Air Strike Patrol
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The Air Strike Patrol are a team of four Micromasters in the Transformers universes. They are Decepticons in the American continuity, and are Autobots in Japan.
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1989)
The bio of the Air Strike Team - Nightflight, Storm Cloud, Tailwind and Whisper - indicated that they were experts at both stealing sensitive data, and then making sure no-one lived to tell the tale. Although they are some of the most competent Decepticons, the traditional Decepticon backbiting amongst the team members means they fight amongst themselves frequently to claim credit for their victories. This dulls their effectiveness.
[edit] Marvel Comics
The Air Strike Team made their first appearance in issue 56 of the US comic. Working for Megatron (thought to be dead at this point) they made contact with Scorponok's group of Earthen Decepticons, placing themselves under his command. They then attacked an airbase, demanding a refueling plane and the fuel to go with it. When Optimus Prime's Autobots showed up in response, Scorponok intervened to protect his "troops". Their work complete, the Air Strike Patrol then left - leaving both Autobots and Decepticons exposed to Megatron's instrument of vengeance - the resurrected and reprogrammed Pretender Starscream.
They did not appear again in the U.S. storyline, but did get a one-off appearance in the U.K. version of the comic. In a possible future, told in flashback by Rodimus Prime, Scorponok lost a leadership contest with Megatron and Shockwave. Fleeing, Megatron sent the Air Strike Patrol to pursue him, but they wound up in battle with Hot Rod, who Scorponok had surrendered to, forcing the Autobot and his comrades to protect him. While the Air Strike Patrol attacked the Autobots, Scorponok escaped. (Marvel U.K. #223)
