Stone Army

The Stone Army is a legion of stone warriors hidden away on an obscure planet.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

Long ago, the Decepticons Turmoil and Deadlock discovered the Stone Army after slaughtering the stone monks residing in the temple it was hidden in. Without the monks though, the army remained inert and the two Decepticons abandoned the army, Empire of Stone #3 though they made a report of its existence. While their commanding officer Gigatron showed interest in this army of stone warriors, Megatron saw no use for it. Years later, Gigatron, refusing to believe the war was over, returned to the planet the Stone Army had been found on to absorb them into his forces but could not find them. Empire of Stone #2 In truth, Gigatron's scheme had been usurped by Hellbat who conspired to turn the Stone Army, which he had found in days, into his personal killing force, augmenting their power with parts from dead Cybertronians. The Cybertronian components in their makeup allowed Hellbat an alternate means of activating his army. Empire of Stone #3

When Deadlock - now calling himself "Drift" - and Ratchet came to the planet, Gigatron requested his aid in finding the army only for Drift to refuse. Though imprisoned, the two Autobots quickly broke out and found the army, whereupon Hellbat arrived Empire of Stone #2 and explained his evil plan. When Grit interfered, Hellbat activated the warriors. Unable to face so many, Drift led his allies back to Gigatron, who quickly destroyed the warriors that had followed them, and demanded an alliance. Empire of Stone #3

When the group charged the army's resting chamber, Hellbat activated a gigantic stone warrior to fight Gigatron. When Drift managed to reach and injure Hellbat, the deranged Decepticon ordered every stone warrior to kill Gigatron. Though Gigatron was quick to kill Hellbat, his blade also cut through the control mechanisms and started a chain reaction, bringing down the temple. Still following their last command, the stone warriors charged Gigatron, heedless of the temple's collapse or his swift destruction of their ranks. Empire of Stone #4