landing on Quartex for repairs. Within a month, it might have been space worthy but it didn't really matter when Galvatron found them and blew up the ship. Echoes and Fragments

Go-Bots

"Command Centers" were apparently naturally occurring animals on Gobotron, one of which Leader-1 domesticated, turning the beast into his mobile seat of power. When Zod was sighted, the Command Center raced to the scene only for Zod to escape once again. The Go-Bots found the returned Spay-C who was taken prisoner, and chose to comment on the rather sinister sounding names of the many rooms, releasing his human astronauts to find answers. That night, as Leader-1 contemplated atop the Command Center, he was visited by Eno who led him on a chase across the planet, passing by a herd of Command Centers. In the morning, Leader-1 ordered an expedition to the Heart of Gobotron. When camp was made, Cy-Kill's force attacked the idling Command Centre which rocketed off and made a hyperspace jump... but only to the other side of the planet where it opened the doors to the Heart of Gobotron and touched down. Go-Bots #3

As Leader-1 battled Zod, Cy-Kill stole the Command Center, using its tractor beam to abduct Scooter before flying off back to Gobotron. Go-Bots #4 Spay-C managed to shuttle Turbo aboard who hacked his way through every Renegade, even hurling Loco into the Disintegration Chamber, before he found the Enemy Re-programming Center and the record that showed he was responsible for Scooter's damaged state of mind. Emboldened more than ever to destroy Go-Bot society, Turbo confronted and killed Cy-Kill, seizing command of the Renegades and the Command Centre. Alongside the Thruster, the Command Center picked up straggling passengers before returning home. Breaching the surface, the Command Center was brought down by an army of Vamps before Road Ranger mopped them up. The act won over the Command Center, convincing the older generation of Go-Bots to let Road Ranger lead the planet in the future. Go-Bots #5

Toys

GoBots

• Command Center (GoBots Vehicle/Playset, 1984)
  • Friendly GoBot Mobile Fortress
  • Fortress that turns into vehicle or mobile land-walker!
  • Accessories: Floor panels (4); Fuel Hoses (2); railing; elevator panel; rear hatch; leg pin (4); "enemy detector"; instruction manual; label sheet

One of several toy concepts designed by Tonka specially for the GoBots toyline, the Command Center serves as a vehicle, playset, and carrying case for Guardian figures and is one of the largest toys in the entire line, and was released along the first series of the figures. In vehicle mode, the Command Center rolls freely on eight plastic wheels. Flipping out the four legs transforms it to "mobile land-walker" mode.

Four "stations" on the exterior of these modes are labelled with numbers (0, 1, 5, and 7) but do not interact with figures in any meaningful way. Standing it on end and opening the top panels results in "fortress" mode, which features several elements common to 1980s playsets. An elevator in the central column (labeled "Vertical Transport Module, or "V.T.M") can move GoBot figures between the fortress' seven rooms. These rooms have very little sculpted detail, with most of their personality coming from paper labels. The rooms include: -

• "Trauma Center" (guarded by a clear plastic "enemy detector")
• "Interrogation Center" (featuring a wanted poster showing Cy-Kill, Fitor, Loco, and Cop-Tur)
• "GoBot Dematerializer" (showing a red version of Tank being disintegrated)
• "Alien Detention Center"; a fuel station (with two rubber fuel hoses);
• A cafeteria (complete with a menu featuring "blast off burgers," "gasberry pie," and flavored antifreeze)
• "Enemy Reprogramming Center" showing, bizarrely, Scooter hooked up to some machines.

The Command Center's cockpit can swivel around to reveal a (goofy) robot face; this also doubles up as the handle for the carry case, though it would take a brave child to lug their GoBots around as the doors do not inspire a lot of confidence. If a nine-volt battery is connected to the inside of the canopy, a button above the robot's nose activates flashing lights and sound effects. Finally, under the robot head is a secret chamber labelled "Strategic Command." Due to its' size the toy had a TV commercial dedicated to it.

• The toy was first made available in the first series in its' own assortment (#7240) and remained available for the rest of the line's life on toy shelves.
• For bilingual Canadian packaging the alternate name Le post de côntrol des GoBots was used.

• Learn more about Command Center at CollectionDX

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  Box

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  Toy instructions

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  Before assembly

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  Sticker sheet

Robo Machine

• Command Centre (Robo Machine Vehicle/Playset, 1984)
  • Accessories: Floor panels (4); Fuel Hoses (2); railing; elevator panel; rear hatch; leg pin (4); "enemy detector"; instruction manual; label sheet

One of only two Tonka designs issued by Bandai (the other being Zod), the Command Centre was identical to the American release - with the exception that the electronics were gutted.

• 

  Box

Machine Men

• Command Centre (Machine Men/Playset, 1984)
  • Accessories: Floor panels (4); Fuel Hoses (2); railing; elevator panel; rear hatch; leg pin (4); "enemy detector"; instruction manual; label sheet

The Command Centre was released in Australia by Bandai in 1984 as a part of the Machine Men line. What changes, if any, there were from the American release is unknown.

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  Catalouge photo in The Combat

Notes

• The toy's face was omitted from the cartoon's animation model, and the "walker" abilities were rarely seen in the show (which was fair, as the toy couldn't walk). The base configuration was not featured in the series at all - though it did appear in several storybooks and comic strips.
• Challenge of the GoBots sometimes gives Command Centers callsigns such as "Command Center 1", "Command Center 2", and so on. This is usually just a device to aid clarity in storytelling of a particular episode (i.e. to make it clear when action was taking place on two separate ships) and, like most things in the show, wasn't implemented with much consistency.

External links

TFWiki.net has content relating to Command Center. The unofficial Transformers knowledge database!

• Reproduction labels at ToyHax