Hardshell is a minor antagonist in the series Transformers Prime. Originally one of the many Insecticon soldiers of Megatron's ranks, Hardshell was recruited to hunt down one of the four Iacon relics decoded during the events of Flying Mind.
He was voiced by David Kaye, who previously voiced the Beast Wars and Unicron Trilogy versions of Megatron.
Biography[]
After the failed attempt to bring the Nemesis to life decoded four sets of coordinates of Iacon Relics, Megatron dispatched four separate teams to retrieve them. Megatron specifically sought out the strongest Insecticon to lead one such team. Hardshell graciously stepped forward, eager to prove himself.
Leading a team of Insecticons to a volcanic island near the equator, Hardshell would run into Bulkhead, a member of the Wreckers, a team which Hardshell had a history with. Hardshell would do battle with Bulkhead only to retreat when Hardshell lost a mandible to the Autobot. Eventually, Hardshell would find Bulkhead climbing the volcano to dispose of the relic, a cache of Tox-En, a poisonous version of Energon. Knowing the damage this could do, Hardshell attempted to claim it for himself. However, Bulkhead was able to destroy it, but was greatly weaken by the side effects of Tox-En. Hardshell attacked again, and seemed to win, even blowing Bulkhead into the open Groundbridge Portal he called to escape.
Bulkhead was critically wounded, to the point Ratchet wasn't certain the Wrecker would survive. Megatron was grateful to hear that Bulkhead seemingly perished at the hands of Hardshell. This later turned to anger when Wheeljack began attacking Megatron's energon mines, revealing Bulkhead was on the road to recovery. Megatron ordered Hardshell to kill Wheeljack to correct his mistake. The battle didn't go in Wheeljack's favor, and likely would have ended in Hardshell's victory had Miko not launched Wheeljack's many bombs, killing Hardshell.
